{"id":9457,"date":"2020-12-25T14:00:11","date_gmt":"2020-12-25T22:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=9457"},"modified":"2020-12-25T18:03:41","modified_gmt":"2020-12-26T02:03:41","slug":"gaba-helps-a-stressed-young-boy-with-episodes-of-choking-or-tightening-in-his-throat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/gaba-helps-a-stressed-young-boy-with-episodes-of-choking-or-tightening-in-his-throat\/","title":{"rendered":"GABA helps a stressed young boy with episodes of \u201cchoking\u201d or tightening in his throat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"gaba<\/p>\n

Earlier this year I blogged about how the calming amino acid GABA is often a solution for both anxiety and globus pharyngeus (lump in the throat)<\/a>\u00a0and a mom shared this about her son\u2019s episodes of \u201cchoking\u201d or tightening in his throat (to the point that he cannot swallow), especially when school stress gets high:<\/p>\n

My son, (8 y.o.) has a history of public school use of physical aversion intervention for behaviors that result from a significant language impairment often reports \u201cchoking\u201d or tightening in his throat to the point that he cannot swallow. When school stress gets high, he ceases to swallow his saliva which creates a long period of \u201cspitting\u201d out substances including food and natural spit as he is fearful of \u201cchoking\u201d to death. During panic attacks he immediately reports \u201cchoking\u201d which furthers his panic. You are the first practitioner I have come across that has explained the relationship between globus pharyngeus, stress reaction and low GABA levels. I always felt his throat tightening (involuntary muscle response) was a stress response but was not aware of it\u2019s connection to GABA levels. Thank you for this informative piece!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I voiced my concern for what her son was going through and how I can\u2019t imagine how scary it must be for someone his age, asking her to keep us updated on his progress.<\/p>\n

And just over a month later she reported the success her son was having with GABA:<\/p>\n

We started a GABA supplement which has positively impacted my son. While he still struggles with hypersalivation when in distress or anxious, his self-reports of feeling like he is \u201cchoking\u201d or his throat is closing, has not been present since GABA has been started. We are about a month in and I am inspired that we will continue to have progress. I have been referring to your work as a source to everyone I know that struggles with anxiety. Thank you for all that you do from a very grateful parent.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What wonderful results for her son! Getting feedback like this warms my heart and I appreciate her for sharing so I can share here.<\/p>\n

I did ask what GABA product he was using, how much\/how often he uses it and how quickly he noticed an improvement but did not hear back. My recommendation is 125mg to start for adults and less for children and I like the GABA Calm product as it\u2019s a sublingual form and easy to use for kids.<\/p>\n

I also commented on the fact that he still has \u201chypersalivation when in distress or anxious<\/em>.\u201d I would focus on trying to reduce the anxiety with higher doses of GABA and also consider addressing low serotonin<\/a>\u00a0because of the anxiety, panic attacks and being \u201cfearful of \u201cchoking\u201d to death\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

The anxiety could trigger hypersalivation but the hypersalivation could also be as a result of a food sensitivity like gluten or dairy. Both these and other food sensitivities could also contribute to low GABA\/low serotonin and be a trigger for anxiety.<\/p>\n

Of course, bullying at school should always be considered and so should the social anxiety condition pyroluria<\/a>, speech therapy, gut health and vagus nerve support<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Could this be a case of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)?<\/h2>\n

I always like to try and connect the dots and wonder if this could be a case of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)?\u00a0 I don\u2019t know but it\u2019s possible. This paper, Laryngopharyngeal reflux: A confounding cause of aerodigestive dysfunction<\/a>, states that LPR is \u201cdefined by the retrograde passage of gastric contents beyond the upper oesophageal sphincter, with contamination of the larynx, pharynx and lungs<\/em>\u201d and states that \u201chalf of the laryngeal complaints referred to ear, nose and throat (ENT) services are ultimately diagnosed as LPR<\/em>.<\/p>\n

It also mentions globus pharyngeus and dysphagia (which is difficulty swallowing), sharing that changes in pH suggest reflux occurs in \u201c50% of patients with hoarseness, 64% with globus, 55% with chronic cough and 35% with dysphagia<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

This same paper reports that \u201c30% of patients with LPR-like symptoms report anxiety, compared with 6% of healthy controls.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Prevalence of reflux disease in children and LPR symptoms by age<\/h2>\n

This paper, Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease in Children<\/a>, reports that \u201cAlthough the exact prevalence is unknown, it is estimated that nearly 1 in 5 children likely suffers from reflux disease.<\/em>\u201d This 1 in 5 number is for both GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and LPR.<\/p>\n

The authors also share that it usually presents with a different set of symptoms depending on age:<\/p>\n