Throat Pain When Wake Up
Dr. Stewart listed snoring, allergies and GERD as the most common causes of a sore throat in the morning.
Contents
Why does my throat hurt when I wake up?
Reasons your throat hurts when you wake up include: dehydration, dry air, breathing-related sleep issues, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergies, air pollution, bacterial infections, viral infections, and smoking.
Why does my throat only hurt at night and when I wake up?
Treatment – The following strategies may help reduce snoring and OSA:
avoiding drinking alcohol before bedtimeavoiding nonessential medicines that can increase sleepinessavoiding sleeping on the backreaching or maintaining a moderate weight
If the above strategies do not alleviate OSA, a person should see their doctor. The doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device: A machine that pumps pressurized air through a face mask and into a person’s airways while they sleep. This helps keep the airways open, thereby reducing episodes of sleep apnea. Dental devices: Some people may benefit from a dental device that brings the bottom jaw forward. This may help keep the airways open. Surgery: If other treatment options are ineffective, a doctor may recommend surgery to remove excess tissue from the back of the throat or to remove or bypass airway blockages.
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.
feathers in pillowsdust and dander in mattressespollen from plants or trees near an open window
Why does the left side of my throat hurt when I wake up?
Allergies, infections, and illnesses can cause just one side of the throat to hurt. But if the pain is severe or accompanied by concerning symptoms, it may be an early indicator of a more serious condition. Sore throats can range from irritating to excruciating.
- You’ve probably had a sore throat many times before, so you know what to expect.
- But what about pain on only one side of your throat? Many things can cause a sore throat on one side, even if you don’t have tonsils.
- These include postnasal drip, canker sores, tooth infections, and other conditions.
- You might only have throat pain, or you might have additional symptoms, such as an earache.
Keep reading to learn more what might be causing your throat pain on one side. Postnasal drip refers to mucus that drips down the back of your nose. When this happens, it might feel like all of that mucus is collecting in your throat. Glands in your nose and throat regularly produce 1 to 2 quarts of mucus a day,
However, if you’re sick with an infection or have allergies, you tend to produce more mucus. When the extra mucus accumulates and can’t drain properly, the feeling of it dripping down your throat may be uncomfortable. Postnasal drip often irritates your throat, making it sore. You may feel this pain on only one side, especially in the morning after you’ve been sleeping on your side.
Treatment for postnasal drip involves treating the underlying condition. In the meantime, you can take a decongestant, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), for symptom relief. Tonsillitis is inflammation, usually due to infection, of your tonsils. The tonsils are round balls of lymphatic tissue in the back of your throat.
feverbad breathnasal congestion and runny nose swollen lymph nodes red, swollen tonsils covered with patches of pusdifficulty swallowingheadache abdominal pain raw, bleeding patches on the tonsils
Most cases of viral tonsillitis clear up on their own within 10 days, You can ease the pain with over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers or home remedies, such as gargling with salt water. If you have bacterial tonsillitis, you’ll likely need an antibiotic from your doctor.
- A peritonsillar abscess is an infection that creates a walled-off collection of pus adjacent to, and often behind, one of your tonsils.
- It usually begins as a complication of bacterial tonsillitis and is more common in older children and young adults.
- While a peritonsillar abscess may cause generalized throat pain, the pain is usually much worse on the side of the affected tonsil.
Other symptoms of a peritonsillar abscess include:
fever fatigue trouble talkingear pain on the affected sidebad breath drooling soft, muffled voice
A peritonsillar abscess requires immediate medical attention. Your doctor will likely use a needle or small incision to drain pus from the affected area. You might also be prescribed antibiotic therapy after the abscess is drained. Canker sores are small sores that form in your mouth.
They can form on the inside of your cheeks, on or under your tongue, inside your lips, or in the top of your mouth near the back of your throat. Most canker sores are small and round with a red border and a white or yellow center. While small, they can be quite painful. When a canker sore forms in a back corner of your throat, you may feel pain on one side.
Most canker sores heal on their own within two weeks, In the meantime, you can find relief with home remedies or OTC topical medications, such as benzocaine (Orabase). Your lymph nodes help your body fight off infections. When they swell, it usually means there’s a problem, such as a viral or bacterial infection.
You may notice swollen lymph nodes in your neck, under your chin, in your armpits, or in your groin. There are many lymph nodes in your head and neck regions. When they’re swollen, they may feel tender when you apply pressure to them. Lymph nodes usually swell in the area near an infection. If you have strep throat, for example, the lymph nodes in your neck may swell.
Sometimes only one lymph node will swell, causing a sore throat on one side. In rare cases, swollen lymph nodes may be a sign of a more severe problem, such cancer or HIV, Talk to your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms with swollen lymph nodes:
nodes that are swollen for more than two weeksweight loss night sweats long-lasting feverfatiguenodes that are hard, fixed to the skin, or growing rapidlyswollen nodes close to the collarbone or lower part of the neckred or inflamed skin over swollen nodesdifficulty breathing
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia, the latter sometimes called tic douloureux, are relatively rare nerve conditions that cause recurrent, sudden, excruciating pain around your ear canal, tongue, tonsils, jaw, or side of your face. Due to the location of nerves in your head and neck, the pain is usually on one side of the face only.
The pain of glossopharyngeal neuralgia is usually in the back of the throat or tongue. It’s often triggered by swallowing and usually lasts for a few seconds to a few minutes. You might feel an ache in the affected area after the acute pain episode. The pain of trigeminal neuralgia is usually facial, but sometimes can occur in the mouth.
Pain can be sudden and episodic or prolonged and progressive. Touching the face, eating, or even wind blowing on the face may set off an episode. Both conditions are usually treated with medications used for neuropathic pain, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), or pregabalin (Lyrica).
A tooth (periapical) abscess is a contained collection of pus caused by a bacterial infection. This pocket of pus grows at the tip of the root of your tooth. It can cause severe pain that radiates to your jawbone and your ear on one side of your face. The lymph nodes around your neck and throat may also be swollen and tender.
Other signs that your tooth is infected include:
sensitivity to hot and cold temperaturespain while chewingfeverswelling in your face or cheektender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck
Infection is common with impacted wisdom teeth, which are four molars in the back of your mouth that don’t have enough room to develop normally. Even when these teeth do emerge from the gums, they’re hard to clean, making them prone to infection. Infected wisdom teeth can cause jaw pain and swelling, making it difficult to open your mouth.
- If your wisdom teeth are causing problems, your dentist will likely recommend removing them.
- If you have a tooth abscess, your dentist may make an incision to drain the pus.
- You might also need an antibiotic.
- Laryngitis refers to inflammation in your voice box, also called your larynx.
- It’s usually caused by overusing your voice, irritation, or a viral infection.
You have two vocal cords in your larynx that normally open and close smoothly to make sound. When the cords become swollen or irritated, you might feel pain and notice that your voice sounds different. If one cord is more irritated than the other, you may feel throat pain on only one side.
hoarsenessloss of voiceticking sensation in your throatrawness in your throatdry coughdry throat
Laryngitis often heals on its own within a few weeks, but it’s best to rest your voice during this period. Most sore throats are caused by viral infections, such as the flu or the common cold. In rare cases, it can be a sign of something more serious. Seek immediate medical treatment if you have any of the following symptoms:
high feverdifficulty breathinginability to swallow food or liquidssevere, unbearable painabnormal, high-pitched breathing sounds ( stridor )fast heart ratesigns of an allergic reaction
If you have throat pain on one side that doesn’t go away after a few days, work with your doctor to figure out what’s causing it. They may prescribe you antibiotic therapy or suggest OTC medications to relieve the pain or other symptoms.
Why does my throat hurt when I wake up but I’m not sick?
Dr. Stewart listed snoring, allergies and GERD as the most common causes of a sore throat in the morning.
Can sleeping in a cold room cause a sore throat?
Is My Sore Throat From Cold Air? – Sore throats aren’t always caused by being sick. Cold air can dry out the tissue in the throat and can cause severe irritation. Symptoms can be made worse when breathing through the mouth rather than the nose. Because of this, it is common for people to have a sore throat from cold weather after exercising,
How long does waking up with a sore throat last?
The duration of a sore throat depends on what’s causing it. Sore throats, also known as pharyngitis, can be acute, lasting only a few days, or chronic, lingering on until their underlying cause is addressed. Most sore throats are the result of common viruses and resolve on their own within 3 to 10 days.
Sore throats caused by a bacterial infection or allergies may last longer. At-home treatments and prescribed medications can affect the length of time you experience symptoms from a sore throat, such as pain, scratchiness, and trouble swallowing. Read on to learn more about sore throats and what you can do to improve your recovery.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, such as the flu or common cold. They can also be a symptom of other viral conditions, such as:
croup measles chicken pox
Sore throats caused by viruses don’t require antibiotics. They usually go away with minimal treatment of symptoms in 10 days or less. At-home treatments and prescribed corticosteroids can reduce the discomfort of these sore throats, which typically go away when the underlying infection resolves.
Why does my throat hurt when I wake up but doesn t go away?
Common sources of morning throat pain are dry air, dehydration, infections, and chronic conditions like GERD and sleep apnea. If your throat tends to feel better soon after waking, you may want to drink more water or use a humidifier. If that doesn’t solve your problem, it may be time to see a doctor.
Why is my throat so dry even after drinking water at night?
What can cause a dry mouth? – A dry mouth can occur when the salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva. This is often the result of dehydration, which means you don’t have enough fluid in your body to produce the saliva you need. It’s also common for your mouth to become dry if you’re feeling anxious or nervous.
medication – many different medications can cause a dry mouth, including antidepressants, antihistamines and diuretics; check the leaflet that comes with your medicine, or find it in the medicines section to see if dry mouth is listed as a side effect a blocked nose – breathing through your mouth while you sleep can cause it to dry out diabetes – a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high radiotherapy to the head and neck – this can cause the salivary glands to become inflamed (mucositis) Sjögren’s syndrome – a condition where the immune system attacks and damages the salivary glands
If you see your dentist or GP, let them know about any other symptoms you’re experiencing and any treatments you’re having, as this will help them work out why your mouth is dry.
Is it common to have a sore throat after oral?
Sore throat from oral sex? Dear Sick, Whether it is related or not, having a sore throat and swollen glands can be a real drag. The symptoms you describe could be a common cold or, but they could also be caused by an infection you may have received during oral sex.
- It’s possible that your partner may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) without knowing it, and passed it on to you through fluids exchanged during oral sex.
- Some STIs are passed more easily during oral sex including and,
- Yeast infections can also be spread to partners during oral sex (See for more information).
Oral STI symptoms may include:
Sore throat Tonsillitis Oral lesions Cold sores Fever Swollen glands
There are ways to protect yourself and your partner from oral infections during sex including:
Using a latex barrier, like a condom or dental dam Avoiding oral sex when one partner has open cuts or sores, or has recently gone to the dentist (you can have small cuts you may not be aware of) Avoiding using food products with a condom or dental dam because these can break down latex
It’s a good idea to see a health care professional anytime you suspect that you may have an infection, or when cold symptoms last for more than a few days as an untreated infection can become serious. If you do have an infection, your health care professional may take a throat culture to find its cause.
- If it turns out that you have an STI, be sure to talk to your partner so he can get treated as well, even if he has no noticeable symptoms.
- Without treatment, your partner could give you the infection again, even if you have been treated.
- Seeking help and information when you are concerned about something is always a good idea.
After all, it’s your health and well-being. Take care, : Sore throat from oral sex?
When should I be worried about a sore throat?
Seeing a physician – In most cases, your sore throat will improve with at-home treatment. However, it’s time to see your doctor if a severe sore throat and a fever over 101 degrees lasts longer than one to two days; you have difficulty sleeping because your throat is blocked by swollen tonsils or adenoids; or a red rash appears.
- If you have any of the symptoms listed above, it could mean that you have a bacterial infection.
- In that case, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to treat your infection.
- For adults who have repeated bacterial throat infections within a relatively short period of time, a physician may recommend a tonsillectomy,” says Dr.
Scotch. Your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy (the surgical removal of the tonsils) if:
Abscesses of the tonsils do not respond to drainage. There is a persistent foul odor or taste in the mouth that does not respond to antibiotics. A biopsy is needed to evaluate a suspected tumor of the tonsil.
“However, a tonsillectomy should always be the last resort for treating sore throats,” warns Dr. Scotch. “The best treatment for a sore throat is prevention.”
Why does sore throat hurt most in morning?
Why is a sore throat worse in the morning? | Chloralieve A sore throat can range from very painful to just annoying, and they come in all sorts of forms, including, But you may have noticed that the pain feels worse in the morning yet by mid-morning, it’s disappeared again.
You might even wake up with a sore throat despite not having a cold or other similar illness. So what is the cause of this pain and why is my sore throat worse in the morning? Why do I wake up with a sore throat? The most common cause of a sore throat worse in the morning is dehydration. While you sleep, your body isn’t able to take in any fluids until you have a glass of water or a hot drink the following morning.
This can result in a dry mouth and therefore a sore throat. A dry mouth can also be caused by mouth breathing. Some people sleep with their mouth open and breathe that way instead of through the nose. This can seriously dry out the mouth and throat, which could explain why you wake up with throat pain in the morning.
- You may also find that you have a hoarse voice, bad breath and even circles under your eyes.
- Allergies are relatively common and people can be allergic to all sorts of things, including pet hair, dust, pollen and certain plants.
- These allergies can affect people in different ways.
- Some people might experience itchy eyes and a runny nose, while others may sneeze or cough a lot.
The allergies that are most likely to give you a sore throat worse in the morning are the ones associated with things you breathe in, like dust and pollen. These things can inflame your sinuses, causing the throat pain. If you think that you may be allergic to something, you should try and make a note of what you’ve recently come into contact with when your symptoms start up.
- This way, you should be able to pinpoint a particular trigger and potentially avoid it in the future.
- Acid reflux, also more commonly known as heartburn, is when the acid in your stomach is able to come up your oesophagus.
- This is the reason for the painful burning sensation you may feel in your chest, hence the name ‘heartburn’.
Acid reflux can be a common cause of a sore throat. This is particularly the case in the morning because, when you lie down at night, your stomach acid can more easily come up and into your throat. Other symptoms of this condition include a sour taste in your mouth, burning in your upper stomach area and trouble swallowing.
- If this problem is left and continues to occur, the acid from your stomach can damage your oesophagus and even the lining of your throat.
- How to prevent a sore throat in the morning Treating the sore throat and preventing it from hurting in the morning will depend on the cause.
- To prevent your mouth from drying out, you should ensure that you drink a glass of water before you go to bed and maybe even keep some on a bedside table should you need some in the night.
You may also want to suck a or a sweet before you go to sleep. This will help to increase your saliva production and could keep your throat more moist throughout the night. If your mouth is dry because of sleeping with it open, you should speak to a doctor.
They may be able to advise why you do this, for example a nasal obstruction could prevent you from breathing through your nose, and solve the issue. If you think that you may have acid reflux, you can purchase antacids over the counter that may reduce your symptoms or even solve the problem altogether.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions and be sure to follow them. For a sore throat that’s caused by allergies, you should try to determine what allergy you have so that you can avoid the substance altogether. This may help you to get a better night’s sleep.
Can snoring damage your throat?
Snoring is very common and is caused by the tongue, mouth, throat, or nasal structures vibrating during sleep. If snoring is very heavy, it can cause damage to the upper airway tract, which extends from the nasal cavities to the pharynx and larynx, which can result in swallowing dysfunction and severe sleep apnea. Treatments for damage can include ventilators, dilators, or surgical interventions. Image Credit: tommaso79/Shutterstock.com