What to Do for Globus and IBS

Unfortunately, some people have other, overlapping health problems alongside irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Globus is a condition in which people experience a sensation of something stuck in their throat, while IBS is a condition in which people experience chronic abdominal pain and bowel problems.

Both are considered functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in that no reason for the symptoms show up in standard diagnostic tests, so it may make you wonder if there is a connection between the two. In this overview, you learn about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of globus, and you may discover if there is any possible overlap between globus and IBS. You also find ideas about what you can do if you find yourself dealing with both problems at the same time.

What Is Globus?

Globus is a persistent or intermittent sensation that there is something stuck in the back of your throat when in actuality there is nothing there. The symptom of globus is surprisingly common. In research studies, the sensation has been reported by nearly half of healthy study participants. However, the actual disorder is relatively rare.

The good news about globus is that the condition is seen as benign, meaning although it may be annoying, it is not a threat to your health. The bad news is that globus tends to be a difficult-to-treat, chronic condition. Although the symptom may dissipate, it is also likely to come back.

The condition was originally named "globus hystericus," but it has subsequently been shown to be unrelated to a "hysterical" psychiatric condition. It is now known by the more accurate and less judgmental name "globus phayrngeus," which acknowledges the involvement of the muscles of the pharynx in the condition.

Symptoms

Globus does not typically present as a painful sensation but rather as if there is a lump or some sort of pressure or foreign object in your throat. It may also feel like a sensation of tension or constriction in your throat. The lump may feel like it is moving up and down or, less commonly, side to side.

The sensations associated with globus disappear when you eat or drink but may worsen when you swallow nothing but your own saliva. Globus should not cause you any difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia). Some people with globus may find their voice becomes hoarse, raspy, or husky, or tires easily. The effect on the voice may more likely be a result of acid reflux rather than globus itself.

If you experience any of the symptoms of globus, it is essential that you tell your healthcare provider. Although the risk of globus being indicative of a serious health problem is small, any unusual symptoms need to be investigated for a proper diagnosis.

Causes

Medical professionals and researchers do not know for sure why some people experience the symptoms of globus. Several medical problems have been identified as possibly initiating or contributing to the problem. These include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): The acid reflux associated with GERD is thought to play a role for a fairly large amount of people who experience the symptom of globus. It is theorized that any acid flushing up from your stomach into your esophagus and throat interferes with the functioning of the throat muscles, preventing them from relaxing as they should and thus causing the sensation that there is something unusual present in the area.
• Motility problems of the pharynx: The pharynx is an organ in the back of your throat that plays a role in both digestion and breathing. As part of digestion, it moves food into your esophagus, while as part of breathing, it warms and moistens the air before it enters your windpipe. For some people, a problem with how this organ operates may contribute to the symptom of globus.
• Health problems affecting the pharynx: Health problems, such as pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and postnasal drip from sinusitis, may cause the pharynx to become irritated or inflamed, leading to a sensitivity of the nerves in the area and a resulting globus sensation.
• Upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction: Your upper esophageal sphincter (UES) is a valve found in the back of your throat at the bottom of your pharynx and is responsible for two major things. It opens up to allow food and drinks to enter your esophagus, and it closes to prevent food from entering your windpipe. It is thought that for some people who have globus, the muscles of the sphincter are tighter than normal; this excessive tension then creates the sensations associated with globus.
• Esophageal motility problems: It is thought that some cases of globus may be related to problems with how the esophagus functions. Estimates regarding the prevalence of esophageal motility problems in people who have globus vary quite widely.
• Rare medical problems contributing to globus symptoms: There are also some fairly rare problems that can cause a person to experience the symptoms of globus. These include an anatomical problem, such as that with the epiglottis (a little flap that covers the opening of your windpipe when you swallow), and benign or cancerous tumors.

Contributing Lifestyle Factors

Researchers have identified some lifestyle factors that may contribute to the onset or maintenance of globus:

• Stress: Although globus was originally thought to be almost exclusively psychological in nature, research on the subject since has been quite mixed. Some studies have shown an association between globus and psychiatric diagnoses, such as depression or an anxiety disorder, while other studies have shown no such association. What is clear is that the symptoms of globus are typically worsened when a person who has globus is anxious or under stress. This worsening of symptoms is probably due to a subconscious tightening of the muscles in the area of the throat.
• Fatigue: Symptoms may be worse when you are tired or if you have been using your voice more than usual.
• Repeated swallowing: Because the "lump" sensation is uncomfortable, there is a natural human tendency to swallow as a way to relieve the symptom. However, each successive swallowing tends to reduce the amount of saliva, and the resulting "dry" swallows may actually increase your discomfort.
• Smoking: Although not all smokers experience globus, smoking can make symptoms worse for those who have the condition.

Diagnosis

Globus is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it is made after other health problems have been ruled out. If you are experiencing globus symptoms, you should be seen by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) healthcare provider. They may recommend one or more of the following diagnostic tests:

• Barium swallow (X-rays taken after swallowing a barium solution)
• Endoscopy (a tube inserted through your mouth into your esophagus)
• Esophageal manometry (insertion of a tube containing sensors designed for measuring muscle contractions in your esophagus)
• Nasolaryngoscopy (a narrow tube inserted through your nose into your throat)
• Videofluoroscopy (X-rays taken while eating and drinking)

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 a cancerous tumor. 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:

• Pain during swallowing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Unexplained weight loss
• Sensation on one side of the throat only
• Solid foods get stuck in the throat
• Worsening/constant symptoms
• Visual or palpable mass in or around the throat area
• Signs of bleeding in the mouth

Treatment

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 is one that focuses directly on globus. Here are some possible options:

• Therapy with a speech and language pathologist
• Medication and diet changes to reduce acid reflux
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Antidepressants
• Smoking cessation programs (if applicable)

Surgery is a very rarely used modality but may be recommended if a thyroid disease or an anatomical epiglottis problem (retroverted epiglottis) is present.

Overlap With IBS

Although a research review yields one older, widely cited study asserting that globus is a "common" symptom of IBS, such research does not appear to have been replicated. However, if you do have both, there are some things you can do that may help ease the symptoms of both problems:

• Drink lots of water, which helps to keep the throat area from becoming too dry while also replacing liquids lost by diarrhea episodes (IBS with diarrhea) or keeping the stool moist (for IBS with constipation).
• Avoid alcohol, coffee, and carbonated drinks that can be irritants to your entire digestive system.
• Offset the stress in your life either through CBT, the use of relaxation exercises, or through other mind/body activities such as yoga, tai chi, or meditation.