The winter months are one of the seasons of the year when we are most exposed to battling the cold from exposure to viruses and air pollutionAlso, waking up with a stuffy nose and the more annoying “itchy throat” can negatively affect your mood and overall health. “The Times of India” website.
Viral infection
With the emergence of the Omicron variant, “itchy throat” has become one of the most prominent symptoms of the virus, along with runny nose, fatigue, body aches, sneezing, vomiting, night sweats and loss of appetite.
However, as far as itchy and sore throats go, it can also be linked to other viral infections including the common cold, measles, chickenpox, diphtheria, and even mononucleosis.
Depending on what you have, you may have other symptoms ranging from fever, cough, body aches, runny nose, swollen tonsils, and hoarseness.
Some viral diseases can also cause rashes and other skin problems.
air pollution
Deteriorating air quality has become a major health concern in recent times. However, air pollution can dry out your throat. Apart from that, it can give light to other symptoms including itchy skin, cough, wheezing, breathing problems, burning eyes, nasal irritation, and high blood pressure.
dry air
During the colder months, the air in your room can get dry, which can ultimately lead to a dry mouth and sore throat.
And if you feel the air around you is too dry, use a humidifier and you should also keep yourself hydrated throughout the day.
allergy
An itchy and sore throat, along with a runny nose and sleepless nights can be signs of an allergy.
Some of the common allergens are dust, pollen, mold, pet dander, and more. Apart from these, some people may also be susceptible to seasonal allergies which can lead to similar symptoms.
Not having enough water in your system can also lead to dry mouth and throat the next morning because your body produces less saliva while you sleep and also sweats during the night, causing your body to lose more moisture than it can hold. in winter, when we forget to drink water.
Mouth breathing and sleep apnea
Mouth breathing during sleep, often caused by snoring and sleep problems, can cause a sore throat when you wake up. When you breathe through your nose, it helps retain moisture in your mouth and throat, and breathing through your mouth has the opposite reaction.
However, chronic snoring is an important sign of sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder in which breathing can start and stop several times during the night.
gastroesophageal reflux
GERD at night can also disturb your sleep and can even make your throat hurt when you wake up, due to the flow of stomach acids into your esophagus, which is the tube that connects your stomach and throat.
It can also lead to other symptoms including chest pain (heartburn), hoarseness, nausea, vomiting, and bad breath.
