Food getting stuck in throat also known as Dysphagia is a medical condition wherein patients complain of difficulty in swallowing; this is often a symptom of an underlying condition. Symptoms commonly include: frequent heartburn (confirms presence of GERD), bad breath or halitosis (presence of abdominal sacs and pouches), regurgitation or vomiting (presence of obstruction), and severe chest discomfort are just one of the many observable manifestations of dysphagia. Food particle causing obstruction disrupts any of the stages of digestion below:

Ingestion – food is ingested into the mouth; these includes: chewing, use of teeth to mash the food particles and the release of saliva to aid in digestion.

Digestion – food particles are broken down and digested into the body

• Chemical – use of digestive enzymes, saliva and etc
• Mechanical – methods used to digest food e.g chewing, grinding, mixing

Absorption / Assimilation – digestive food, vitamins and minerals as well as fluids are absorbed by the blood and the body tissues and are used to regenerate cells.

Elimination – excretion of the waste products (via the kidneys) that were utilized during digestion

What Causes Food to get stuck in the throat?

There are a lot of factors that contribute to problems in swallowing, one possible reason could be a structural defect in the esophageal area, a neurological problem where neurotransmitters inside the brain cease to communicate with each other or it could even be our own eating and swallowing style. Discussed below are the common reasons why food is being stuck in the throat.

Esophageal Dysphagia – a condition where it hurts to swallow, this is due to a foreign body object being stuck in the throat near the esophagus and obstructing the normal swallowing process. Below are the factors that cause the condition:

• Achalasia – is when the lower esophageal sphincter constricts causing the food particles to regurgitate back to the throat. Weakened muscular wall in the esophagus can be a cause as well.
• Diffuse Spasm – occurs when esophageal contractions are unparallel with each other, this occurs after chewing the food affecting the muscular wall of the lower esophagus
• Esophageal Stricture – is the narrowing of the esophagus which interrupts the normal swallowing process as huge food particles are confined in the esophageal area
• Foreign Bodies Obstruction – blockage of the esophageal tubes caused by food, dentures, toy etc. which can cause swallowing to be difficult
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – revulsion of gastric contents and stomach juices back to the esophagus, resulting to irritated esophageal lining and presence of ulcerations; eventually these ulcerations will scar causing the esophageal vessel to constrict
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis – inflammation of the esophagus caused by extreme amounts of eosinophils in the esophageal area resulting to an allergic reaction towards food, airborne allergens or even gastric reflux; these contributes to scarring of the tissues in the area
• Scleroderma – an autoimmune disease manifested by hardening of the skin; this is often a result of too much collagen production in the skin
• Esophageal Diverticula – is a condition where esophageal tissues are overstretched resulting to sac or pouch formation bulging through muscle walls, these results to food particles trapped in these sacs which cause difficulty in swallowing; additionally presence of these pouches cause halitosis as well

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia – is a condition where there is muscular weakness in the tongue resulting to less production of saliva and difficulty in moving food particles from the mouth down to the esophagus; this is often characterized by drooling, coughing and gagging;

• Stroke or Brain / Spinal Cord Injury – occurs when there is damage to the brain stem; as a result, most patients can’t swallow because the nerves and muscles involved in swallowing are paralyzed
• Multiple Sclerosis – a condition where nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged resulting to poor muscular coordination affecting the normal swallowing process
• Parkinson’s Disease – is a degenerative disorder in the basal ganglia of the brain where there is less production of the neurotransmitter dopamine responsible for muscular movement
• Muscular Dystrophy – progressive weakness and loss and muscle function leading to impaired swallowing
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – otherwise called Lou Gehrig’s disease is a condition marked by consistent death of neurons that control voluntary movement; speech and swallowing muscles are impaired
• Cancer – radiation and chemotherapy often cause scarring and rigidity in the throat that leads to swallowing difficulties
• Poor eating habits – eating too fast, less water intake, eating or drinking while lying down and not chewing the food properly can cause the mastification process to be compromised resulting to aspiration

How to dislodge food stuck in the throat?

There are two ways to remove dislodged food in the throat: natural and medical method.
Natural treatment is often non-invasive and less costly while medical treatment is usually invasive and costly.

Natural treatment

• Drink a cup of lukewarm water as hot water (not hot enough to burn) dissolves masses of food particles
• Gargle with salt and warm water or a teaspoonful of hydrogen peroxide with honey as this makes the process easier
• Eating something soft like banana, cereals or bread then swallow with apple cider vinegar as it helps loosen the obstruction
• Try coughing; this constricts the throat and helps expel food particles
• Swallow an uncooked egg, the yolk aids the foreign body object to slide down

Medical treatment

• Heimlich Maneuver – also called “abdominal thrust” is a first aid procedure to rescue people experiencing airway obstruction caused by foreign objects
• Tracheostomy – is surgically creating a hole through the neck in the tracheal area to relieve airway obstruction and facilitate ease of breathing
• Esophageal Dilatation– a surgical instrument with light and camera, it is often flexible and is usually used to visualize the digestive tract and expand the opening of the esophagus; physicians often use the tube with graspers to pull out the obstruction
• Glucagon therapy – a medication used to relax the muscles in the esophageal area; this aids the smooth flow of the foreign body causing obstruction
• Medications ( Proton Pump Inhibitors) – are medications useful to treat GERD and prevent acid reflux

Prevention

• Modification of eating habits – aside from chewing slowly, small frequent feeding and increased in oral fluid intake is often recommended to facilitate smooth digestion.
• Eliminate caffeine and alcohol from your diet as these increases the release of gastric juices necessary to create heartburn.
• Practice appropriate swallowing techniques.
• Eat a high fiber diet and increase fluid intake to lubricate the esophagus and allow a smooth swallowing process.
• Early detection and early treatment of diseases e.g GERD.
• Quit smoking as this lessens the production of saliva, a dry throat is a magnet for food particles getting stuck.

When to see a doctor?

Sometimes dysphagia can seem like an ordinary eating issue and less serious but when the episodes are accompanied by weight loss, vomiting right after eating, and consistent regurgitation intervals, that is already alarming. In addition, when aspiration occurs( food goes to the lungs) do not hesitate to walk in the emergency as this can cause pneumonia.

Ultimately, the best time to seek consult from a physician is when obstruction interferes the normal breathing process, this is an emergency situation as this can result to death. Make sure to remain calm and think critically. In addition, excessive drooling or cyanosis ( bluish transformation of the skin ) is another sign of an obstructive airway. However, this is critical as it also reflects less oxygen in the brain, the lesser the oxygen content the higher the risk of brain coma. It is important to understand that first aid treatment should be urgently given to the casualty. If no one else is around to assist you, keep calm and perform the Heimlich Maneuver yourself. However, it is best to note that prevention is always better than cure.

Calcium Cutis (also known as Calcinosis Cutis) is a condition where calcium deposits are formed and accumulated in the skin particularly in areas of the forehead, eyes, nails and even around the teeth. They look like small hard lumps or snow balls scattered across the body. Most of the time, they are asymptomatic but clinical research suggests that some symptoms gradually appear on the early stage of the disorder such as: itchiness and redness of the skin, development of lesions and formation of ulcers as well as white milky discharges, edematous face, pain and disability when deposits are on the joints and in rare occasions, cognitive impairment and psychosis occur when deposits are lodged inside the brain.

Types of Calcium deposits on face

There are four types of Calcinosis:

• Dystrophic Calcinosis is the most common type of the disorder. This is where calcium and phosphate levels in the blood are identical with each other and usually affects inflamed, malignant and necrotic tissues.
• Metastatic Calcinosis also called “ lipocalcinogranulomatosis” is usually genetic. This occurs when elevated calcium and phosphate levels are observed in the blood. It affects areas in the joint tissues near the shoulders, hips or ankles.
• Idiopathic Calcinosis has no known origin even in the absence of systemic metabolic disorder or trauma to the tissue. One distinct factor of this type of calcinosis is that it is localized in one area
• Iatrogenic Calcinosis occurs post surgery or any medical procedure wherein calcium and phosphate deposits enter the subcutaneous area right after a procedure.

The disease is diagnosed by undergoing tissue biopsy of the lesions. Local anesthetics are filtered through the biopsied area and is performed in an outpatient set-up. Confirmative tests will note the presence of calcium deposits in the lesions.

Causes of Calcium deposits on face

There are a lot of factors that contribute to calcium deposits on the face, often times, it is simply an underlying symptom of a more serious condition. Medical researchers also believe that improper elimination of calcium and phosphate deposits in the bloodstream through the kidneys can also be a contributing factor. Enumerated below are the common reasons that contribute to the disorder.

• Over stimulation of thyroid glands – they control the metabolic activities of calcium, thus too much stimulation can cause elevated blood levels and calcified deposits in the skin
• Facial injury – a break on the skin integrity of the face can cause calcium balls to be lodged inside the facial tissues
• Paget disease – people suffering from this disorder have elevated alkaline phosphates in their blood which aids in calcium deposition
• Infections – during infection, less blood supply is delivered to the tissues causing cell death and when this occurs dead tissues slowly calcifies
• Milk – alkali syndrome – although uncommon, this is due to overconsumption of sodium bicarbonate and calcium containing compounds resulting to hypercalcemia that may lead to calcium accumulated in the skin
• Sarcoidosis – extreme calcium phosphate levels are noted in the blood which is a predisposing factor of calcinosis
• Chronic renal failure – is the most common factor that negatively affects calcium metabolism thus allowing the calcium salts to form and precipitate
• Intravenous administration of calcium or phosphate – these solutions when administered in the blood may cause formation of calcium salts
• Tumor Lysis Syndrome – hypocalcemia is common in patients suffering from this disorder and because of this, the need to administer calcium intravenously is frequent which greatly exposes the risk of tissues to calcify
• Prolonged use of Calcium gel – diagnostic procedures such as EEG, ECG and etc. uses calcium gel to attach the electrodes on the placement site, this increases the risk of calcium balls to be deposited in the area
• Werner syndrome – is a genetic disorder involving premature tissue calcification of the tendons, ligaments and subcutaneous tissues
• Pseudoxanthoma elasticum – is the condition where elastic fibers are abnormally decalcified
• Rothmund-Thomson syndrome – yellowish papular calcium balls are scattered across the extremities particularly in the nails of the hands and feet
• Panniculitis – usually affects newborns wherein calcification of dead subcutaneous tissues occur combined with fatty acids released by defective fat cells contribute to formation of calcium salts
• Lupus Erythematosus – although rare, calcification is concentrated on the lesions of the lupus profundus
• CREST Syndrome – tightening of the skin is observed with small calcium deposits developed late in this disorder; the syndrome is usually composed of 5 disorders ( Calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly and telangiectasis)

How to remove a calcium deposit on the face?

In cases where Calcinosis is severe, there is no other way to address the problem than to surgically remove it. Below are various methods:

• Carbon Dioxide Laser Therapy – a treatment that observes the use of light energy in penetrating the skin, this procedure fully removes calcium deposits on the dermis
• Iontophoresis – often called “ionization”; small amounts of electrical current are involved in applying the medications to the skin such as cortisone to decalcify calcium deposits
• Surgical Excision – calcified snow balls are surgically excised to remove them from the skin, this procedure is recommended when other treatment alternatives fail to offer relief
• Surgical Debridement – calcium balls are pulled out from the tissue layer of the skin using sterile scalpels and scissors; sometimes a topical ointment is applied to the skin in conjunction with this procedure
• Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy – is usually recommended for severe calcinosis that is resistant and recurrent even after multiple treatments; it is usually associated with systemic sclerosis

Treatment

For scenarios where calcium deposits on the skin are minimal and less serious, pharmacological approach is a better way to address the problem as it is non-invasive.

Drug Therapies

• Prednisone ( Steroids) –inhibits calcium deposits
• Warfarin – when given in low doses, it treats the disorder on its early stages
• Magnesium and Aluminum Antacids – inhibits formulation of hypercalcemia
• Colchicine – reduces pain and inflammation
• Diltiazem – prevents influx of calcium to the cells
• Antibiotics – controls the spread infection
• Sodium Thiosulfate – when given intravenously it positively treats calciphylaxis
• Minocycline – ultimately lessens ulceration and inflammation but minimally improves lesional size

Home Remedies

There are plenty of ways to treat calcium deposits in the face. The following are dermatologically tested to zero–out calcium balls in the face:

• Aloe Vera – is a home remedy useful to remove “millia”, they are small white crystal deposits found near the eye, it is believed that when applied, aloe vera makes the skin smooth allowing it to easily to fall off.
• Olive Oil – extra virgin olive oil is a close match to the natural oil produced by our skin and because of this it is absorbed quickly which aides the calcium deposits to slowly come off.
• Antibiotic Creams – they are often effective in removing the small calcium balls as its antibacterial properties are believed to soften the hardened deposits.
• Ice Application – apply ice on the affected area as it can decrease the inflammation and minimize instances of deposits.
• Topical Retinoid Cream – this remedy is known to be effective in sloughing off dead skin cells allowing the new cells to replace them while slowly removing the deposits.
• Fruit Peel Face Pack – fruit peels are known to have decreased levels of fruit acid which makes it a safe topical exfoliant, it is best to exfoliate above the swelling for better results.

Prevention

Although there are a lot of natural treatments to remove calcium deposits, incorporation of healthy habits every day is still the best way to address the issue such as:

• Increasing Vitamin C intake by loading up on fruits and vegetables
• Close monitoring of calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood particularly to patients with end stage renal disease
• Drinking plenty of fluids as it helps the kidneys flush out toxins
• Washing off the face with water every day after waking up to prevent building up of calcium deposits on skin around the eyes
• Restrict Vitamin D consumption, adults are limited to 200 IU daily consumption
• Increase Magnesium ( nuts, seeds, avocados, yogurt, beans, brown rice) and Vit. K (dark leafy vegetables, broccoli, cabbage, brussels, prunes, cucumbers, dried basil leaves) diet as lack of these minerals increases the risk of calcinosis
• Indulge in warm daily tub soaks for 20-30 mins. As this prevents development of deposits
• Daily flossing and tooth brushing prevents calcium deposits in the teeth

Pictures

Pictures of calcium deposits on face, fingers, skin, teeth, forehead, feet and so on:

Calcium deposits on arms

Calcium deposits on face near the eyes

Picture of calcium deposits on face (cheeks)

Calcium deposits on fingers

Calcium deposits on forehead

Calcium deposits under the lips

What is an Infected Blackhead?

Blackheads are a type of acne in which the pores in the skin gets filled with dead skin, causing it to turn black. They are very common in everyone but usually seen in people that have oily skin. Infected blackheads are usually seen on the nose and forehead even though they can occur on any part of the body.

Blackheads can be easily cured if the person maintains a good hygiene and exfoliates his/her skin regularly, but in some cases of carelessness, the blackheads get infected. These can be very painful if the infection increases and sometimes small operations need to be done to cure them. Even though the blackhead infection is not very serious but, if mishandled, the microbes causing them can enter the blood vessels and cause an even bigger infection. Blackheads can develop in any part of the body, even in the ear canal or the eyelids and cause intense pain if infected.

Symptoms of an Infected Blackhead

It is very common to develop acne on the cheek, chin, forehead, nose and lip region. They can also easily develop on the other parts of the body including the leg, hands or the back. If the blackheads get infected on any of these places they show the following symptoms.

• Swelling – The blackhead is usually a very small bump on the skin and in many cases, there is not even a bump present. When the blackhead gets infected this bump grows larger and the area around it swells. The face has very sensitive skin compared to other parts of the body and most blackheads appear on the face only. An infected blackhead on the face can swell easily and is clearly visible. The swelling is not that prominent on the other parts of the body like the legs and the back.
• Pus formation – The swollen infected blackhead has pus filled inside it. The pus can be of white or green color depending on what has caused the infection. The top of the swollen blackhead is covered by a black cap of the dead skin debris that forms a plug to the bump. When the plug opens, the pus starts draining out on itself. The pus consists of the bacteria that have led to the infection and if not cleaned properly can lead to other parts of the skin getting infected. In some cases, the plug does not open up and the pus keeps accumulating inside the bump causing it to grow even bigger in size.
• Bleeding – When the plug of the swollen infected pimple brakes open or is forced to open the pus comes out. After all the pus is drained, some blood also comes out. In some cases, the pus has tints of blood on it. The infected blackhead is like a wound, and the blood oozes out of it at times and later clotting happens.
• Pain and inflammation – The area around the infected blackhead also swells and a sharp pain is felt when it is touched or pressed. The blackhead infections can also happen in odd places like the ear canal or behind ear which can be very painful. The space inside the ear canal is limited and the area is very sensitive. So, if swelling and bleeding happens in there, it is very painful. Even after the blackhead has drained all the fluid in it, there is slight inflammation that continues until it is completely cured.
• Tenderness – The area around the blackhead and even the area of the infected blackhead feel tender and soft to touch. The tenderness is usually because the space inside it is filled with fluid and the body is constantly trying the heal the wound by itself.
• Redness – The infected blackhead usually turns pinkish red and the area around it turns pink. The redness increases if the area is touched or meddled with. The blackhead on the face usually turns red and is the first sign to tell that the blackhead is infected.
• Warmth – The infected area feels warm to touch. The warmth is due to the high blood circulation in that area. The body increases the blood circulation in that area in order to heal it faster.

Causes

There are usually a few causes for a blackhead to become infected and they include:

Bacteria

Bacterias are the main cause for a blackhead becoming infected. When the person pops open the acne, some harmless bacteria that are present in our skin get triggered and cause the infection. The bacterial infection leads to swelling, inflammation, pain and redness in the area. If the skin in the ear canal gets irritated and a person scratches it hard, there is a big possibility that the bacteria would spread over to the other parts of the ear as well.

Popping or squeezing

Contrary to the popular belief that squeezing a blackhead cures it, this can cause it to get infected. The popping of the blackhead might lead the dirt and bacteria to get trapped in the skin. This leads to the skin becoming infected. Especially if the blackhead is squeezed with dirty hands and proper hygiene is not maintained, pus-filled bumps start forming. After the pus filled bumps are formed, if they are squeezed before maturing completely, there is a possibility of the infection spreading to the blood and the doctor might have to operate the area to treat it.

Poor Hygiene

Poor hygiene is one of the main reasons for the infection of blackheads. And popping the blackhead with dirty hands might even lead them to develop infections. During the infection, if proper care of the hygiene is not taken, then the infection might turn into a different and more serious disease.

Abrasion

Abrasion on the skin with blackheads irritates them. When the blackheads get irritated, the bacteria around them get activated and trigger infections.

Treatment

There are a number of treatments for the infected blackhead. The various types of treatments include:

• Let the body work – The human immune system is enough to heal almost all the wounds and diseases. So in the case of infected blackheads, the immune system is enough to treat them. The white blood cells are responsible for killing any type of bacteria in the skin. The only precautionary measure that should be taken is to keep the skin clean and not squeeze the swollen area. As soon as the body detects the presence of bacteria inside our skin, white blood cells help in destroying the bacteria. If the infection still pertains after a week and seems to spread, consulting a doctor is advised.
• Salicylic Acid – Salicylic acid is very helpful in corroding the blackhead plugs. This leads to the drainage of the pus. Later the salicylic acid kills the bacteria and reduces the infection. But using too much salicylic acid on the face can increase irritation and inflammation.
• Benzoyl Peroxide – Benzoyl peroxide is prescribed by many doctors as a common pimple medication. The infected blackhead is quite similar to a pimple and benzoyl peroxide has antibacterial properties. Bacteria is the main reason for the infection so it is very helpful in treating the infection.
• Antiseptic ointments – Antiseptic ointments are prescribed by the doctors to avoid any further infections that might lead to the skin getting septic. The further growth of any new organism on the vulnerable part of the skin stops and the healing process improves. The antiseptic ointments also help in reducing pain and inflammation.
• Antibiotics – In cases where the infection is more than mild, the doctor prescribes oral antibiotics to kill the bacteria present in the skin. The antibiotics are also helpful in preventing the infection spreading to the blood.
• Pore strips – The over the counter pore strips are very helpful in pulling out the plugs of the blackheads. Once the plugs are pulled out, the pus drains out itself and the healing automatically speeds up once all the fluid has drained.

Pictures of Infected Blackheads

Take a look at some of the pictures of infected blackheads on nose and ear:

Home Remedies

Some of the simple home remedies that can help deal with the infected blackheads are:

• Turmeric and rose water – Turmeric has antibiotic and antiseptic properties. Mixing of one tablespoon turmeric in same amount of rose water and applying on the infected blackhead speeds up the healing process. The rose water has a cooling effect on the skin and helps in bringing down the inflammation caused by the swelling.
• Warm or cold compress – Applying a warm compress to the area helps increase the blood flow to the skin. This can also help in reducing the pain and inflammation. The cold compress not only rejuvenates the skin by decreasing the pain but also helps in keeping it moisturized. Cold tea bags can be used as a cold compress. Taking steam might also be helpful as the bacteria comes out of the pores with the sweat and the pores that have dead cell debris left gets cleaned. This reduces the chances of any further infections.
• Baking Soda – Baking soda along with water can be made into a paste and applied on the infected area. Baking soda helps pull out the pus and break the blackhead plugs. This leads to the drainage of the pus. Baking soda also has antiseptic properties so, it is very helpful in reducing the infection.