Why is it when we cry, we get the feeling of a lump in our throat?

Question

What causes that?

Answer 1

when a person cries, what is happening is our body is releasing chemicals or toxins called Endorphines. Endorphines are toxins in the body that rev up in times of high emotion - be it joy, sorrow, fear, stress whatever. Crying is our bodies way of getting rid of those toxins.
the lump in the throat, based on the endorphines releasing, might be similar to the same feeling you get when you have a stomach ache and are about to, for want of a better term, toss your lunch. you get that sick feeling, and then you release it. i think it's somewhat the same way with the lump in the throat when you cry or about to cry.

as far as the lump in the throat, i have really only experienced that during times of sadness. we cry when we're happy, sad, afraid, stressed out, etc.... I don't get the lump in my throat when i cry because I'm so happy. so i think it might have something to do with the more - spirit draining emotions like sadness or stress, and the strain those things have on our bodies and our psychies and the moment when we're about to let it loose.

Answer 2

Because when you cry everything begins to drain...have you ever realized how people always have to blow their nose when they are crying?! Well, your snot (i know beautiful huh) drains down your throat like when you have a cold, and it causes that feeling.

Answer 3

I don't know...maybe a sob beginning to well up.