Dry throat but not flu, natural or dangerous?

Medical Video: Sore Throat | How To Get Rid Of A Sore Throat (2019)

One of the most common flu symptoms is a dry and inflamed throat. Usually if your throat feels uncomfortable, you can guess that you will catch a cold. However, what if your throat feels dry all the time but you are free of flu or cold? Dry throat is a fairly common condition. The causes can vary, for example dry air and smoking habits. If your dry throat is accompanied by body aches, coughing, nausea, diarrhea, or other complaints, you need to be vigilant because your dry throat may indicate a serious problem.

Various causes of dry throat

A dry throat caused by weather, caffeinated drinks, or physical activity such as exercise will usually subside soon after you increase fluid intake. However, in some cases, the throat still feels dry even though you have drunk as much water as possible. Do not underestimate this condition, especially if it has been going on for several days and followed by other health complaints. To find out the cause, see the various possible diseases characterized by the following dry throat.

1. Tonsils

The tonsils located at the back of the throat are responsible for helping the body's immune system by blocking various germs from entering the respiratory tract. If the tonsils are swollen, the spit will be blocked to enter the throat so that your throat will feel dry. Generally, other complaints that arise are pain when swallowing, hoarseness, unpleasant scented breath, and fever.

2. Allergy

Some types of allergens such as pollen, cigarette smoke, and pets can cause an allergic reaction in the form of a dry throat. If your dry throat never subsides after days and is accompanied by coughing, itchy throat, and runny nose, it is very likely that you have certain allergies.

3. Dehydration

One symptom of lack of fluids is dry throat. Other signs that you should pay attention to are dry mouth, swollen tongue, dizziness, and palpitations. You can also see the color of urine to ensure that you are not short of fluids. If underestimated, dehydration can be fatal. Anyone can develop dehydration, especially if you sweat a lot, drink less water, or are suffering from diarrhea. Being in a closed room with air conditioning can also make you forget to drink, even though your body still secretes fluid through breathing and evaporation of the skin. As a result, the body becomes dehydrated and the throat feels dry.

4. Sjorgen's syndrome

Sjorgen syndrome is an autoimmune disease that attacks the mucous membranes and glands that maintain moisture. Usually the eyes, mouth, and throat are parts of the body that will feel dry. This disease can attack at any age, but is most commonly found in women over 40 years. Sjorgen's syndrome is also characterized by joint pain, rashes on the skin, cough without phlegm, and in some cases accompanied by attacks of lupus or rheumatism.

5. Cancer of the salivary gland

The salivary gland is located in the throat, neck and mouth. Its function is to produce fluids to keep the tissue moist. Salivary gland cancer is usually indicated by symptoms of dry throat and mouth, swelling of the neck, and at the end of the stage appear lumps that cause difficulty swallowing. These cancers are rare and the causes vary, ranging from high-fat diets, smoking habits, to offspring.

6. Sleep apnea

Be careful if you often wake up with a throat that feels dry and sore. It could be that you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person to have difficulty breathing. Usually this disease is also characterized by fatigue or drowsiness when you have slept enough, headaches in the morning, and wake up suddenly due to shortness of breath, choking, or gasping. If not treated immediately, sleep apnea can be life threatening.

7. Laryngitis

This disease occurs when your vocal cords experience inflammation or irritation. Usually laryngitis is caused by bacteria or viral infection. Symptoms include dry throat, hoarseness, fever, and cough without phlegm. The laryngitis should subside after about two weeks. However, if the disease does not go away after weeks, there is a possibility that you have chronic laryngitis that takes longer to recover.

How to relieve dry throat

A dry throat certainly makes you uncomfortable and difficult to carry out daily activities such as eating or talking. In addition to drinking lots of water to relieve dry throats, please try the following methods.

Gargle salt water

Dissolve the salt in warm water and rinse it for 30 to 60 seconds. Salt can reduce swelling and irritation while clearing viruses lodged in the mouth and throat.

Throat lozenges

Throat lozenges can moisturize the tissues of the mouth and throat. In addition, this candy will also stimulate the production of saliva which will help wet the throat. Avoid lozenges that contain added sugar or flavorings so that the throat does not feel itchy.

Honey

Honey has the effect of relieving the throat and functions as an antiseptic and natural antibacterial. In addition, the thick texture of honey will help keep the moisture in the throat longer. You can mix honey with warm water or tea, but you can also consume it directly.