Numerous health conditions can cause the sensation of burning in the throat. Let’s take a look at a few of the more common ones as well as steps you can take to reduce your discomfort and manage your symptoms.
GERD or LPR
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid regularly flows back up into the esophagus. The hallmark symptom of GERD is heartburn. However, sometimes stomach acid rises all the way up to the throat and voice box. When that happens, it’s called laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), and many people who experience LPR do not have heartburn but do experience burning in the throat.
If you have LPR, you may also experience hoarseness, tightness in the throat, chronic cough and trouble swallowing.
GERD and LPR can both be easily diagnosed by a medical provider and are usually treated with a combination of acid-suppressing medications and lifestyle changes. If reflux is causing your throat-burning symptoms, you may need to remove certain foods from your diet and come up with GERD-friendly shopping lists full of leafy greens, non-citrusy fruits and lean proteins the next time you’re at Food Town Plus.
Infections
Certain viral and bacterial infections can cause your throat to feel like it’s burning due to the infection causing inflammation in the back of your throat. If your symptoms are due to an infection, you’ll likely have additional symptoms such as:
- Pain in the throat when swallowing
- Cough
- Nasal congestion
- Hoarseness
- Upset stomach
Most sore throats are caused by a virus and can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers, rest and hydration. However, strep throat is a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics to treat. If you have strep throat, you may also experience:
- Fever
- Body aches
- White patches on the tonsils
- Swollen or tender lymph nodes
Postnasal Drip
Postnasal drip occurs when mucus and fluid from the sinuses and nose drain into the back of your throat, causing irritation and sometimes a burning feeling. Postnasal drip is a symptom of many other conditions, including:
- Sinus infections
- Viruses
- Allergies
- Deviated septum
- Certain medications
- Acid reflux
Treating the cause of postnasal drip is essential to relieving your symptoms. For example, if allergies are the cause, allergy treatments like antihistamines or nasal sprays should help to alleviate your burning throat.
If you would like more information or need to make an appointment with one of our providers, call Red River ENT Associates today.
