dry throat symptoms
Dry Throat Symptoms
A dry throat could be a symptom of a bigger problem, but can also be a condition accompanied by many other symptoms. Here, we understand the causes of and symptoms associated with a dry throat, and provide some home remedies that will be able to cure it.
A dry throat can be very irritating, especially if you wake up with it, pass your day through with it, and have to sleep with it. No matter how much water you drink, it just doesn't seem to go away. This condition, medically known as Xerostomia, itself could be a symptom of a larger problem, but is accompanied by various other symptoms. On the other hand, it may be a condition that has arisen due to several causes.
Symptoms
When you experience a dry throat, you may have found that swallowing feels uncomfortable, and so does talking. At a time like this, the saliva formation is reduced, which leads to this condition, and slowly begins to affect other aspects of your health, that manifest as the many symptoms of a dry and sore throat.
Causes
| Tastelessness | As the saliva formation is affected when you have a dry throat, it also affects the taste glands in the mouth. All the food you eat begins to seem tasteless, thereby causing you to eat foods rich in spices and salt. |
| Mouth Ulcers | Because you begin eating heavily flavored and spicy foods, it is likely that your mouth will develop ulcers, that will trouble you further. |
| Frequent Thirst | It is natural to want to drink lots of water when you have a dry throat, in an attempt to try to cure it. If dehydration is the cause of this condition, drinking lots of water may help. |
| Trouble Swallowing Food | Because you have trouble swallowing different types of foods, you are also going to feel an aversion to it. Foods that are dry such as breads and cakes will pose a lot of trouble, and should be avoided. |
| Bad Breath | The poor saliva production causes also causes the mouth to become dry. As such, this causes bad breath. |
| Dry Lips | A dry throat will cause a dry mouth and therefore, dry lips too. |
| Cavities | In an attempt to revive the taste in your mouth, you are likely to consume spicy and highly acidic foods. Continuous consumption of such foods will begin to affect your teeth, causing painful cavities. |
| Sore Throat | A sore throat is a natural symptom of an itchy dry throat. If the condition has lingered for too long, it is likely to become sore. |
- Dehydration, or lack of enough water in the body, is one of the prime causes of a dry throat.
- When the humidity levels in the environment are low, it tends to cause dryness of the throat. This cause may be more prominent during winters.
- If you have been talking, screaming, or singing too much, it may result in a dry throat.
- Those of you who smoke excessively are likely to face this problem.
- If you have been taking certain medicines for a particular health condition, it is possible that a dry throat in the morning may be one of the side effects of those medicines.
- Conditions such as tonsillitis or laryngitis are also likely to cause dryness of the throat.
- Allergies, cough or blocked nasal passages are responsible for a dry scratchy throat.
- Since dehydration is one of the causes, it is advisable to try to drink as much water as you can when you have a dry throat. Also include fresh fruit juices in your diet. Sipping on water through the day will also help prevent your teeth from decay.
- Gargle with salt water. Do this at least 2-3 times a day for best results. Alternately, you may also gargle with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a full glass of water.
- Consuming herbal tea such as green tea with honey is another great remedy for dry throat. Limit your intake of green tea to a small cup, 2-3 times a day.
- Prepare a glass of warm water, a dash of fresh lemon juice, and a teaspoon of honey, and sip on it. You are sure to feel better. You may do this twice a day.
- Since low humidity may also cause this condition, using a room humidifier while sleeping to maintain humidity levels and thereby preventing or treating dry throat at night, is helpful.