Sure, a sore throat can be annoying. But when your throat pain won't let up, it could be a sign of a serious problem — one you should have checked out. When you wake up in the morning and notice that a sore throat has come back — again — don't just grab the lozenges and ignore it.
If you have persistent throat pain, your body could be trying to tell you that something is wrong, and it's a good idea to see your doctor for a diagnosis. A sore throat can take many forms — it can be scratchy or itchy, burn, or cause painful swallowing.
Many times a sore throat is accompanied by a pesky cough which can irritate the tender throat even more. Many common colds and viruses can cause a sore throat that typically subsides within a few days. But when a sore throat persists and you can't find relief, it's something to take seriously.
Some of these conditions, like the flu, may be fairly minor and not require treatment, while strep throat and tonsillitis can turn into serious health problems if left untreated. Many of these people have infectious mononucleosis , or eventually need tonsillectomies. Allergies can cause nasal congestion and postnasal drip.
This is where mucus drains from the nose and into the throat. Excess mucus in the throat can lead to itching, irritation, and soreness. Postnasal drip typically increases when a person is lying down. As a result, a sore throat may worsen at night or first thing in the morning.
Exposure to certain allergens at night may also worsen postnasal drip and sore throat. Examples include:. The treatment for allergies involves identifying and avoiding the allergens responsible for the symptoms. This may involve:. People can also take antihistamines to help suppress the immune response that causes allergy symptoms. Some of the most common viruses are those that cause the common cold and those that cause the flu. Either illness can cause nasal congestion and postnasal drip, both of which may worsen a sore throat at night.
The common cold typically goes away within 7—10 days. Most people who get the flu experience only mild illness lasting 3—7 days. In either case, the symptoms are rarely severe enough to warrant medical treatment.
Nonetheless, people may benefit from:. People who are at risk of developing complications of flu should notify their doctor as soon as they develop symptoms. Receiving antiviral medications within 2 days of the onset of symptoms can help lessen symptom severity and duration and reduce the risk of complications. Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils caused by the bacteria group A Streptococcus group A strep.
The condition is common among children but not very common among adults. Strep throat can cause intense pain that persists throughout the day. However, the pain may worsen at night due to increased postnasal drip or pain-relieving medications wearing off during the night. The treatment for strep throat is a course of antibiotics. These medications will help reduce symptom duration and severity, as well as the risk of serious complications.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD is a condition where stomach acid and other stomach contents frequently come up into the esophagus. The esophagus, or food pipe, is the tube that connects the mouth and stomach. GERD symptoms typically worsen at night and when a person lies down. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check here if you would like to receive subscription offers and other promotions via email from TIME group companies.
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