Nothing dampens the mood of a crisp, vibrant autumn quite like a sore throat. Beyond just being uncomfortable, a sore throat makes daily activities like eating, talking and even breathing difficult. Let’s discuss how you can protect your throat and voice from the dry air this autumn.
Why Fall Air Is So Dry
The colder the air is, the more it contracts, and as a result, it can’t carry as many water particles as it could when the temperatures were warmer. Instead, the moisture that was in the air now accumulates on surfaces and on the ground—that’s why your windows are covered with condensation at this time of year, but not in the summer.
Why Your Throat Craves Moist Air
The airways in our nose and throat like to be kept moist and hydrated in order to filter the air and flush away germs. Their main source of moisture is the air we breathe in; when the air is dry, our airways dry out too.
When the throat is dry, it’s more likely to become irritated if a foreign substance (e.g., dust, pollen, secondhand smoke, air pollutants) enters. It also has less mucus—which is mostly made of water—to trap germs, making them more likely to get stuck in the body instead of getting flushed out.
Complications from Dry Throat
A dry, irritated throat can lead to the following symptoms and conditions:
- Hoarseness (loss of voice)
- Sore throat
- Chronic cough
- Laryngitis
- Viral infection (the common cold, the flu, COVID)
- Bacterial infection (strep throat)
- Allergies, particularly to environmental allergens like mold and dust
How to Protect Yourself
Your best line of defense is to rehydrate your airways. The two main ways you can do this are by drinking lots of fluids to stay hydrated and by using a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home.
If you start to feel throat symptoms related to the dry air, you can reduce swelling and irritation by gargling with warm salt water, drinking warm beverages with honey (which is known to have soothing, anti-inflammatory effects) and using over-the-counter cough drops or cough syrup.
If symptoms persist, or if you have an underlying throat condition that makes dry air even more uncomfortable, consider seeking medical attention at an ENT clinic. At South Valley Ear Nose & Throat – West Jordan, we specialize in conditions of the head and neck, and we can help you develop a treatment plan. Call us today to learn more.