Everyone clears their throat occasionally. However, persistent throat clearing can harm the vocal cords and indicate underlying health issues. Recognizing the factors causing this symptom allows for treatment at the source.
Causes of Throat Clearing
Throat clearing is usually a symptom of a few underlying conditions:
- Acid Reflux or GERD: Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) commonly triggers throat clearing. Around 20% of adults and 10% of children in the US are affected by GERD, often experiencing a sensation of something stuck in the throat or a sore throat.
- Food Allergies: Certain foods like dairy, eggs, rice and soy can tickle the throat, leading to the need for throat clearing.
- Medication Side Effects: Some medicines can cause a tickling sensation in the throat, resulting in throat clearing.
- Postnasal Drainage: Excess mucus production that drains into the throat can cause postnasal drip. Allergies, illnesses like colds or the flu, infections, spicy foods and weather changes can all trigger this condition.
- Tourette’s Syndrome: This neurological disorder can cause varying physical tics, including throat clearing.
Sometimes, persistent throat clearing can be a habit without an underlying cause.
Managing Throat Clearing
If persistent throat clearing negatively impacts you, seek medical advice. To manage this occurrence:
- Hydrate: Regular sips of water can relieve vocal cords of sensations, prompting throat clearing.
- Suppress the Urge: Try to resist the urge to clear your throat by sipping water or swallowing hard, protecting your vocal cords.
- Avoid Voice Irritation: Regularly rest your voice, refrain from smoking and treat allergy symptoms with antihistamines and decongestants.
- Manage GERD and Acid Reflux: Dietary and lifestyle changes and certain prescription medicines can help treat GERD and acid reflux.
- Treat Mucus Causes: Medicines can help manage mucus caused by illnesses or allergies. Consult a doctor for persistent mucus.
Chronic throat clearing can lead to vocal cord damage. Maintaining a healthy throat contributes to your overall health and well-being. To learn more about your ear, nose or throat health, schedule an appointment with Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat today.
Kila mtu husafisha koo lake mara kwa mara. Hata hivyo, kuondolewa kwa koo kwa ukawaida kunaweza kuharibu kamba za sauti na kuonyesha matatizo ya afya. Kutambua mambo yanayosababisha dalili hiyo huwezesha kutibu ugonjwa huo. Kwa kawaida, upungufu wa koo ni dalili ya hali kadhaa za msingi: - Acid Reflux au GERD: Acid reflux au ugonjwa wa gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) kwa kawaida husababisha upungufu wa koo. Karibu asilimia 20 ya watu wazima na asilimia 10 ya watoto nchini Marekani wanaugua ugonjwa wa GERD, ambao mara nyingi huathiri hisia ya kitu kilichofungwa kwenye koo au maumivu ya koo. - Uzio wa chakula: Vyakula fulani kama vile maziwa, mayai, mchele na soya vinaweza kuchochea koo, na kusababisha uhitaji wa kuondoa koo. - Madhara ya dawa: Dawa fulani zaweza kusababisha hisia ya kukwaruza kwenye koo, na kusababisha koo kufutwa. - Postnasal drainage: Uzalishaji wa kupita kiasi wa mucus ambayo hutiririka kwenye koo inaweza kusababisha drip postnasal. Madhara kama vile homa, homa, virusi, chakula chenye vikolezo, na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yanaweza kusababisha ugonjwa huu. - Tourette's Syndrome: Ugonjwa huu wa neva unaweza kusababisha tics tofauti za kimwili, ikiwa ni pamoja na kufungua koo. Nyakati nyingine, kuondolewa kwa koo kwa ukawaida kunaweza kuwa zoea bila sababu ya msingi. Usimamizi wa Ufafanuzi wa Kibofu Ikiwa ufafanuzi wa kibofu unaoendelea unakuathiri vibaya, tafuta ushauri wa daktari. Ili kudhibiti tukio hili: - Hydrate: sips mara kwa mara ya maji inaweza kupunguza sauti kamba ya hisia, kuchochea koo wazi. - Punguza hamu: Jaribu kukinza hamu ya kusafisha koo lako kwa kunywa maji au kumeza kwa nguvu, ukilinda kamba zako za sauti. - Kuepuka sauti Irritation: Mara kwa mara kupumzika sauti yako, kujizuia kutoka kuvuta sigara na kutibu dalili za mzio na antihistamines na decongestants. - Udhibiti wa GERD na Acid Reflux: Mabadiliko ya lishe na mtindo wa maisha na dawa fulani za dawa zinaweza kusaidia kutibu GERD na acid reflux. - Matibabu ya Visababishi vya Mucus: Dawa zinaweza kusaidia kudhibiti mucus inayosababishwa na magonjwa au mzio. Mtafute daktari kwa ajili ya mucus ya kudumu. Kuondolewa kwa koo kwa muda mrefu kwaweza kusababisha uharibifu wa kamba za sauti. Kudumisha afya ya koo huchangia afya na hali yako ya afya kwa ujumla. Ili kujua zaidi kuhusu afya ya pua yako, pua au koo, ratiba ya miadi na Alpine Ear, Pua na Kibofu leo.