The feeling of a lump with nothing there is globus sensation - extremely common, driven by throat-muscle tension, stress, and silent reflux rather than anything stuck.
It classically eases when you actually eat or drink. Food genuinely sticking, weight loss, or a one-sided pain that persists is a different pattern that needs a GP. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you tell them apart.
What to do
Common questions
Why do I feel like something is stuck in my throat?
That stuck feeling has a name - globus sensation - and an NHS trust leaflet describes it exactly: the feeling of a lump in the throat where no true lump exists. It is extremely common and may come with hoarseness. The mechanism is usually tension, not a thing: the muscles around your throat hold extra tightness, and stress and anxiety feed it - globus often shows up when you are holding back strong feelings, sometimes surfacing right at the moment you swallow down emotion. The other common driver is laryngopharyngeal reflux, also called silent reflux, where stomach acid travels up into the throat and irritates it without causing heartburn you would notice. What helps, per the leaflet: sip water continually through the day (up to about two litres - swallowing actively relaxes the throat), keep coffee, tea, and cola to four cups a day or fewer, and treat any reflux habits like late eating. The crucial distinction is between feeling a lump and having trouble swallowing: globus typically eases when you actually eat or drink, while food sticking, pain when swallowing, or needing to wash food down is different and needs a GP promptly. So do a persistent one-sided throat pain, unexplained weight loss, worsening hoarseness past a few weeks, or a lump you can actually feel in your neck. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you tell the two apart.