Have you ever had the terrible experience of sitting down on a nice, sizzling piece of steak or a mouthwatering juicy burger, when suddenly, without warning, some of the food gets lodged in your throat? It’s not choking you, but it just sits there stubbornly despite your desperate attempts to cough it out! Then, you’ve probably experienced what is called ‘food bolus obstruction’ or the ‘steakhouse syndrome’.
Steakhouse syndrome is a condition wherein a mass of food or bolus gets stuck in the lower part of your esophagus. There are several reasons why this could happen. Common causative factors include inflammatory conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis, achalasia(1), eating too fast, not chewing your food thoroughly, ill-fitting dentures, or drinking too much alcohol.
According to a peer-reviewed journal article in Applied Radiology, the annual incidence of esophageal food bolus impaction is about 11 to 13 cases per 100,000 every year. However, most cases of food bolus impaction tend to resolve on their own(2).
Here are a few things that you can do if you have food stuck in your throat:
One of the first things that you may want to try if you have food stuck in your throat is the ‘Coca-Cola trick’. Many believe that the carbonation from the soda can help relax the esophageal muscles, allowing the food to pass.
[ Read: Foods for Sore Throat ]
The Heimlich maneuver is a longstanding remedy for dislodging any obstruction from a person’s esophagus.
In case you need to perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself, here’s what you should do:
If someone else is performing the Heimlich maneuver for you, they need to position themselves behind you with one foot slightly in front of the other and their arms around your waist. They then need to perform abdominal thrusts in a similar manner. If the person is not comfortable giving you abdominal thrusts, they can give you back blows too.
Several herbal teas can help with that painful sensation of having something stuck in your throat. Licorice root tea, for example, can help to reduce swelling and spasms and act as a painkiller for the gastrointestinal tract. Marshmallow tea(3) can smooth and moisturize inflamed tissues, while slippery elm is a powerful demulcent.
[ Read: Tea for Sore Throat ]
Beef, chicken, pork, and al-dente cooked vegetables are some of the foods that increasingly cause food bolus impaction. |
Rinsing with a warm saltwater solution is another quick remedy to relieve you when the food is stuck in your throat. This simple trick can help dislodge the food and alleviate any irritation in the throat.
The stickiness of bananas or other similar soft foods can sometimes make it easier to push down any food stuck in the esophagus.
[ Read: Foods for Sore Throat ]
Another helpful remedy for food stuck in the throat is simply to swallow some butter or olive oil. Although it may sound rather unpleasant, these fatty substances can provide some extra lubrication that makes it easier for the obstruction to slide down your throat.
So you’ve looked up different ways on how to dislodge food stuck in your esophagus, but you are not sure what to try? Then, don’t panic just yet! Sometimes in minor cases, the best solution is just to wait it out. Let your body do its thing! Given some time, the majority of food obstructions eventually pass on their own.
Most mild food obstructions are no reason for worry. If, however, you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, a sudden inability to talk, difficulty swallowing your saliva or drooling, then you need to seek immediate medical attention.
To lower your chances of getting food stuck in your throat, ensure that you minimize distractions while eating. Chew your food slowly and carefully, and follow your treatment plan if your diagnosis suggests a condition that affects your esophagus.
The symptoms ideally include:
Apart from the remedies mentioned above, you can try
A carbonated drink may help break down food that’s stuck in the throat. The bubbles that are produced help disintegrate the food and induce pressure, this effectively helps dislodge it.