What's that lump in your throat before you cry?The strange battle between breathing and swallowing.

From the show

Science Around You

Understand the surprising physical reason for that tight feeling you get when you're emotional. Known as the globus sensation, this feeling isn't just in your head. It’s a real physiological event triggered by your body's fight-or-flight response. When you experience strong feelings, your nervous system widens your airway for more oxygen, but the muscles you use to swallow try to do the opposite. This internal conflict creates the sensation of a knot.