Everyone clears their throat from time to time. Constant clearing of the throat is damaging to the vocal cords. If you find yourself always clearing your throat, you should attempt to find the cause. Once you know what’s making you clear your throat, you can work to treat it.
Causes Of Throat Clearing
Clearing of the throat is typically a symptom of an underlying cause or condition.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common causes for clearing your throat. GERD is common, affecting 20% of adults and 10% of children in the U.S. It often results in a feeling of something stuck in the throat or a sore throat.
- Food allergies may cause a tickling sensation in your throat, prompting you to clear it. Dairy, eggs, rice and soy are common triggers.
- Side effects of medication can include a tickling sensation in your throat along with throat clearing.
- Postnasal drainage occurs when your body produces extra mucus that then drains into the throat. Postnasal drip can be caused by allergies, illnesses such as colds or the flu or infections. They can also be caused by eating spicy foods and changes in the weather.
- Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes vocal outbursts and physical tics. The tics can range from eye blinking, to throat clearing to coughing.
- Sometimes, throat clearing is a subconscious habit with no underlying cause.
Managing Throat Clearing
If your throat clearing is persistent or negatively impacting you, seek a doctor’s advice. If you’re not at the point of wanting to seek medical treatment but want to manage your throat clearing, there are a few pieces of advice you can follow.
- Hydrate: Hydrating can help relieve the vocal cords of any sensation causing you to want to clear your throat. It’s best to sip small amounts frequently as opposed to drinking large amounts all at once.
- Make an effort to stop: Try to suppress the feeling of clearing your throat. Instead, try sipping water or swallowing hard. This will help protect your vocal cords.
- Avoid irritating your voice: Rest your voice at frequent intervals, and don’t smoke. Treat allergy symptoms with antihistamines and decongestants from Harold’s Pharmacy.
- Treat GERD and acid reflux with diet and lifestyle changes: There are also prescription medications a doctor can recommend for you.
- Treat causes of mucus: Whether it be illness or allergies, there are medications to help manage mucus. For persistent mucus, you should consult a doctor.
Stopping clearing your throat can provide relief from negative symptoms. If you want to learn more about throat health contact Charleston ENT & Allergy to schedule an appointment.