Constantly clearing your throat? Here's what to try

Ahem! Ahem! Ever feel the need to move the mucus that annoyingly sits all the way at the back of your mouth? Most of us do at one time or another. The sensation usually lasts for just a few days when dealing with symptoms of a common cold.

But what happens if throat clearing lingers for weeks or months? That nagging feeling may be uncomfortable for the person who has the problem, and might also bother friends and family who hear the characteristic growling sound.

So what causes all that throat clearing? There are many causes, but this article will focus on four of the most common culprits. It's important to know that throat clearing lasting more than two to three weeks should be evaluated by a medical professional.

Post-nasal drip

Post-nasal drip is probably the most common cause of throat clearing.

Your nose makes nasal mucus to help clear infections and allergens, or in response to irritants such as cold weather. A frequently runny nose can be quite annoying. Just as mucus can drip toward the front of the nose, some mucus may also drip from the back of the nose toward the throat, sometimes getting close to the vocal cords. If the mucus is too thick to swallow, we try to force it out with a loud AHEM!

Solutions: The best solution to this problem is to treat the cause of post-nasal drip. An easy way to do it without medications is to try nasal irrigation with a neti pot or squeeze bottle. If you notice no improvement, different types of nasal sprays may help. It is best to discuss these options with a health professional, because some sprays may cause your symptoms to worsen. The key is to understand what is causing excess mucus production.

Reflux

Another common cause of throat clearing is laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Acid in your stomach helps digest food. But excess stomach acid sometimes flows backward up the tube called the esophagus that links throat to stomach. This may splash on the vocal cords or throat, causing irritation and throat clearing.

Not everyone with acid reflux experiences a burning sensation in the throat. Nor does everyone have heartburn, which is a classic sign of a related condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Some people merely feel an urge to clear their throat or have a persistent cough.

Solutions: Eating an anti-reflux diet and not lying down shortly after eating may help in some cases. Often, people have to use medications for several weeks or months to lower stomach acid production.

Medications

A common class of heart and blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors can also lead to the need for frequent throat clearing. These medications can trigger the urge even after years of people taking them daily without experiencing that symptom. If that's the cause, there is an easy fix. The sensation would disappear after stopping the medication, although in some cases it can take several weeks to abate. Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without talking to your doctor first.

Nerve problems

There are many other reasons for throat clearing. Some people, for instance, just have a tic of frequently clearing their throat.

Noticing any clues that point to the root cause and jotting notes in a diary may help shine a light on the problem and its possible solutions. Maybe constant throat clearing happens only during spring, pointing toward allergies, or perhaps after drinking coffee, a reason to consider reflux.

Often, when the cause remains elusive, your primary care doctor may recommend a trial of treatment as a way to diagnose the problem.

This article was adapted from a blog post written by Marcelo Campos, MD.