Recognize the Causes of Dry Throat and How to Overcome It

Dry throat can interfere with daily activities. Talking will feel quite painful and awry. Immediately find out the cause in order to overcome them appropriately. Dry throat is often accompanied by itching or pain in the throat. This condition may be a symptom of a throat or mouth disorder. Two conditions associated with dry throat are laryngitis and dry mouth.

Conditions That Cause Dry Throat

Below are two types of diseases that can cause dryness in the throat:

• Laryngitis

This condition most often causes a dry throat accompanied by hoarseness and itching. Laryngitis is inflammation of the vocal cords that occurs due to excessive use of the vocal cords or due to infection. There are two types of laryngitis which are distinguished based on the time span of the onset of symptoms. Long-term (chronic) laryngitis that is generally caused by cigarette smoke, alcohol, allergies or stomach acid irritation. Then, short-term (acute) laryngitis which is generally caused by viral and bacterial infections. When you experience laryngitis, you will generally experience symptoms such as dry and sore throat, hoarseness, itching in the throat that appears continuously, or dry cough. To overcome this condition, people with laryngitis will usually be given corticosteroid drugs or antibiotics (if the cause is a bacterial infection) according to doctor's recommendations. In addition, you can also do some handling independently at home, namely drinking mineral water, inhalation of menthol-containing inhalers, gargling with warm salt water, and consuming mint candy or lozenges (lozenges). It is recommended not to smoke and rest your voice.

• Dry mouth

Apart from laryngitis, dry mouth can also be a cause of dry throat. This condition can occur when the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva. Generally, dry mouth occurs when someone is dehydrated, nerve damage in the head or neck area, smoking, taking certain drugs, or suffering from certain diseases. Symptoms of dry mouth include constant thirst, dry throat, sores in the corners of the mouth, chapped lips, disturbances in the sense of taste, difficulty chewing, sore throat, and the tongue feels rough, dry, and red in color. To overcome the problem of dry mouth, you can chew sugar-free or low-sugar type of gum to increase saliva, drink mineral water, maintain air humidity in the bedroom so that the respiratory tract does not get dry, and breathe through the nose, not by mouth.

If the methods above do not work to deal with dry throat, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will provide treatment that is tailored to the cause. For example, if it is due to radiotherapy treatment, the doctor can give pilocarpine. If caused by consumption of certain drugs, the doctor will reduce the dose of the drug or replace it with other drugs. If the dry mouth is caused by a blockage in the nose, the doctor will give decongestants. Dry throat can make things go awry. You will have difficulty speaking, as well as swallowing food and drinks. If complaints continue to interfere, consult your doctor to find out the cause of your dry throat, so that it can be overcome in the right way.