Dry Throat at Night

Dryness of throat at night, more than often, is a result of an inflammation of the inner lining of the throat. There are many other reasons for this condition. But whatever be the cause, a dry throat at night disturbs the sleep, making a person feel tired and sleepy during the day, thus hampering his daily activities.

Let us learn what causes dryness in the throat and also the various treatment methods.

If a person is suffering from nasal congestion, he tries to breathe through his mouth while sleeping. When the person tries to breathe from the mouth, it irritates the throat and thus, makes it dry.

To get relief from this condition it is necessary to reduce the swelling of the nasal passage so that breathing from the nose is possible again. Steam inhalation for 5-10 minutes every day, before going to bed at night, can help reduce the swelling and clear the nasal passages.

Smoke and pollution is another reason behind dry throat. When smoke or other irritants are inhaled, the throat tends to get inflamed. So it is advised that a person suffering from dry throat because of this, quits smoking or stays away from people when they smoke, as passive smoking can be even more dangerous than active smoking.

To save yourself from air pollution, there is nothing much that can be done. But you can certainly keep some plants in the office as well as your workplace. Plants help in absorbing the toxins from the air and thus, freshens the air in your room.

Dryness in the throat could be due to an allergic reaction to a particular food item or can be caused by weather changes particularly during the winter months. Sometimes, a person might be allergic to dust or pollen and when he comes in contact with them during the day, he may complain of dryness in the throat.

To get relief from this condition, avoid foods which cause this allergic reaction and wear warm clothes, which can save you from the extreme cold. Also, protect yourself from dust and smoke by wearing face masks that cover the nose and mouth.

If a person has cough, he may experience bouts of coughing at night while lying down. This may lead to a dry scratchy throat. To prevent this condition, gargle with warm salty water every day, before sleeping. Also, drink lots of water during the day to keep the throat moist.

Sinus infections can produce various symptoms like headache, pain between the eyes, cheeks and jaws, nasal discharge, besides the dry throat symptoms.

Sinus infections often become worse at night when the person is lying down. Sinusitis, thus, is another reason for dryness in the throat. For treatment of sinus infection, antibiotics are usually prescribed by the doctor.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux disease, can cause dry throat too. Under this condition, the fluids of the stomach move back into the esophagus and thus irritate the throat.

A person suffering from GERD often experiences dry throat, along with other symptoms such as heartburn, a burning or stinging sensation in the throat, difficulty in swallowing and a bitter taste in the mouth.

Natural cures for acid reflux include maintaining a healthy diet and drinking lots of water. Apple cider vinegar, if taken in a diluted form, after meals, can help cure GERD.

These are some of the causes of dry itchy throat at night. Dryness of throat at night can be extremely annoying if you experience it on a regular basis. The treatment depends on what is causing the problem. So identify the causes first before resorting to any treatment methods.