Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsCausesLink to IBSDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Causes
Link to IBS
Diagnosis
Treatment
This article explains what causes globus, including its link to IBS. It also describes how globus is diagnosed and treated when it co-occurs with IBS.
Ariel Skelley / Getty Images
What Is Globus?
Globusis a painless sensation that something is stuck in your throat when nothing is there. Some people describe it as having “a lump in the throat” or a tightening or constricting sensation. The symptom may be persistent or intermittent and may occur on its own or with other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.
Globus is surprisingly common, accounting for up to 5% of referrals toear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists. Studies suggest that up to 45% of people will experience globus at some point in their lives.
While GERD is commonly linked to globus, it is linked to other many conditions, including psychological ones.
Symptoms of Globus
Globus is generally painless but can be aggravating and disruptive to your life. It can manifest differently in different people but often causes symptoms like:
The symptoms are mainly situated in the central part of the suprasternal region. This is the soft, concave part of the neck just below yourlarynx(voice box) and just above thesternum(breastbone).
Causes of Globus
The cause of globus is poorly understood and may be due to an individual factor or several overlapping factors broadly categorized as being inflammatory, functional, or psychological.
Upper GI Inflammation
Many upper GI tract conditions can cause this, including:
Functional Motility Disorders
Peristalsisis the muscular contractions that move food through the GI tract.Functional motility disordersare those in which peristalsis is abnormal or doesn’t work at all.
Functional motility disorders associated with globus involve theupper esophageal sphincter (UES), also known as thecricopharyngeal sphincter. This is the ring-shaped muscle that closes theesophagus(feeding tube) to prevent the reflux of food into the airways or the entry of air into the digestive tract.
The inappropriate contraction of the cricopharyngeal sphincter can very much cause the sensation of something being stuck in the throat.
Psychological Causes
Psychological factors may also play a role in globus. Some studies suggest that up to 96% of people with globus report a worsening of symptoms with increased anxiety or depression.
Some studies have shown a strong link between a stressful lifestyle and globus.Sleep disordersare also closely linked.
Link Between Globus and IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome can be linked to IBS in several different ways:
Either alone or in combination, these factors can contribute to the onset of globus symptoms in people with IBS.
How Globus Is Diagnosed
Globus is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it is made after other health problems have been ruled out.
Could It Be Cancer?
It is only natural to worry that the sensation of a foreign body in your throat could be a sign of acanceroustumor. Rest assured this is rarely the case. Still, it is essential to tell your healthcare provider about your symptoms for a proper diagnostic workup.
Symptoms not typically associated with globus that might be indicative of cancer include:
Treating Globus and IBS
Most of the time, all that is needed for dealing with globus is the reassurance that you don’t have cancer.
However, if your symptoms are quite disruptive and distracting, other treatments are available. In some cases, treatment may be recommended because it addresses any possible underlying contributors to the symptom, while in other cases, the treatment recommended focuses directly on globus.
Here are some possible options:
Surgery is a very rarely used modality but may be recommended if athyroid diseaseor an anatomical epiglottis problem (retroverted epiglottis) is present.
Overlap With IBS
If you have IBS, there are some things you can do to help ease the symptoms of both globus and more “classic” symptoms of IBS, such as constipation and diarrhea:
Summary
Globus is the sensation that something is stuck in your throat. It can occur with IBS for different reasons.
The diagnosis of globus is based on the exclusion of all other possible causes. There is no standard treatment for globus, but medications and psychotherapy may be involved.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liu J, Lv C, Wu D, et al.Subjective taste and smell changes in conjunction with anxiety and depression are associated with symptoms in patients with functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Res Pract.2021;2021:5491188. doi:10.1155/2021/5491188University of Iowa.Lump in throat (throat fullness, globus Syndrome, globus sensation, globus hystericus, globus pharyngeus).Jones D, Prowse S.Globus pharyngeus: an update for general practice.Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(639):554-555. doi:10.3399/bjgp15X687193International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Motility disorders.Randall DR, Chan R, Gomes, Walker K.Natural history of cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction symptomatology.Dysphagia.2022 Aug;37(4):937-945. doi:10.1007/s00455-021-10355-8American Psychological Association.Somatic symptoms and related disorders.Tang B, Wang X, Chen C, et al.The differences in epidemiological and psychological features of globus symptoms between urban and rural Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore).2018 Oct;97(43):e12986. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012986Shah ED, Almario CV, Spiegel BMR, Shey WD.Lower and upper gastrointestinal symptoms differ between individuals with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2018 Apr;24(2):299–306. doi:10.5056/jnm17112Alshammari SA, Almutairi MN, Alomar MO, Alsherif ZM, Alsubaie FH, Almezaini AI.Overlap between gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome and its impact on quality of life.Cureus.2023 Dec;15(12):e50840. doi:10.7759/cureus.50840Staudacher HM, Black DJ, Teasdale SB, et al.Irritable bowel syndrome and mental health comorbidity — approach to multidisciplinary management.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2023;20:582-596. doi:10.1038/s41575-023-00794-zAdditional ReadingKortequee S, Karkos PD, Atkinson H, et al.Management of globus pharyngeus.Int J Otolaryngol. 2013;2013:946780. doi:10.1155/2013/946780Watson WC, Sullivan SN, Corke M, Rush D.Globus and headache: common symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome.Can Med Assoc J. 1978;118(4):387-388.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liu J, Lv C, Wu D, et al.Subjective taste and smell changes in conjunction with anxiety and depression are associated with symptoms in patients with functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Res Pract.2021;2021:5491188. doi:10.1155/2021/5491188University of Iowa.Lump in throat (throat fullness, globus Syndrome, globus sensation, globus hystericus, globus pharyngeus).Jones D, Prowse S.Globus pharyngeus: an update for general practice.Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(639):554-555. doi:10.3399/bjgp15X687193International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Motility disorders.Randall DR, Chan R, Gomes, Walker K.Natural history of cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction symptomatology.Dysphagia.2022 Aug;37(4):937-945. doi:10.1007/s00455-021-10355-8American Psychological Association.Somatic symptoms and related disorders.Tang B, Wang X, Chen C, et al.The differences in epidemiological and psychological features of globus symptoms between urban and rural Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore).2018 Oct;97(43):e12986. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012986Shah ED, Almario CV, Spiegel BMR, Shey WD.Lower and upper gastrointestinal symptoms differ between individuals with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2018 Apr;24(2):299–306. doi:10.5056/jnm17112Alshammari SA, Almutairi MN, Alomar MO, Alsherif ZM, Alsubaie FH, Almezaini AI.Overlap between gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome and its impact on quality of life.Cureus.2023 Dec;15(12):e50840. doi:10.7759/cureus.50840Staudacher HM, Black DJ, Teasdale SB, et al.Irritable bowel syndrome and mental health comorbidity — approach to multidisciplinary management.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2023;20:582-596. doi:10.1038/s41575-023-00794-zAdditional ReadingKortequee S, Karkos PD, Atkinson H, et al.Management of globus pharyngeus.Int J Otolaryngol. 2013;2013:946780. doi:10.1155/2013/946780Watson WC, Sullivan SN, Corke M, Rush D.Globus and headache: common symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome.Can Med Assoc J. 1978;118(4):387-388.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liu J, Lv C, Wu D, et al.Subjective taste and smell changes in conjunction with anxiety and depression are associated with symptoms in patients with functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Res Pract.2021;2021:5491188. doi:10.1155/2021/5491188University of Iowa.Lump in throat (throat fullness, globus Syndrome, globus sensation, globus hystericus, globus pharyngeus).Jones D, Prowse S.Globus pharyngeus: an update for general practice.Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(639):554-555. doi:10.3399/bjgp15X687193International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Motility disorders.Randall DR, Chan R, Gomes, Walker K.Natural history of cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction symptomatology.Dysphagia.2022 Aug;37(4):937-945. doi:10.1007/s00455-021-10355-8American Psychological Association.Somatic symptoms and related disorders.Tang B, Wang X, Chen C, et al.The differences in epidemiological and psychological features of globus symptoms between urban and rural Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore).2018 Oct;97(43):e12986. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012986Shah ED, Almario CV, Spiegel BMR, Shey WD.Lower and upper gastrointestinal symptoms differ between individuals with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2018 Apr;24(2):299–306. doi:10.5056/jnm17112Alshammari SA, Almutairi MN, Alomar MO, Alsherif ZM, Alsubaie FH, Almezaini AI.Overlap between gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome and its impact on quality of life.Cureus.2023 Dec;15(12):e50840. doi:10.7759/cureus.50840Staudacher HM, Black DJ, Teasdale SB, et al.Irritable bowel syndrome and mental health comorbidity — approach to multidisciplinary management.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2023;20:582-596. doi:10.1038/s41575-023-00794-z
Liu J, Lv C, Wu D, et al.Subjective taste and smell changes in conjunction with anxiety and depression are associated with symptoms in patients with functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.Gastroenterol Res Pract.2021;2021:5491188. doi:10.1155/2021/5491188
University of Iowa.Lump in throat (throat fullness, globus Syndrome, globus sensation, globus hystericus, globus pharyngeus).
Jones D, Prowse S.Globus pharyngeus: an update for general practice.Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(639):554-555. doi:10.3399/bjgp15X687193
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Motility disorders.
Randall DR, Chan R, Gomes, Walker K.Natural history of cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction symptomatology.Dysphagia.2022 Aug;37(4):937-945. doi:10.1007/s00455-021-10355-8
American Psychological Association.Somatic symptoms and related disorders.
Tang B, Wang X, Chen C, et al.The differences in epidemiological and psychological features of globus symptoms between urban and rural Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore).2018 Oct;97(43):e12986. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000012986
Shah ED, Almario CV, Spiegel BMR, Shey WD.Lower and upper gastrointestinal symptoms differ between individuals with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2018 Apr;24(2):299–306. doi:10.5056/jnm17112
Alshammari SA, Almutairi MN, Alomar MO, Alsherif ZM, Alsubaie FH, Almezaini AI.Overlap between gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome and its impact on quality of life.Cureus.2023 Dec;15(12):e50840. doi:10.7759/cureus.50840
Staudacher HM, Black DJ, Teasdale SB, et al.Irritable bowel syndrome and mental health comorbidity — approach to multidisciplinary management.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2023;20:582-596. doi:10.1038/s41575-023-00794-z
Kortequee S, Karkos PD, Atkinson H, et al.Management of globus pharyngeus.Int J Otolaryngol. 2013;2013:946780. doi:10.1155/2013/946780Watson WC, Sullivan SN, Corke M, Rush D.Globus and headache: common symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome.Can Med Assoc J. 1978;118(4):387-388.
Kortequee S, Karkos PD, Atkinson H, et al.Management of globus pharyngeus.Int J Otolaryngol. 2013;2013:946780. doi:10.1155/2013/946780
Watson WC, Sullivan SN, Corke M, Rush D.Globus and headache: common symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome.Can Med Assoc J. 1978;118(4):387-388.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
