Unusual Causes and Side Effects of Throat Ailments

Everyone gets a sore throat from time to time. Most often associated with a cold, there are a myriad of other possible causes you may not know about. If you find yourself developing a sore throat even without any symptoms of an illness, it could be caused by something you’ve never thought about.

Acid Reflux or GERD

Have you had a day where you battled acid reflux and then noticed the scratchiness of a sore throat? It can feel like you’re catching some sort of strange virus, but those gastrointestinal issues and your sore throat may be connected. A form of acid reflux is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which causes the acids in the stomach to move backwards and rise in the throat. In Laryngo-Pharyngeal Reflux (LPR), the acid rises up to the level of the voice box. If you’ve noticed a sore throat that persists, you should see a health care professional to sort out the symptoms. Interestingly, many patients with reflux that impacts their throat do not have “heartburn.” This “silent reflux” can cause damage to the esophagus and voice box if left undiagnosed and untreated.

Sleep Patterns

Snoring and mouth-breathing at night can also lead a person to wake up with a dry, scratchy and sore throat.  When we lay down at night, our nasal passage can swell. If it swells enough to impede airflow, we compensate by using our mouth to breathe more. This increased airflow can lead to dry mouth and sore throat. Often, treating the nasal congestion will help the throat symptoms.

Allergies

In an allergic reaction, the body reacts by swelling. “Hay fever” often leads to itchy eyes, and a runny nose which are a result of the swelling of these body parts so it's recommended to get some hay fever relief. But allergies can also cause swelling in the throat. When we interact with something we are allergic too, we can develop throat symptoms – thick mucous, hoarseness, voice changes, and an associated sore throat.  Interestingly, some patients can have throat symptoms without any of the more common allergy-symptoms. Lack of these more common symptoms can lead to a failure to properly identify the source of the problem. When properly identified, there are many effective treatments for allergy-related throat symptoms.

If your throat always seems to be sore and uncomfortable, you owe it to yourself to do something about it. Don’t waste any more time suffering from a treatable condition. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about a treatment or plan that can change the quality of your life.

At Becker Ear Nose and Throat Center, you can find relief from sore throat ailments with varying treatment options given by its experienced and highly skilled doctors. To learn more, visit website at https://www.beckerent.com.