Dry, itchy or sore throat is a common symptom caused by hay
fever. A hay fever sore throat is an irritating and debilitating symptom that
is usually associated with nasal congestion or blocked nose. Your mouth cannot
filter air just like the nasal passages during hay fever, which means you
experience tickling and irritation in your throat.
Dry, itchy or sore throats may not be the classical symptoms
of hay fever caused during springs. But for those who experience sore throat,
it becomes extremely difficult for them to eat or drink. Hay fever throat
symptoms are painful and annoying.
How hay fever causes
dry, itchy and sore throat?
When you hold your nose, you can still breathe through your
mouth. Nasal congestion caused by hay fever blocks your nose, making breathing
difficult, so you tend to use your mouth to breathe. Nasal blockage means that
you breathe in the cold air, making the throat dry. Hence, the first hay fever
throat symptom is dryness.
When you are forced to breathe through mouth due to nasal
blockage, you are directly inviting the pollen to enter your system. Pollen
adheres to your throat, irritating the sensitive tissues. This triggers the
secretion of chemical called histamine that irritates the nerve ending, causing
throat irritation.
If you experience dryness and irritation of throat for a
prolonged period of time, your tissues in the throat swell and become red.
Inflammation of throat is experienced as a sore throat. Eventually, the mucus
membranes of the throat become tender, which is why you experience pain while swallowing.
Hay fever sore throat
treatment
Conventional Medicines
– If you have hay fever sore throat, an antihistamine medicine could be of
great help. In addition, you may require sore throat lozenges (Strepsils Sore Throat & Blocked Nose
Lozenges) and painkillers that are easily available from a local or online
pharmacy.
Home Remedies –
It is important that you drink plenty of water to keep your throat moist. You
can also drink herbal teas, soups or a concoction of warm water and honey to
soothe your throat. Gargling with salt-warm-water is another good remedy for
itchy and sore throat.
The
best way to prevent hay fever sore throat is to stay away from pollen,
especially when the pollen count is high. Minimising your exposure to pollen
during springs can prevent dry, itchy or sore throat.
