Unless you have a sore throat – in which case it commands much of your attention – you probably don’t think about your throat very much. But your throat is quite important, and there are things that can go wrong with it that deserve attention. As with any other part of the body, what happens with the throat can be an indication of something else happening in your body that needs to be addressed.
What’s in the throat?
The throat is the gateway to two important systems: the lungs via the trachea, and the stomach and rest of the gastrointestinal system via the esophagus. The main purposes of the throat are speaking, breathing, and swallowing. Since breathing and swallowing are essential to life, the throat is very important indeed.
Throat problems
Throat problems can be divided into several categories:
- Pain
- Swallowing problems
- Speaking problems
- Hoarseness and throat clearing
- Coughing
- Sleep problems involving the throat
Let’s look at these.
Pain
A sore throat can be miserable. There are a number of causes of sore throat, and it’s important to know the cause so the right remedy can be used.
Some infectious sore throats are caused by a virus, such as mononucleosis (mono), and some are caused by bacteria, such as strep. There are also some fungal infections that affect the throat, such as thrush or candidiasis. Fungal infections in the mouth, or anywhere in the body, are a sign that the whole body is probably experiencing an overgrowth of yeast. It’s important to recognize that antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, not viruses or fungus. In fact, they can make fungal infections worse.
Noninfectious sore throat can be caused by irritation, which in turn can be caused by smoking, low humidity, or air pollution, or by breathing through your mouth when you have a stuffy nose. Postnasal drip can be a cause of irritation; this happens when too much mucus is produced in the nose and its regular dripping down the throat becomes noticeable. Stomach acid can back up into throat with severe heartburn or GERD and can burn the delicate throat tissues with resulting pain.
Infection of the tonsils or the area around them can cause considerable and recurring pain. Tonsillectomy, or tonsil removal, is often done, but is usually unnecessary and can be harmful.
Swallowing problems
Swallowing is a fairly complex process involving the brain, nerves, muscles, and the esophageal opening. There are a number of things that can interfere with any of these and make it difficult to swallow. The underlying problem should be identified and treated.
Since swallowing is actually a multi-stage process, not all swallowing difficulties are the same. Some people have a hard time triggering the swallowing reflex, while others might feel that the food or pill is stuck partway down the esophagus, or they may start coughing or choking. Others may not be conscious of a swallowing problem, but have frequent pneumonia, one cause of which is breathing in food or liquid particles. Others may not be aware of a swallowing problem, but over time have learned to cut their food into tiny pieces, chew thoroughly, or eat mostly soft foods in an unconscious attempt to compensate for a problem that should be looked at.
Neurological disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, or Parkinson’s disease, or muscular disease such as muscular dystrophy or myasthenia gravis, can interfere with swallowing, as can the aftermath of a stroke.
Another cause of swallowing difficulty is narrowing of the esophagus due to continued irritation from acid reflux or a tumor. The thyroid gland in the neck can become swollen due to thyroid disease and narrow the esophagus.
Speaking problems
Laryngitis, or losing one’s voice, is one of the most common temporary speech problems. It can be acute and short-lived, such as after a cold or after screaming at a concert or amusement park, or it can become chronic. It is usually caused by infection or inflammation of the larynx and vocal cords. Antibiotics or antifungals can control the infection if one is present.
If the nerves that control the larynx in the throat and the vocal cords are impaired by neurological disease, speech can be affected. This can range from stuttering to inability to speak.
Inflammation of or polyps on the vocal cords can make speech difficult.
Hoarseness and throat clearing
Hoarseness and frequent throat clearing can be caused by allergy, parasites such as roundworm, or postnasal drip.
Coughing
Coughing can be from deep in the lungs, or from a tickle in the throat. Parasites can cause coughing. Coughing can be both cause and result of laryngitis or dryness in the throat.
Sleep problems
You might not think that sleep problems have much to do with the throat, but they can. Snoring occurs when the throat relaxes and vibrates during sleep, usually when the sleeper is on his back. In sleep apnea, snoring alternates with stoppage of breathing until, with a loud snort, breathing restarts. This can interfere with sleep and cause daytime drowsiness.
Check it out
As mentioned, throat problems can signal that something is going on with the rest of the body. It is important to get any such problems checked out, both to relieve the troublesome throat symptoms and to help your body to heal. Practitioners at CAM can help.
