Difficulty swallowing saliva and a sensation of suffocation—what’s going on?
Jul 15, 2021
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Xingsheng
Introduction
Difficulty swallowing saliva can stem from various causes. A relatively common cause is local inflammation, such as upper respiratory tract infections, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis—conditions that may cause pain or difficulty when swallowing saliva. Another category of causes involves local obstruction, including tumors or space-occupying lesions in the pharynx or larynx, or metastatic lesions originating from other sites, all of which can impair normal pharyngeal patency.
Difficulty swallowing saliva can stem from various underlying causes. A relatively common cause is local inflammation, such as upper respiratory tract infections—including pharyngitis and tonsillitis—which may lead to pain or difficulty when swallowing saliva. Another potential cause involves local obstruction, such as tumors or space-occupying lesions in the pharynx or larynx, or metastatic lesions originating from other sites that compromise patency of the pharyngeal region. Additionally, certain neurologic or functional disorders may disrupt normal pharyngeal function. These may arise from central nervous system abnormalities—for instance, paralysis or cerebrovascular disease—resulting in impaired swallowing function.
