Chronic Throat Clearing

Occasionally, clearing your throat before or while talking or eating is very normal. However, there are people who have been seen constantly doing this all day long. This is definitely not normal and can be a hint to some kind of health concern.

Constantly clearing the throat is a simple way of getting rid of the mucus (a whitish or slightly yellowish substance). The person suffering from chronic cough produces more mucus than a normal person, feeling it more keenly in the throat and so has an uncontrolled urge to clear the mucus in this region.

Although this is not a life-threatening disorder, there are various reasons that may contribute to this condition and coughing. Hence, let us check out some of the common causes of chronic throat clearing.

Post nasal drip is a condition, wherein, excessive mucus is secreted by the sinuses, which gets accumulated in the throat or back of the nose. The condition is caused by some allergies, which can be seasonal, or persistent throughout the year. Apart from mucus accumulation and constant clearing of a running nose, difficulty in breathing, tickling sensations in the throat, etc. are other post nasal drip symptoms.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), gastric reflux disease, or acid reflux disease is a digestive disorder that takes place when stomach acid or bile occasionally flows back (refluxes) into our food pipe (esophagus).

The backwash of acid irritates the lining of the esophagus and leads to chronic throat clearing, trouble in swallowing, heartburn, chest pain, etc.

Moreover, constantly clearing the throat after eating or backwash of acid is commonly seen in people who consume food items that are high in fat content like dairy products or those who lie down instantly after eating food.

Asthma is a common inflammatory disease of the airways, wherein the airways narrow and swell. The condition is often characterized by variable and recurring symptoms like wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Asthma can also be a probable cause for constant clearing of the throat, but is more commonly seen in children.

Sinusitis or sinus infection is the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses due to a viral infection, allergy, or an auto immune disease. In most cases, the condition resolves over the course of one or two weeks. Chronic cough, fever, bad breath, nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions and constant throat clearing are the common symptoms seen in the patient suffering sinusitis.

The best way to break the habit of constant clearing of the throat is to sip warm water to get rid of the mucus. Hence, ensure that you drink plenty of water, at least 6 - 8 glasses daily, as this will help in thinning the mucous and enable it to move easily.

Try swallowing instead of clearing the throat, and in place of coughing hard, which will strain your throat and vocal cords, wait until the mucus rises and then cough it out. You can also try a nasal wash that would help removing the mucus from your nose and sinuses.

For better results, use a nasal steroid spray after doing a nasal wash as this will help in reducing the inflammation and swelling of the nose and sinuses.

Besides these, you can also have an antihistamine, which will dry up the post nasal drip by thickening the mucous. A decongestant can also be considered as it helps curing post nasal drip and reduces the swelling of the nose and sinuses. Hence, a combination of both antihistamine - decongestant can be helpful in cases of chronic throat clearing. However, before you opt for any of the above treatment measures, do consult your doctor to see which treatment is more beneficial to you.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.