Dry throat is one of the most unpleasant symptoms indicating diseases of the nasopharynx and sluggish painful processes inside the body. This is a fairly broad symptom that accompanies many diseases - from the common cold and ARVI to an acute allergic reaction or diabetes. Despite its apparent insignificance, a dry throat can be a marker indicating the presence of serious health problems. A patient suffering from a dry throat becomes more irritable and psychologically susceptible to pathogens, provoking the appearance of increasingly painful reactions.
Dry throat - symptoms of the phenomenon
Dry throat is a rather vague formulation; the main symptoms of this painful process can be several factors from this list:
- General feeling of fatigue, weakness.
- Hoarse voice, tension in the vocal cords.
- Pain in the throat muscles, worse when talking.
- A painful dry cough during which no mucus is coughed up.
- An increase in temperature due to the body's immune response.
- Enlarged tonsils and severe redness.
In addition, dry throat is often accompanied by symptoms that accompany a cold - such as a runny nose, swollen lymph nodes, and pronounced inflammatory processes.
Causes of constant dryness in the nasopharynx
There are several reasons that lead to dry nasal mucosa. They are conventionally divided into two large groups:
- External . This includes climatic conditions and indoor microclimate, prolonged stay in mountainous areas. Working in hazardous industries (chemical, heavy industry, construction), as well as smoking, also contribute to increased dryness;
- Internal . These are side effects associated with taking certain medications and alcohol intoxication. These include chronic and acute diseases leading to atrophy of the mucous membranes (atrophic rhinitis, Sjögren's syndrome, scleroma, diabetes mellitus).
Dryness in the nasal cavity occurs against the background of several factors that enhance each other’s effects.
It is believed that disruption of nasal mucus secretion due to external causes is easier to correct and treat. Dryness due to allergies is considered separately, since it is at the intersection of internal and external factors. You can find out about drugs for the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis in adults here.
Dry throat due to bacterial infections
One of the most common causes of dry throat. Infectious diseases accompanied by fever, cough, runny nose and other unpleasant symptoms most often cause a feeling of dry mouth due to damage to the soft tissues of the oral mucosa. In this case, it is unnecessary to fight dry mouth - you need to eliminate the cause of the disease, not its symptoms. By focusing on fighting the infection with antibiotics and other medications, you will not only increase the body's resistance level, but also get rid of all unpleasant symptoms in one go.
Physiological factors.
Physiological are so-called household, non-infectious causes that are associated with the impact of unfavorable external factors on the body or with a person’s lifestyle. In this case, there is no need to treat the throat: by eliminating the influence of such a factor, the discomfort in the throat disappears. Physiological reasons include:
- Too dry air in the room, which occurs at the height of the heating season or during prolonged use of the air conditioner. Buying a humidifier usually solves the problem.
- Polluted or dusty air. This problem is faced by people living in places with poor environmental conditions or working in “harmful” industries, who are forced to constantly inhale fumes, gases, dust, etc.). This also includes passive smoking.
- Overstrain of the vocal cords. If you regularly subject your vocal apparatus to excessive stress, a dry throat is a typical situation for you. Typically, this problem is faced by representatives of speech professions - artists, singers, teachers, announcers, tour guides, call center employees, etc. To learn how to safely use and not overstrain your vocal apparatus, it is recommended to visit a phoniatrist. A phoniatrist is an ENT doctor who specializes exclusively in the human vocal apparatus. The phoniatrist will show you effective exercises for the vocal cords and give the necessary prescriptions.
- Insufficient fluid intake. Eating foods that are too salty, sweet or spicy.
- Long-term use of certain medications (cough suppressants, antibacterials, antihistamines, diuretics, etc.).
- Uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor nasal drops greatly dries out the nasopharyngeal mucosa.
- Difficulty in nasal breathing caused by structural features of the nasal cavity (deviated nasal septum, enlarged nasal turbinates, adenoids).
- Advanced age. In older people, the mucous membranes become thinner as they age, leading to a feeling of dry mouth.
- Nervous overstrain. Stressful situations provoke a decrease in saliva production, which causes discomfort. Dry mouth is not the only unpleasant consequence of stress. A person may also feel a lump in the throat and problems swallowing. This condition is temporary. After the person has calmed down or taken a sedative, the discomfort goes away.
- Tobacco smoking. The substances that make up cigarettes negatively affect the condition of the laryngopharyngeal mucosa. If you do not stop in time and do not say goodbye to the bad habit, chronic pharyngitis, chronic rhinitis, as well as malignant tumors of the larynx may develop.
- Pregnancy. During pregnancy, women's hormonal levels change, which can directly affect the appearance of an unpleasant symptom.
These conditions do not require specific treatment. In most cases, it is enough to eliminate or eliminate the irritating factor.
Smoking
Unfortunately, despite numerous warnings from the Ministry of Health, there are still a lot of people who smoke in Russia. Over many years of addiction, they become accustomed not only to the dubious taste of tobacco, but also to the symptoms accompanying its use - a feeling of bitterness, cough, dry mouth. The complete disappearance of dry mouth in a smoking patient is almost impossible - constant inhalation of hot smoke dries out the mucous membrane and leads to the formation of dense lumps of mucus, making swallowing and breathing difficult. If the patient is not ready to give up a bad habit, but wants to get rid of an unpleasant symptom, tissue mineral therapy is carried out - the oral mucosa is moisturized and cleansed, accumulated sputum and mucus are dissolved and disinfected by medication, after which the patient experiences relief and is relieved for a while from a constant feeling of dryness in the throat.
The causes of dry mouth, burning tongue, bitterness are symptoms of what disease?
29.10.2014
Dry mouth - medically called xerostomia, is a symptom of many diseases or temporary conditions of the body in which the production of saliva decreases or stops altogether. This condition can occur for many reasons. Dry mouth occurs with atrophy of the salivary glands, and with any infectious diseases of the respiratory system, and with diseases of the nervous system, with gastrointestinal diseases, with autoimmune diseases, etc.
Sometimes the feeling of dry mouth is temporary, due to an exacerbation of any chronic diseases or taking medications. But when dry mouth is a sign of a serious illness, first there is itching of the oral mucosa, cracks, burning of the tongue, dry throat, and without adequate treatment of the cause of this symptom, partial or complete atrophy of the mucous membrane may develop, which is very dangerous. Therefore, if a person constantly has dry mouth, you should definitely consult a doctor in order to establish a true diagnosis and begin treatment on time.
Which doctor should I contact if I have dry mouth? The cause of this symptom will first be determined by a therapist who will refer the patient either to a dentist or to an infectious disease specialist, neurologist, gastroenterologist, otolaryngologist, etc., who will establish an accurate diagnosis. Typically, dry mouth is not a single symptom; it is always accompanied by other signs of some kind of disorder, so most often a person may be bothered by the following symptoms:
Thirst, frequent urination
Dry throat, nose. Your throat may hurt and it may be difficult to swallow due to dryness.
A bright border of the lips and cracks in the corners of the mouth appear
The viscosity in the mouth makes speech slurred
There is a burning sensation, the tongue becomes dry, it becomes red, hard, the tongue itches
Changes in the taste of food and drinks
There is a stench, bad breath
Your voice may become hoarse.
What to do if a person has such a symptom? Dry mouth is a sign of what disease?
The main causes of dry mouth
-Dry mouth in the morning, after sleep, at night bothers a person, and during the day this symptom is absent; this is the most harmless, banal reason. Dry mouth at night occurs due to mouth breathing or snoring during sleep.
— Impaired nasal breathing, can be caused by a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, runny nose, sinusitis)
-As a side effect from the use of a lot of medications. This is a very common side effect that can be caused by many drugs, especially if several drugs are taken at once and the manifestation becomes more pronounced. Dry mouth can occur when using the following medications of different pharmacological groups in the treatment: all types of antibiotics, antifungal drugs in tablets, sedatives, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, drugs prescribed for mental disorders, for the treatment of enuresis, antihistamines (allergy tablets), painkillers, bronchodilators medications for obesity for the treatment of acne (see medications for acne) medications for diarrhea, vomiting and others.
-Obvious is the appearance of this symptom in various infectious diseases, due to high temperature, general intoxication. Also for viral infections affecting the salivary glands, blood supply systems, and affecting the production of saliva, for example, with mumps (mumps).
- Systemic diseases and diseases of internal organs - diabetes mellitus (dry mouth and thirst), anemia, HIV infection, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Sjögren's syndrome (dry mouth, eyes, vagina), hypotension (dry mouth and dizziness), rheumatoid arthritis.
— Radiation and chemotherapy for cancer also reduces saliva production. —Surgeries and head injuries can damage the integrity of the nerves and salivary glands.
-Dehydration. Any disease that causes increased sweating, fever, chills, diarrhea, vomiting, blood loss can lead to drying of the mucous membranes and dehydration, which is manifested by dry mouth, the causes of which are understandable and this eliminates itself after recovery.
— Injury to the salivary glands during dental procedures or other surgical interventions.
-You may also have a dry mouth after smoking. -Persistent dry mouth significantly increases the risk of developing various gum diseases, such as gingivitis (symptoms). As well as the appearance of candidiasis, fungal stomatitis, caries, chronic tonsillitis and other diseases of the oral cavity, since disruption of the salivary glands reduces the protective functions of the mucous membrane, opening the way to various infections.
If, in addition to dry mouth, a person is bothered by bitterness in the mouth, nausea, the tongue becomes white or yellow, dizziness, palpitations, dryness is also observed in the eyes, in the vagina, a constant feeling of thirst and frequent urination, etc. - this is a whole complex of various diseases, which can only be understood by a qualified doctor during an in-person consultation. We will look at some diseases in which dry mouth may be combined with some other symptoms.
Dry mouth during pregnancy
Xerostomia during pregnancy should not occur with normal drinking regimen, since, on the contrary, saliva production in pregnant women increases.
However, in cases of naturally hot air in summer, increased sweating can cause a similar symptom. Another thing is that if a pregnant woman's dry mouth is accompanied by a sour, metallic taste, this may indicate gestational diabetes and the woman should undergo a blood glucose test, as well as a glucose tolerance test. During pregnancy, women have to urinate quite often, and if periodic dry mouth occurs, the reason is that fluid is removed from the body, the need for it increases, and replenishment does not occur, so pregnant women must drink enough fluid. Therefore, pregnant women are not allowed to eat salty, sweet and spicy foods, everything that contributes to the disruption of water-salt metabolism. Also, the cause of dry mouth during pregnancy can be a severe deficiency of potassium, as well as an excess of magnesium.
Dryness around the mouth is a sign of cheilitis
Glandular cheilitis is a disease of the red border of the lips, a disease that begins with flaking and dryness of the lower lip, then the corners of the lips crack, jams and erosions appear. A sign of cheilitis can be seen by the person himself - between the border of the lips and the mucous membrane, the outlets of the salivary glands increase. Licking your lips only worsens the situation and chronic inflammation can lead to malignant neoplasms. When treating this disease, they try to reduce the production of saliva. Why does dry mouth, bitterness, nausea, white, yellow tongue occur?
Bitterness in the mouth, dryness, yellow coating on the tongue, white tongue, heartburn, belching - these are symptoms that can occur with many gastrointestinal diseases, but most often these are signs of the following diseases:
Dyskinesia of the bile ducts or diseases of the gallbladder. But it is possible that such signs can also be present in combination with duodenitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, as well as gastritis.
Dry mouth, bitterness - the reasons may be due to inflammatory processes of the gums, combined with a burning sensation of the tongue, gums, and a metallic taste in the mouth.
For amenorrhea, neuroses, psychosis and other neurotic disorders.
If bitterness and dryness are combined with pain in the right side, these are signs of cholecystitis or the presence of gallstones.
The use of various antibiotics and antihistamines leads to a combination of bitterness and dry mouth.
In diseases of the thyroid gland, the motor function of the biliary tract also changes, the release of adrenaline increases and spasms of the bile ducts occur, so the tongue may be coated with a white or yellow coating, dry mouth, bitterness, and burning of the tongue appear.
Dry mouth and nausea occur with gastritis of the stomach, the symptoms of which include pain in the stomach, heartburn, and a feeling of fullness. The causative agent of gastritis is often the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
Dry mouth, dizziness
Dizziness and dry mouth are signs of hypotension, that is, low blood pressure. A lot of people have low blood pressure and still feel normal, this is a variant of the norm. But when low pressure leads to weakness, dizziness, headache in the back of the head, especially when bending forward or lying down, this is an alarming sign, since a sharp drop in pressure is a hypotonic crisis, shock, this is very dangerous for health and even life. People with hypotension often feel dizzy and have dry mouth in the morning, and weakness and lethargy returns in the evening. Poor circulation affects the functions of all organs and glands, including the salivary glands. Therefore, headaches, dizziness, and dry mouth are observed. The cause of hypotinia should be determined in consultation with a cardiologist and therapist, who can prescribe maintenance therapy.
Thirst, frequent urination and dryness - this could be diabetes
Dry mouth combined with thirst is the main sign and symptom of diabetes. If a person is constantly thirsty, has to urinate frequently, there is either a sharp increase in appetite and weight gain, or vice versa, weight loss, dry mouth all the time, congestion in the corners of the mouth, itchy skin, weakness and the presence of pustular skin lesions - you should take a glucose test in blood. Signs of diabetes in women are also complemented by the appearance of itching in the vagina and itching in the pubic area. In men, symptoms of diabetes can be expressed by decreased potency and inflammation of the foreskin. Thirst and dry mouth in diabetic patients do not depend on the air temperature; if for a healthy person thirst is typical in the heat, after salty food or alcohol, then in those who suffer from diabetes it is constant.
Dryness with pancreatitis, with menopause
For pancreatitis
Dry mouth, diarrhea, pain in the left abdomen, belching, nausea, flatulence are characteristic symptoms of pancreatitis. Sometimes minor inflammation of the pancreas can go unnoticed. This is a very insidious and dangerous disease that occurs most often in people who overeat, are addicted to fatty, fried foods, and alcohol. During attacks of pancreatitis, the symptoms are very vivid, a person experiences severe pain, while the movement of enzymes in the pancreatic ducts is disrupted, they linger in it and destroy its cells, causing intoxication of the body. With chronic pancreatitis, a person must follow a diet, know what can and cannot be eaten with pancreatitis. This disease leads to disruption of the absorption of many useful substances in the body. Deficiency of vitamins (see vitamin deficiency, hypovitaminosis), microelements disrupts the normal condition of the skin and mucous membranes. Therefore, dullness and brittleness of hair and nails occur, dry mouth appears, and cracks in the corners of the mouth.
During menopause Palpitations, dizziness, dry mouth and eyes - the causes of these symptoms can be menopause in women. During menopause, the production of sex hormones decreases, the functions of the gonads fade, which naturally affects the general condition of the woman. The first signs of menopause in women appear due to changes in the function of the autonomic nervous system, usually after 45 years. The symptoms of menopause intensify significantly if a woman has suffered a stressful situation, trauma, or her chronic disease has worsened; this immediately affects her general condition and is called menopausal syndrome. In addition to hot flashes, anxiety, chills, pain in the heart and joints, sleep disturbances, women notice that all mucous membranes dry out, not only dryness appears in the mouth, but also in the eyes, throat, and vagina.
The manifestation of most of these symptoms becomes less intense when the gynecologist prescribes various drugs for menopause - antidepressants, sedatives, vitamins, hormonal and non-hormonal drugs for menopause. Signs of menopause are mitigated by practicing Bodyflex, breathing exercises or yoga, with a balanced diet and proper rest.
Dry mouth and eyes - Sjögren's syndrome
This is a fairly rare autoimmune disease that affects the connective tissue of the body (see the symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome in detail). Few people know about this disease, and it most often occurs in women after 50 years of age in the postmenopausal period. Sjögren's syndrome is characterized by generalized dryness of all mucous membranes of the body. Therefore, symptoms such as burning, stinging in the eyes, a feeling of sand in the eyes, as well as a dry mouth, dry throat, and stickiness in the corners of the mouth are important signs of autoimmune disorders. This chronic progressive disease over time affects not only the salivary and lacrimal glands, but also affects the joints, muscles, the skin becomes very dry, pain and itching appears in the vagina. Also, various infectious diseases more often arise from dry mucous membranes - sinusitis, otitis media, sinusitis, tracheobronchitis, atrophic gastritis, pancreatitis, etc.
Increased dryness, diarrhea, weakness, stomach pain
In case of any food poisoning, when diarrhea (diarrhea), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain occurs, dehydration occurs and dry mouth appears. The cause of its appearance may also be irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), intestinal dysbiosis. If indigestion or dyspepsia lasts more than 3 months, a gastroenterologist may diagnose IBS or dibacteriosis. Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract has many causes, including the use of various medications, antibiotics, and poor nutrition.
The main symptoms of IBS are:
Pain in the epigastric region after eating, which goes away with bowel movements. Diarrhea in the morning, after lunch, or vice versa - constipation. Belching, bloating. Feeling of a “lump” in the stomach. Sleep disturbances, weakness, lethargy, headaches. After a stressful situation, anxiety, or physical activity, the symptoms worsen.
How to get rid of dry mouth
To begin with, you should find out the exact cause of dry mouth, since without a clear diagnosis it is impossible to eliminate any symptom. If the cause of dry mouth is caused by impaired nasal breathing, gastrointestinal diseases, or diabetes, you should consult an otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist, or endocrinologist. Try to get rid of bad habits - smoking, alcohol abuse, reduce the consumption of salty and fried foods, crackers, nuts, bread, etc. Increase the amount of liquid you drink; it is best to drink a glass of pure water or mineral water without gases 30 minutes before meals. Sometimes it is enough to increase the humidity in the room; there are many different humidifiers for this purpose. You can lubricate your lips with special balms. If you have bad breath, you can use chewing gum or special mouth rinses. You can use pharmacological special preparations, saliva and tear substitutes. When you eat hot peppers, you can activate the production of saliva, since it contains capsaicin, which helps activate the salivary glands.
Acute tonsillitis
Tonsillitis, or tonsillitis, is an infectious disease that results in acute inflammation of the tonsils. This is not only a very unpleasant disease in terms of its course, but also a very contagious phenomenon - you can get a sore throat simply by airborne droplets from any unsuccessful contact with an infected person. Inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx lead to severe dryness in the throat. As with colds, to get rid of a dry throat with a sore throat, you should treat the cause of the disease, not its symptom.
Pharyngitis
Pharyngitis is an infectious disease that is accompanied by severe damage to the oral mucosa and lymph nodes. Rarely occurs alone - most often pharyngitis is accompanied by acute inflammatory processes. A patient suffering from pharyngitis is faced not only with a dry throat, but also with an unpleasant soreness and tickling, a sensation of a foreign element in the nasopharynx, as well as a general feeling of fatigue and malaise. Most often, to eliminate the unpleasant consequences of pharyngitis, they resort to complex treatment - simultaneously with the use of medications, the patient is prescribed mineral therapy to normalize the condition of the mucous membrane in the pharynx, which is supplemented by herbal medicine (the use of medicinal herbs and infusions to irrigate the affected area of the pharynx).
Allergic reaction
An allergic reaction of varying severity is also often the cause of an unpleasant feeling of dryness in the throat. Associated symptoms include difficulty breathing, severe pain when swallowing or breathing, and many other signs. Since at this stage of development of medicine, allergies cannot be treated, but are chronic and haunt the patient throughout life, there are several ways to avoid dry mouth:
- Using antiallergic drugs to relieve allergic reactions.
- Integrated use of mineral therapy and herbal medicine to restore normal functioning of the throat.
- Exotic treatment methods for the restoration of mucous membranes in especially critical cases - laser therapy (in this case, a photosensitive gel is applied to the damaged tissues of the throat, which, under the influence of a laser, releases oxygen and saturates the soft tissues with it, promoting their regeneration and destroying pathogenic bacteria), ultrasound and other treatment methods .
Dry throat due to vascular pathologies
Diseases of the circulatory system and vascular pathologies are almost always accompanied by a painful feeling of dryness in the throat. In this case, the most acute symptom of the pathology is treated first. As soon as the danger to human life and health has disappeared, the attending physician can begin to get rid of dry throat. Most often, lymphotropic or capillary therapy is used for this. The essence of these methods is to normalize the functioning of capillaries that provide circulation of blood, lymph and nutrients in the damaged area of the throat. The body is saturated with useful substances, releasing large amounts of oxygen and ozone, which are destructive to most harmful bacteria. At the same time, the therapy is also of a general strengthening nature - it not only relieves the patient of the feeling of dry throat, but also prevents the appearance of similar symptoms for a long time, protecting soft mucous tissues from damage.
Causes of dry nose
Dry nose can be caused by both physiological and pathological reasons.
In most cases, dry nasal mucosa, the treatment of which can sometimes be very lengthy and difficult, is not a disease in the full sense of the word. Most often, dryness accompanies any disease or is a physiological condition caused by a number of physical, chemical or thermal factors.
The most common causes of dryness include the following:
- Dry cold or hot air. Most often, these are natural features of the environment that are not characteristic of humans, that is, it is usually a newcomer, a person not adapted to such a climate, who suffers from such conditions.
- Operation of heating devices and air conditioning systems. All of them, to one degree or another, greatly dry the air and provoke drying out of the mucous membranes.
- Allergic reactions. After some of them, the nasal mucosa suffers greatly, becomes dry, fragile, easily damaged and bleeds.
- Colds accompanied by severe acute or prolonged runny nose. This type of drying out is usually accompanied by extremely unpleasant sensations and the formation of painful, itchy and irritating crusts, and constant sneezing in bursts.
- Use of medications. Dryness is mainly caused by sprays designed to reduce the appearance of a runny nose. They constrict blood vessels, remove fluid from the nose and irritation, swelling, but if abused or individual intolerance occurs, they cause drying out of the mucous membranes.
- Reaction to aerosols (cosmetic or any other), as well as to the strong smell of paint, chemicals, especially those containing chlorine.
- High blood pressure.
- The use of radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer of the nasopharynx and soft tissues, eyes and ears.
- A decrease in the level of hormones in the body associated with the decline of sexual function.
- Mechanical irritation of the nasal mucous membranes associated with being in a room that is heavily smoky, dusty, or filled with tiny particles of sand or stone (for example, in places where stone processing is carried out or in construction).
- Sjögren's syndrome. This rare autoimmune disease is characterized by severe dryness of the mucous membranes of the body, including the nose.
There are many reasons for dryness and they are all different. In order to cope with this unpleasant condition, you need to know the root cause that caused it, eliminate or eliminate it, and then take measures to treat, moisturize and soften the nasal mucosa.
Drug treatment
Moisturizing sprays and nasal drops
The use of medications depends on how advanced the condition of the mucous membranes is and whether there is an underlying disease. In the latter case, you need to get rid of it by curing your runny nose, allergies, or leaving the room with dirty, dry air.
The easiest way to get rid of dryness is with the help of ready-made preparations in a spray based on purified sea water, this
- Aqua Maris
- Aqualor
- Otrivin Sea
- Salin, etc.
Please note that ordinary nasal drops for a runny nose are not suitable for this problem, as they themselves strongly provoke dryness and increased sensitivity of the mucous membranes.
If you have to work or just be in an uncomfortable environment for a long time, then to protect the already damaged mucous membrane you need to use barrier agents, that is, lubrication with healthy oils or fats. They form a thin, non-drying film on the mucous membranes, which does not allow them to dry out and become damaged. For this purpose, high-quality oils are used - rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil, eucalyptus oil, and many others. These products are not recommended to be applied in pure form, as they can dry out the fabrics themselves. It is best to mix them with base oils: peach, almond, apricot.
Useful video - How to rinse your nose correctly:
How to treat a sore throat in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, drugs and folk remedies
If painful crusts have already formed in the nose, and the tissues are bursting and bleeding, “heavy artillery” will be required. Balms Narisan and Vitaon will come to the rescue. They soften dry and hard crusts, facilitating their painless and bloodless separation.
In the presence of an underlying disease of a viral nature, for example, influenza, Interferon, Grippferon and others from the same series will be effective. To prevent the disease and speedy recovery, oxolinic ointment is often used. The vitamin preparation Aevit also works well, which is used to lubricate the mucous membranes to speed up healing.
Nasal rinsing and inhalation
Nasal rinsing helps to quickly and effectively moisturize the nasal mucosa
Along with many medications, nasal rinsing and inhalation are very effective against dryness. If you have dry nasal mucosa, treatment of which for some reason with medications is impossible or undesirable, then you should resort to a simple remedy - rinsing. For these purposes, you can use a special teapot or use any suitable vessel. The easiest and most useful way is to rinse with physiological salt solution - it does not harm the body, since it has a composition similar to the main body fluids. The salt content in it works as a mild disinfection and means of accelerating regeneration.
To rinse, you need to make sure that the warm liquid easily penetrates into one nostril and flows freely out of the other. Then the mucous membranes are cleared of crusts, swelling, dryness and irritation disappear.
Washing with decoctions of medicinal plants also works well.
An excellent remedy is chamomile. Its warm decoction mechanically gently cleanses the mucous membranes, heals and disinfects them, and starts the process of accelerated regeneration.
Inhalation is also effective. The easiest way is to use a soda solution. Soda has the ability to soften the membranes and very quickly eliminate severe dryness and crusting in the nose.
Folk recipes
Traditional medicine for dry nose recommends using aloe juice
If dry nasal mucosa is detected, treating it with traditional methods can be very simple but effective:
- First of all, it is recommended to inhale steam from decoctions of medicinal herbs, rinse with warm decoctions of medicinal herbs, and then carefully instill 2 drops of high-quality cold-pressed vegetable oil into the nostrils. You need to drip carefully so as not to get into the respiratory tract.
- Another great remedy is aloe juice. This wonderful plant will help get rid of dryness and heal inflamed and dry, cracked and crusty mucous membranes. To do this, instill 2 drops of fresh juice and lubricate the inside of the nostrils with it.
- A small amount of glycerin can be used to lubricate the nose. This substance can effectively moisturize mucous membranes. It is very useful to apply after steam inhalation, when the mucous membranes are saturated with moisture. Glycerin will help keep it in the mucous membranes for a long time.
But external hydration may not be enough, so supporters of traditional methods of treatment use internal methods. To saturate the body with moisture, drink plenty of fluids, preferably vitamin remedies: rosehip decoction, tea with raspberries and honey, lemon, alkaline mineral water, milk with honey and butter, in a word, the same set as in the treatment of colds, as well as a variety of fruit drinks, fruit, berry and vegetable juices (if you are not allergic to them).
Disease prevention
Despite the fact that dry throat itself is not an independent disease (it is just a symptom), it can and should be avoided by promptly implementing a set of preventive measures to maintain the health of the oral mucosa. You can do this as follows:
- Do not neglect daily oral hygiene. When brushing your teeth and gargling, a person easily gets rid of many pathogenic bacteria, which can cause complications and even an infectious disease if not treated properly.
- Monitor the condition of the throat mucosa. If you observe the first signs of dryness or pain, immediately consult your doctor.
- Avoid unhealthy habits, particularly smoking. Stay outdoors more often; if you need to stay indoors for a long time with dry air, use a humidifier.
- Gargle regularly.
- Conduct herbal medicine at home - prepare plant decoctions and natural teas. They have a beneficial effect on the condition of the oral cavity, relieving a person of dry throat even in the bud of the disease.
Glossodynia - what is it?
Burning mouth syndrome, or glossodynia, is discomfort and even pain in the mouth, tongue, gums, and mucous membranes, which is accompanied by a feeling that the mouth has been scalded with boiling water or medicine. This condition may be accompanied by dry mouth (xerostomia) and loss of taste or smell. Sometimes people with a burning sensation in the mouth and tongue complain that they cannot feel anything - not even the temperature of the food [1].
This condition develops suddenly, but may begin with a slight tingling sensation in a limited area of the mouth, and then spread further or intensify only in that same area. Symptoms of this condition are described by subjective complaints; they can be combined or single:
- feeling of burned mucous membranes, burning pain. Most often, a burning sensation in the oral cavity is felt on the tongue, especially along its front edge and sides, as well as on the lips, on the inside of the cheeks, in the throat or throughout the mouth;
- a feeling of tightness, burning and dryness of the mucous membrane in the mouth, from severe to occasional;
- change in taste, up to the complete loss of this sensation;
- the appearance of an unusual taste in food and drinks, such as bitterness or metallic;
- decreased or loss of sense of smell;
- a feeling that sensitivity in the mouth has disappeared, the mouth seems to be frozen [2].
Symptoms of burning the oral mucosa can manifest themselves in different ways throughout the day over several days and even months. Sometimes they begin at a certain time of the day, for example after waking up, and by the end of the day they decrease or, conversely, intensify in order to disappear imperceptibly and return again in the morning. The subjective characteristics of pain associated with burning mouth syndrome can vary significantly. Among people with similar diseases and other life factors and conditions, the symptoms of this condition, their intensity, duration and prevalence can vary greatly [2].
Separately, it should be noted the great social and personal significance of glossopyrosis. The fact is that sensations in this state can affect the quality of life in all its aspects: nutrition, sleep, rest and restoration of physical strength, communication, reactions to some irritants. Those suffering from constant pain cannot get enough sleep or rest peacefully; they have difficulty eating and communicating. In an attempt to find the source of the problem and somehow eliminate it, they begin to pay a lot of attention to this condition. Thus, many note that with the appearance of glossopyrosis, spots have formed in their mouth, the papillae have enlarged, or the tongue has begun to look unusual. As practical observations have shown, in 50% or more cases such changes are actually normal, are in no way related to burning mouth syndrome, and the person had them before, he just didn’t notice them [2].
This is very important for diagnosis, because the appearance of some real clinical signs, obvious manifestations of trouble may indicate that burning mouth syndrome did not arise on its own, it is not idiopathic, but there are some problems, prerequisites for its occurrence [3].
Which doctor should I contact?
Dry throat is a fairly common symptom, so there is no clear answer to this question. It all depends on your individual clinical picture. However, if you are seriously concerned about a growing symptom and feel severe dryness in your throat, you should immediately visit an otolaryngologist, or ENT specialist - this is the specialist who deals with the treatment of the throat and will be able to advise you both on the treatment of dryness and on further medical specialist .
Dry throat is a dangerous symptom, without proper attention to which a person is recommended to face significant complications. At the first signs of dry throat, we recommend that you immediately consult your doctor to receive qualified medical care.
Call our contact center at 8 (495) 230 03 09 and we will help you make an appointment with a specialist!