Throat Pain Causes

There are several throat pain causes. Read this article to get some idea on the possible causes of throat pain.

Throat pain is quite common and we all have experienced it at one point or the other. Some of the throat pain causes are serious and some are not. We all know it causes a lot of discomfort. When you have a throat pain, then swallowing of both solid and liquid food becomes very difficult. The pain tends to get aggravated when you eat crunchy salty or spicy foods. In this condition, you feel hungry and still you do not eat anything in fear of pain. Sometimes, the throat pain continues even when it is at rest.

Causes of Throat Pain

When you are experiencing pain in the throat and front part of the neck, then the source of the pain lies in the mouth or upper part of the esophagus. One of the most common neck and throat pain causes is cold and flu where the pain is accompanied by runny nose, cough and fever. It is caused by flu viruses like mononucleosis virus or bacteria like Streptococcus. Such infections cause inflammation on the lining of the throat or larynx located in the neck which in turn gives a excruciating pain in the region. It can be a symptom of tonsillitis and glandular fever where the tonsils and the lymph nodes present in the neck become enlarged due to the bacterial or viral infection. If the lining of sinus cavities inside the nasal cavity get inflamed due to upper respiratory infection or allergies, then also pain can be felt in the throat due to post nasal drip. This condition is known as sinusitis. Mumps, measles and diphtheria are some other forms of infections that may cause throat pain.

Another cause of pain and irritation in the throat is acid reflux. In this condition, the stomach acid flow backward up to the upper part of esophagus and irritates its sensitive tissues causing throat and chest pain along with wheezing, hoarseness and choking sensation. Some professionals like singers, actors or lecturers often complain about pain in the throat as their voice strain due to excessive use of vocal cord. Muscles near the throat may get strained due to overwork. Traumatic injury to the front part of the neck, cold sores, smoking, chronic cough are some of the other causes of a painful throat. A throat pain on one side that refuse to subside even after 4-6 weeks could be a serious issue like throat cancer. It should not be neglected and should be given proper treatment at the earliest.

Throat pain Remedies

A throat pain triggered by an infection usually lasts for few days. If it is a bacterial infection, then it can be treated with the help of antibiotics. However, antibiotics are ineffective on viral infections. In that case, you can gargle with a cup of warm water to which half teaspoon of salt and few drops of lemon juice are added. This will have a soothing effective on the strep throat. Ginger tea and garlic soup have an amazing effect on throat infection. You can minimize the intensity of throat pain when swallowing by avoiding crunchy solid foods. Rather, have some semi solid foods like mashed potatoes or soups.

Sinusitis is often treated with decongestants and antihistamines. As these medicines have side effects if taken for along time, you can opt for a safer, simpler home remedy like steam inhalation. This will open up the blocked nose and provide a lot of relief from sinus headache. Scratchy throat because of acid reflux can be controlled by avoiding unhealthy, spicy foods. If the pain is triggered due to voice strain, then you must give rest to your voice as much as possible. This will be helpful for healing up the strain. If the over the counter medicines and throat pain remedies do not show any results within the first few days, then it could be a serious problem and you should consult a doctor for proper treatment.

Finally, I would like to tell you that throat cancer is just one of the throat pain causes and is not the only cause. Therefore, if you have a persistent pain in throat, do not start assuming that you have a throat cancer. However, if you suspect a lump has formed seek medical help. Timely treatment can cure the condition.