Q: I often wake up with a sore throat. Sometimes after I eat breakfast and gargle it goes away. What causes that, and what can I do about it?
A: There are many potential causes for sore throat. First of all, the most important step is to see your doctor to identify the cause of your morning sore throat. Working with a correct diagnosis is important in order to receive proper treatment.
Dryness or inflammation are the most common problems that lead to the feeling of a sore throat. Your symptoms might simply be related to the fact that you breathe with your mouth open at night which causes the tissues to dry out, become irritated and more susceptible to infection. Mouth breathing might be caused by a sinus or nose disorder or might simply be a habit.
If you have had your morning sore throat for a long time and it truly goes away after eating and gargling, it might also relate to a postnasal drip that occurs at night. This drainage of secretions down the back of your throat is irritating to the tissue. With this diagnosis you might also be aware of a morning cough or increased throat clearing. Gastrointestinal reflux is another common cause of a reoccurring sore throat that might be worse in the morning.
Specific causes of a chronic or reoccurring sore throat may include the following:
- Smoking (particularly with marijuana)
- Mouth breathing
- Postnasal drip related to allergies or sinus disorders
- Chronic tonsillitis
- Irritation from indoor pollutants such as dust or smoke
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Infection
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Dryness caused by medications or an autoimmune disease
- Anxiety or depression
Sometimes what feels like throat pain could actually be pain or irritation that is coming from the thyroid gland, the neck, or even angina related to heart disease. These are less common causes of the feeling of a sore throat but nevertheless do occur.
A chronic sore throat might be caused by something fairly benign and easy to resolve or by something more serious. Don't diagnose and treat yourself. See a doctor for the correct diagnosis and proper treatment. |
