Adjust your speaking style. Everybody has a different way of talking. People who feel tense or under pressure may talk in a pinched, high-pitched voice. This style of talking can lead to muscle strains in the throat. Lowering the volume of your speech puts less strain on the circular muscles that encircle the throat. Using your natural pitch will also reduce strain on your throat.
Yawn and swallow deliberately. While it may sound counter-productive to deliberately use the throat muscles, performing reflex actions in this way enables you to better control the muscles that you use.
Drink warm water. Swallowing water causes your cricopharyngeus to naturally relax in order to allow the water to pass. Warm water is beneficial because cold temperatures cause muscles to contract.
Reduce stress. Make adjustments in your lifestyle that help you deal with stress. Practice breathing exercises, meditation and go to bed earlier. Stress can cause tension throughout the body. If you experience tension in your throat, this can be compounded by stress. If the throat muscles are not contracting and relaxing properly, it can create the sensation of choking. This is stressful in itself.
Rest your throat. Schedule an hour each day where you will not need to speak. Combine this with your relaxation exercise and focus on breathing. It is important to do this during waking hours. If you snore or have sleep apnea, your throat will still be in use.
Consult a doctor. A chronic and severe difficulty swallowing is clinically defined as cricopharyngeus dysfunction. Your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant to treat the condition. If your throat problem is not chronic and severe, consider a herbal treatment. Black caraway seeds have anti-spasmodic properties. Boil up some black caraway seeds in a pot of soup for a delicious and healthy natural treatment.