Our throat is something that helps us in carrying out various different functions throughout the day starting off from speaking to consuming food. Even the slightest of issues with it and the surrounding organs can lead to a lot of discomfort that might interfere in our daily life activities. The uvula is a teardrop/punching bag shaped piece of soft tissue that hangs at the back end of our throat commonly known as the "small tongue". Swelling of Uvula is known as Uvulitis which is an issue of great concern as it tends to cause swelling, redness, sore throat, a choking sensation and even trouble in breathing. Uvulitis or ulva swelling can be caused due to various conditions such as infection, injuries and allergies. Let us get ahead and learn more about what an uvula is, what is the condition of Uvulitis or ulva swelling, common symptoms and causes of this condition along with ways to treat it with.
What is an Uvula?
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A small piece of flesh made up of muscle fibers, connective tissues and glands that resembles a punching bag as it is of a teardrop shape that hangs at the back of the throat. As this fleshy organ hangs just above the throat, it helps you to swallow and to speak. Some of the major functions of an uvula are-
- Helps you to create certain sounds while speaking.
- It tends to stop the food and drinks from entering the food pipe while swallowing.
- It helps to prevent choking by triggering the gag reflex.
- It secretes saliva to keep your mouth and throat moist and lubricated
What is Uvulitis?
As we know, inflammation can take place in almost any part of the body. Where this inflammation can also take place in any part of your mouth, the uvula is no exception. Swelling in uvula caused due to inflammation is termed as uvulitis. This condition tends to be really painful and can cause a lot of discomfort. Not just this but as your uvula swells due to uvulitis, it makes it difficult for a person to swallow food, speak and even to breath. Where this inflammation can be caused due to several reasons, it can also result in seuss such as sleep apnea.
Causes of Uvulitis
As by now we know all about uvula and the condition of uvulitis, let us take a step ahead and try to understand various causes of this condition caused by inflamed uvulaStuffy nose-
- Strep throat
- Flu
- Damage caused due to acid reflux
- Croup infection
- Genetics
- Mononucleosis
- Pollen allergies
- Allergy due to pet dander
- Food allergies
- Snoring
- Blood pressure medication
- Tonsil removal
- Throat injury
- Smoking
Symptoms of Uvulitis
In order to get timely treatment and avoid further complications, it is important to check for early signs and symptoms of any conditions. It is pretty similar in the case of uvulitis. Observing the symptoms at an initial stage can be really helpful in preventing the condition to aggregate any further with the help of proper treatment. Some of the most common symptoms of uvulitis are-
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Low appetite
- Coughing
- Pain in swallowing food
- Gagging
- Difficulty in breathing
- Choking sensation
- Excessive saliva
- Swollen tonsils
- Nasal regurgitation
Ways to Treat Uvulitis
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Where uvulitis is a condition that can give rise to several serious and life threatening issues, it is important to get it threatened on time and take proper measures to avoid the problem from aggravating any further. Here are some of the simple remedies and medications as suggested by Dr. Aditi Sinha which can help to provide relief from this painful condition.
- Drink plenty water
- Gargle with lukewarm water either with sal or by adding a medicated gargles
- Use throat sprays or herbal lozenges
- Take pain relief medications such as Paracetamol
- Eliminate all kinds of exposure to allergens such as pollen and dust
- Keep the air around you moist with the help of a humidifier.
- Do not consume food items or drinks of extreme temperatures (either hot or cold)
- Consume soft or bland food items
- Maintain distance from alcohol and smoking
(With inputs from Dr. Aditi Sinha, Consultant ENT Surgeon, Masina Hospital, Mumbai)