Grab your scarf: the cold winter air in South Carolina can cause some very uncomfortable throat symptoms, even if you’re not battling a virus or other sickness. An irritated throat can make everyday, necessary activities like speaking and swallowing painfully uncomfortable. Let’s discuss winter air and the impact it can have on your throat.
How Cold Air Affects Your Throat
Your throat is always lined with mucus (sometimes called “phlegm”). You may only notice mucus in your throat when you have too much of it and need to clear or cough it out, but it’s actually an essential part of your throat’s functioning. Mucus keeps the tissues lining the throat hydrated and traps irritants and germs.
During the winter, the air gets drier. This is because cold air particles can’t hold as much water as warmer air particles. When you breathe in that dry air, either through your mouth or through your nose, it causes your throat to lose moisture, and mucus dries out.
When the lining of your throat is dehydrated, it causes irritation. Moreover, irritants that you breathe in are more likely to inflame your sensitive throat.
Symptoms of an Irritated Throat
A dry, irritated throat will feel scratchy or even swollen. It may hurt to swallow, talk or breathe. It may also be worse in the morning, especially if you breathe through your mouth while you sleep. Also, in an effort to combat the dryness, your body may increase mucus production, leading to excess mucus lining the throat. If this lasts eight weeks or more, it can develop into a chronic cough.
Is It Cold Air Irritation or Sickness?
Since winter is also cold and flu season, you may be wondering if your irritated throat is a harbinger of an incoming virus or other sickness. If the soreness improves after drinking water or increasing the humidity of your environment, and if it’s not accompanied by other symptoms, such as a fever, runny nose or fatigue, then it’s likely due to dryness and not an illness.
How to Relieve Throat Irritation
Since throat irritation from dry air is caused by dehydration, the best remedies involve rehydration. Drink water or warm liquids, such as tea, broth or warm water with honey, and consider using a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your environment. Sucking on a lozenge or a popsicle can stimulate saliva production, which can also help hydrate and lubricate the throat.
Winter doesn’t have to mean discomfort. Understanding the effects of cold weather on your throat will help you ease those uncomfortable symptoms and protect your throat from the effects of dry air. Contact Palmetto ENT & Allergy to learn more.