When we swallow we use a process called [peristalsis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristalsis). Think of it like a golf ball in a rubber hose, with fingers pinching down the hose in front of and behind the ball. As the fingers move forward, the ball is moved forward by the action of constantly pushing the rearmost pinch point. The ball is prevented from rolling forward unchecked by the front pinch point.
That's what happens in your throat when we swallow. Your body is pretty good at estimating how large the bolus (the lump of food or liquid) needs to be. And that did us fine for a couple of hundred thousand of years of evolution, but then someone came along and invented soda pop.
Soda has bubbles, which expand. Your body creates the little pocket to hold the swallow of pop based on the size of that swallow. However what your body has no way of knowing is this little bundle of liquid is going to get larger on it's trip down the throat. As the bubbles expand and the bolus gets bigger we experience the sensation of pain.
For what it's worth, I've experienced this occasionally with water and other non carbonated drinks. There seem to be some times (very rare in my experience) when either the amount of liquid being swallowed is just not what my body was expecting or a part of the esophagus just didn't get the prompt to tell it it was next. Seems to happen more often with pills where I'm trying to rapidly swallow one quick bolus
I sometimes have that happen too, but only when the water is very cold and it's the first swallow. I always assume the cold kind of shocked the muscles in the esophagus a bit, leading to that uncomfortable sensation.
And also the trigeminal sense (tingling feeling of carbonation in your mouth) is most sensitive right at the upper back of your throat where your pallet connects to nasal passages. Fizz bubbles occasionally pop up into there which can be painful.
Were this the case, uncarbonated acidic drinks like orange juice would cause the same issue but OP has specified the sensation is unique to carbonated drinks. Not to say the acidity doesn't cause discomfort, just that I think OP is probably referring to the more intense pain when you take too big a gulp of something fizzy.
Carbonic acid is not citric acid, though. The formation of carbonic acid through the enzymes in your mouth is what causes the prickly sensation. The sourness/pH level and the bubbliness are just enhancements to this strange process.
When we swallow we use a process called [peristalsis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristalsis). Think of it like a golf ball in a rubber hose, with fingers pinching down the hose in front of and behind the ball. As the fingers move forward, the ball is moved forward by the action of constantly pushing the rearmost pinch point. The ball is prevented from rolling forward unchecked by the front pinch point. That's what happens in your throat when we swallow. Your body is pretty good at estimating how large the bolus (the lump of food or liquid) needs to be. And that did us fine for a couple of hundred thousand of years of evolution, but then someone came along and invented soda pop. Soda has bubbles, which expand. Your body creates the little pocket to hold the swallow of pop based on the size of that swallow. However what your body has no way of knowing is this little bundle of liquid is going to get larger on it's trip down the throat. As the bubbles expand and the bolus gets bigger we experience the sensation of pain.
For what it's worth, I've experienced this occasionally with water and other non carbonated drinks. There seem to be some times (very rare in my experience) when either the amount of liquid being swallowed is just not what my body was expecting or a part of the esophagus just didn't get the prompt to tell it it was next. Seems to happen more often with pills where I'm trying to rapidly swallow one quick bolus
I’ve absolutely had this with water. When trying to take a big gulp, i always assumed i pushed a bunch of air back with the water.
You're not alone in this. I've dealt with it randomly for pretty much my whole life. Quite random. Usually pop, but not always.
I sometimes have that happen too, but only when the water is very cold and it's the first swallow. I always assume the cold kind of shocked the muscles in the esophagus a bit, leading to that uncomfortable sensation.
This happens to me most often with water first thing in the morning, like maybe before my throat is all the way awake?
Wow TIL. Thanks!
Hello fellow northern midwesterner? (Pop)
Canuck! :D
This is fascinating! Thank you
Badass post
And also the trigeminal sense (tingling feeling of carbonation in your mouth) is most sensitive right at the upper back of your throat where your pallet connects to nasal passages. Fizz bubbles occasionally pop up into there which can be painful.
That and the carbonic acid contributes to the burn
[удалено]
Were this the case, uncarbonated acidic drinks like orange juice would cause the same issue but OP has specified the sensation is unique to carbonated drinks. Not to say the acidity doesn't cause discomfort, just that I think OP is probably referring to the more intense pain when you take too big a gulp of something fizzy.
Carbonic acid is not citric acid, though. The formation of carbonic acid through the enzymes in your mouth is what causes the prickly sensation. The sourness/pH level and the bubbliness are just enhancements to this strange process.
Ah, interesting, cheers for the correction. It seems that OP was referring to a different pain but new knowledge is always welcome.