Sore throat, throat irritation and cough are all very common afflictions that have been experienced by most people at some time or the other. People of all ages could suffer from severe throat irritation, due to various factors. At times, the irritation could be a one-off occurrence, which lasts for no more than a couple of hours, but in some cases, it could go on for weeks or even months. When a person suffers from sore throat, accompanied by a constant tickle in throat, which lasts for more than 3 months, it is referred to as chronic throat irritation. At times, people deal with the problem by using medication or throat irritation remedies, which gets rid of the problem. However, in many such instances, the throat irritation is a recurrent problem. Throat irritation is not a health condition on its own, but is more like a symptom of deeper underlying health problems. There are several different factors and conditions that could cause a person to experience throat irritation.
Causes: The factors and conditions that could cause a person to suffer from acute or chronic throat irritation may vary in severity. Some of the causes could be serious enough to require immediate medical attention, whereas others could be minor enough to be treated with the help of simple home remedies. However, it is important to identify the causes of the problem, in case the irritation persists beyond a day or so. Given below are some of the most common causes of throat irritation:
- Activities which are too strenuous for the throat like singing, coughing shouting and so on
- Allergies, food intolerance and exposure to pollutants
- Bacterial infections caused by the streptococcal bacteria
- Consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol, cold beverages or ice cream
- Dryness in the mouth, which could occur due to dehydration, low water consumption or sleeping with the mouth open
- Gastro Esophageal Reflex Disorder (GERD), indigestion or heartburn
- Infected tonsils
- Minor ailments like fever, which generally lead to throat irritation when swallowing
- Polyps in the throat and cancer
- Reaction to anesthesia, which could lead to throat irritation after surgery or an operation
- Smoking or exposure to excessive passive smoke, which is generally characterized by throat irritation and dry cough
- Viral infections caused by the flu, cold or other respiratory problems
As some of the causes of throat irritation and coughing could be quite serious, it is important to consult a doctor and undergo a checkup, to identify what the exact cause of the problem is, as soon as possible.
Symptoms: One of the first signs noticed before throat irritation is the need to swallow saliva more frequently; this symptom is evident even before the throat irritation begins. People also realize that they are suffering from irritation in the throat, when they feel the urge to clear their throat very often. At times, a person's voice may also crack, while speaking. Soon after the irritation starts, the person tends to experience a constant tickle in throat and cough; people may cough up phlegm in such instances. It is also common to notice pain in addition to throat irritation after eating, swallowing liquids or yawning. At times, people may notice symptoms accompanying a sore throat, which are more severe than others. In case symptoms like ear pain, hoarseness, greenish phlegm or fever are evident, it may be best to consult a medical health care provider for medical treatment.
Treatment: There are many over the counter and prescription medicines that can help get rid of throat irritation within a short while; some of the medicines recommended for throat irritation and cough treatment are common. However, there are certain side effects, like drowsiness, that have been associated with these medicines, which is why most people now prefer using home remedies for throat irritation. Fortunately, there are several different throat irritation and cough remedies, which can help alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms and at the same time, speed up the recovery process. Given below are some of the most commonly recommended home remedies for throat irritation:
- Deep gargling is one of the most effective remedies for throat irritation, which brings about short-term relief almost immediately. The solution that most people use for gargling is warm water, with a pinch of salt. However, it is absolutely essential to ensure that the water is not too salty, or else it could worsen the irritation in the throat. Some of the other solutions that can also be used to gargle with are sage tea, raspberry tea or a branded mouth wash. This remedy is very effective for allergies throat irritation.
- Apple cider vinegar is an excellent home remedy for getting rid of throat irritation and it can be taken a few different ways. Due to it acidic taste, many people mix one part of apple cider vinegar with an equal part of honey, in order to make it more palatable. Mixing honey and apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water before drinking it is also quite effective.
- It is important to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, to keep the body well hydrated, which will reduce the dryness in the throat. Increasing water consumption has been known to relieve throat irritation within a day or two.
- Warm liquids, such as soup, broth, warm water and herbal tea are all excellent when it comes to soothing an inflamed and irritated throat. This helps the throat to recover faster.
- Vitamin C helps the body fight off infections caused by bacteria and viruses, which could get rid of a throat infection, thereby reducing the irritation. For best results, some freshly squeezed orange juice should be diluted in an equal part of warm water before being consumed.
- In case of throat irritation from alcohol or smoking, the best remedy is to give up or at least cut down on these habits.
answered by G M