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• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Loosen the hair
• Method 2 of 2: Address other issues

If you have the uncomfortable feeling that a hair is stuck in your throat, there are a few tricks you can try. You can safely swallow a few hairs or eat a mouthful of soft food to loosen the hair. Or address other health concerns that may make you feel like something is stuck in your throat. These problems can be related to smoking, regurgitation and allergies, among other things.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Loosen the hair

1. Try to swallow the hair. If you suspect you have one or two hairs stuck in your throat, just try to swallow them. The hair will travel through your digestive tract the way food does and your body will excrete them. Your body will not break down hair because it is made of keratin, a dense protein.
   • If it feels like a long hair, see if you can pull the hair out of your throat with your (clean) fingers.
2. Eat bland foods. You may be able to get the hair out of your throat by swallowing a large amount of food. Choose foods that are gentle and kind to your throat. For example, eat a few bites of banana or soft bread.
   • You should only try to swallow a bite that fits well in your mouth. If you try to swallow too big a bite, you can choke.
   • If you manage to swallow the hair, it will travel through your digestive tract with the food.
3. Contact an ear, nose, and throat doctor. If you can't get the hair out of your throat and the sensation bothers you, make an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist. If you experience other signs of a sore throat, such as painful swallowing or pus on your tonsils, then you should be examined thoroughly.
   • The specialist can perform tests or have X-rays taken. Make sure to provide a complete medical history and submit any complaints.

Method 2 of 2: Address other issues

1. Gargle with warm, salt water. You may feel like your hair is stuck in your throat, even though there's really nothing there. Other problems can cause the uncomfortable feeling. To soothe your throat, dissolve some salt in a glass of warm water while stirring. Gargle with the salt water to make your throat feel better.
   • Research also shows that gargling can prevent or reduce cold symptoms.
2. Stop smoking. Toxins and smoke particles can irritate the lining of your throat. This irritation can feel like hair stuck in your throat. Smoke less or not at all to limit throat irritation and smoker's cough.
3. Treat your acid reflux. When you have acid reflux (regurgitation), the acids from your stomach back up into your throat. This acid can irritate your throat, especially if it reaches your vocal cords. When this happens, the acid can make you feel like something is stuck in your throat. Ask your doctor about the best treatments for your regurgitation.
   • In addition, if you are often hoarse and have to cough, or you clear your throat often, you may have a type of reflux called laryngeal reflux.
4. Take allergy medications. If you have an allergic reaction to something you've eaten, you may have trouble swallowing, feel like something is stuck in your throat, or your tongue is hairy. Follow your allergy treatment plan or contact your doctor immediately.
   • The doctor may recommend that you take an antihistamine to block the allergen.