I Feel My Throat Is Closing Up And I Have Trouble Breathing Sometimes

Posted on Wed, 28 Oct 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 Answered on

Wed, 28 May 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi I feel my throat is closing up and I have trouble breathing sometimes I have to force myself to breathe and it gives me slight chest pains

Answered by Dr. Naveen (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Laryngopharyngeal reflux

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for posting the query

The symptoms mentioned by you seems to be related to a condition called Laryngopharyngeal reflux due to regurgitation of the acidic materials from the stomach into the throat.

Some of the contents when they regurgitate into the throat may spill on the vocal cords (voice box) causing spasm of the cords. This spasm causes brief period of breathing difficulty and tightness in the throat and neck.

The acid while moving up into the esophagus (the food pipe) causes chest pain.

The best home remedies include:
1. Taking frequent small meals
2. Avoid fried, spicy, chill food & beverages, citrus foods, fizzy drinks, caffeinated beverages, etc. which could induce more acidity and worsen your condition.
3. In the night take small meals and give a gap of at least 1 hour before you hit the bed.
4. If you don’t get any relief from the above interventions, consult an apt ENT Specialist for the thorough examination of the throat and the vocal cords.

Hope this answers your query; revert back to me if you have any follow up queries.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar