Clearing the throat is a common reflex for removing mucus and irritants, especially during allergic season.
But for some people, this can become a difficult habit to break, which can lead to stress and anxiety.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, laryngeal physician Dr. Inna Husain shared the reasons for chronic throat cleaning, and when to see a specialist and how to grasp the habit.
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According to Husain working at Powers Health in Munster, Indiana, when people actually fold the sound together, it actually folds the sound together, which can cause lesions, nodules, bruises and bleeding that affect the sound.
“Those same vocal cords are used to help create sounds – so if you keep slamming them, you can hurt the surface area of the vocal cords,” she said.
ENT (ear, nose, and throat) examinations can help patients find the root cause of the problem. (iStock)
One of the causes of throat clearance is laryngeal reflux (LPR) or “silent reflux.” This happens when the stomach contents come into the throat, which can cause inflammation without the typical heartburn symptoms.
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Although LPM is not life-threatening, the main focus is on its impact on quality of life, Hussein said.
“As the sensory changes occur with chronic trauma, [it can] She pointed out that it makes the throat more sensitive. Over time, people are more aware of their throats because they reduce the threshold that triggers throat clearance. ”
Over time, people who clear their throats often find themselves doing this more because of muscle memory. (iStock)
The affected parties may then get stuck in a cycle that clears the throat to remove irritation or mucus, resulting in more irritation and mucus.
“To make you want to clear your throat, this is another reason we want to stop it, this is another reason we want to stop it, because it will also affect the quality of life.”
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Other causes of throat irritation (and subsequent cleaning) include allergies, sinusitis, vocal cord problems, aging, asthma, tracheal stenosis and inflammation of certain drugs.
“As we age, our vocal cords will become thinner. This can lead to an inefficient system, which can cause more sensitivity and clear the throat,” Hussein said.
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She shared that Hussein’s patients often complain about other symptoms, or because their families noticed the rise in their throat clearance.
According to doctors, many people believe that allergies are the culprit, but independent throat removal is rarely the only symptom.
Doctors point out that independent throat removal is rarely the only symptom of allergies. (iStock)
“In fact, when people start allergic drugs or antihistamines without allergies, I’ve seen the irritation that clears the throat can get worse,” she warned.
The first step to solving the problem is to determine the root cause. This usually starts with an ear, nose and throat (ENT) examination, where the doctor uses a flexible camera to check the lining, tissue, and vocal cords.
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“We're trying to determine if there is a root cause, if there is something very obvious,” Hussein said.
“For example, in people with a chronic throat clearness, I found things like nasal polyps and sinusitis. Then, we'll lower the options for treating that root cause.”
Alternative behaviors such as drinking water or blowing air instead of clearing the throat can help the throat heal. (iStock)
If the root cause is not clear, doctors generally have to look at laryngeal hygiene and ask, “Is there a source of inflammation? Can we make the laryngeal or sound box happier?”
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Studies have shown that it helps replenish the vocal cords of most stimulus origin. Hussein suggests that keeping moisture and limiting the root cause of stimulation is one way to start changing behavior.
Other tips for reducing irritation and inflammation include avoiding smoking, limiting acidic foods, and using a salt water atomizer.
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According to doctors, other behaviors such as swallowing, buzzing, drinking water or blowing can help the throat’s components start healing.
“As time goes by, this helps reset the throat itself,” she added.
