Feels Like Something Is Stuck In My Sinus Cavity – Why Is It Happening?

Share this article:

That weird and annoying feeling where you feel like something is blocking your airway. A small sneeze and all is back to normal. But if the irritation and the feeling that a huge lump is still lying at the back of your throat is still there, you become agitated. The cavity from our nose to our throat is pretty long, and as we know that bacteria and irritants first enter the nasal cavity, it could get a bit crowdy in there! Viruses, allergies, and nasal polyps are common causes of the long-lasting tickling feeling we often sense in our noses. Besides, if you have a stuffy nose where you try to blow your nose, again and again, to ease out breathing but to no avail, it could generally be due to inflamed blood vessels in the sinuses. The vessels become inflamed due to the flu, cold, or sinus infection. Moreover, food can also find its way into the sinus cavity and get stuck there, causing discomfort.

The back of the nose curves downward and connects your mouth to the throat. Besides, irritants food may also get dislodged into the sinus cavity. So when something clogged our airway, it not only irritate but at times makes breathing difficult.

Under normal circumstances, the particle or the huge lump may come out on its own with a sneeze or is gulped down the throat. But if it stays in there, one needs to go for a physician.

Let’s examine why we feel a twinge when our sinus cavity is blocked and things you can do to ease your breathing.

Postnasal drip – a cause of uneasy feeling in the sinus

We know that our body produces extra mucus after detecting an invader (viruses or bacteria). When this excess thick mucus comes out of your nose, it is called a runny nose, but it is referred to as a postnatal drip if it runs down the back of your throat.

Postnatal drip is usually caused by cold, flu, allergy, or it may be due to a sinuses infection and becomes a major cause of discomfort at the back of your throat.

You began to sound hoarse, and your throat tastes sore and gets scratchy. In most cases, a postnatal drip forces you to clear your throat continuously.

4 reasons for the tickling sensation in nose

Besides having a postnatal drip, some other reasons can also lead to discomfort in your nose.

A young woman is holding her nose because she's constantly feeling a tickling sensation.

Viruses causing the common cold, allergies, environmental irritants, nasal polyps, and nasal tumors are some of the few reasons why you feel weird in the area between your throat and nose. 

1. Viruses

The tingling sensation in your nose is often caused by viruses responsible for causing cold.

These germs try to enter the nasal cavity, and the nose tries to throw them out with mucus through a sneeze. So, the nose tickle could be a sign that you are about to have the seasonal flu.

2. Allergies

When a person is allergic to dust, pollens, pet dander, fragrances, or chemicals, the immune system considers it a foreign invader and initiates cold-like symptoms. In addition, allergies cause itching in your nose, which further leads to continuous sneezing.

3. Nasal polyps

People suffering from chronic sinusitis have small, soft, noncancerous nasal polyps that hang down the lining of your nasal passage. Large nasal polyps can cause irritation and difficulty breathing.

Trying to remove nasal polyps on your own may cause bleeding and infection.

4. Nasal tumors

Nasal and paranasal tumors grow in and around the nasal passages. It is hard to detect a nasal tumor since there are no possible symptoms other than losing your sense of smell, congestion, nose sores, and sinus infection.

Things that might get stuck in your nasal cavity

Besides bacteria, many organic and inorganic things can get stuck in the sinus cavity. 

Organic objects

The organic objects cause swelling in the mucosa along with constant irrigation. Organic foreign bodies include food, wood, rubber, sponges, peas, peanut, and nuts.

Inorganic objects

Inorganic bodies include beads, tiny toy parts, and other small objects. All these things can only be discovered through proper examination.

Curiosity is a child’s constant companion pursuing them to put things into their noses. From crayons to toys, children fill their noses with anything that comes in their hands.

Typically, kids between the age of 2-5 stuck foreign objects into their noses. Runny nose, nose bleeds, and difficulty in breathing are common signs showing something is stuck in your child’s nose.

Rhinoliths is also a cause of nasal discomfort

Rhinoliths is a stone present in the nasal cavity. At times, unrecognized foreign bodies can go undetected at the back of the throat. However, with time these foreign particles get coated with calcium, magnesium, phosphate, iron, and carbonate.

They are found on the floor of the nasal cavity and are radio-opaque, allowing them to go unnoticed for years.

The symptoms of Rhinolith only becomes visible when the mass began to grow. Some symptoms to look for include nasal blockage, foul smell from nose and mouth, and unilateral nasal discharge.

Food – can it get stuck to your sinuses?

Imagine you are having a family dinner, teasing, talking, and laughing. Then, with a single snort, the food got stuck in your sinuses, forcing you to choke and gasp for air.

This happens more than often, and it is due to the structure of human sinuses. And it becomes even more grave when you have the flu or cold.

During cold, the nasal body cavity produces excess mucus, which drains down the throat from the nose through the nasal passage. When you eat and cough simultaneously, the food finds its way to the nasal passage and gets sucked into the sinuses.

We face this situation more frequently; a pat on the back and a cough will clear your passage quickly. Or you can use the Saline nasal rinse to remove the food. But if you still feel restless, it’s best to visit the nearest hospital.

How should you clear your nasal cavity?

Below are some quick tips to help you get rid of anything that is stuck between your nose and the throat:

  • Don’t probe the object as it will push it further down the nose.
  • Don’t try to swallow the object; instead breathe from your mouth for the time being.
  • Apply slight pressure on the unaffected nostril and try to blow out your nose.

Conclusion

Our nasal cavities are pretty sensitive, but of course, being adults, we know how to get rid of the objects stuck in our sinus cavities. When it comes to kids, it’s best to go to the physician right away.

Moreover, to ease the discomfort between your throat and nose, you can try simple remedies at home, such as drinking warm water or taking a hot shower to thin down the mucus. 

Share this article:

We’re proud to be a team of writers who are truly passionate about all things health.

Coming together from all parts of the world, we share a common goal of helping serve many with our comprehensive research and clear writing style. Learn more.

Nutrition & Diet