Ben Reihanian S2B8 - A Lump in Your Throat?

A Lump in Your Throat?


It's not simply tears that follow immense sadness (like while witnessing the opening of Up) or joy (like when in Encanto Mirabel and Abuela finally have that final heart-to-heart moment and the magic returns) we also get that strange, uncomfortable lump in our throat. So, when we cry, or feel the need to cry, with one part of our bodies, what creates a physical reaction in the other? 
First, you have to know the science of crying so go read the blog I wrote on that before you continue reading this! 
With that in mind, what occurs on a physical level when we become upset?
Your autonomic nervous system - the overall system that governs other neurological systems like the sympathetic nervous system - comes into gear, causing a variety of reactions inside your body depending on the circumstances, as Nick Knight of The Independent explains.
This is the same mechanism that regulates your 'fight or flight' reaction, as well as other unconscious bodily activities such as digestion. When this system enters hyperactive mode, it first distributes oxygen throughout your body, making it simpler for you to strike something in the face or flee in the other direction to safety.
Your body must first breathe in oxygen before it can be distributed to all of your muscles. The neurological system urges the glottis - the opening in your throat that ushers air into your lungs without taking food with it - to stay open as long as possible in order to take in more air. 
Your glottis does not physically open wide. Everyday life would be pretty odd if it did. Muscle tension, on the other hand, is created by your body's attempt to maintain your glottis open even when you swallow.
When you aren't sobbing, your glottis opens and closes as you swallow throughout the day. This guarantees that food and spit flow in one direction and air in the other, with no mixing in the middle.
Your glottis, on the other hand, tries to stay open when you cry or are about to cry, but it is forced to close every time you swallow. The muscles in your throat are messed up as a result of the strain, giving you the sensation of a lump.
The lump sensation is also known as globus sensation, and it affects everyone under stressful situations. This sensation usually passes fast once you calm down and your glottis resumes its normal function.
That concludes the discussion. That lump in your throat is simply your body's way of changing you into a more efficient breathing machine.

Comments

  1. Michael HakimMar 16, 2022, 9:29:00 AM

    This is interesting, I never knew this! Now that I think about it, I guess it does feel easy to breathe when this happens.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMar 16, 2022, 4:27:00 PM

    That's crazy! I feel this all the time when I get put under stressful situations. The glottis is a lifesaver. This is super interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApr 24, 2022, 2:28:00 PM

    This is very cool information that I did not know, thank you. And like Michael, now that I think about it I know the feeling when being in very stressful or anxious situations.

    ReplyDelete

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