My Throat is Dry Even When I Drink Water? | Causes, Symptoms, Home Remedies for Dry Throat

It happens every so often that even when drinking water and other fluids the throat still remains dry and the thirst is not quenched. This happens because of a condition called Dry Throat. Along with dryness of the throat the throat also feels itchy and scratchy.

The most common cause of Dry Throat is drying of the mucous membranes in the throat which happens mostly as a result of heavy exercise, sleeping with the mouth open which most people who have a habit of mouth breathing do, living in a region where the climate has very little humidity in the air, and not drinking sufficient amount of fluids.

Dry Throat at times is also caused by excess tobacco use as well as use of marijuana. One can also have Dry Throat when he or she screams or shouts at the top of the voice such as in a concert or a public meeting. Medical conditions like inflammation of the throat and allergies and in extremely rare cases cancer of the throat and esophagus can also cause Dry Throat.

In cases where an individual has Dry Throat along with white patches in the tongue or the mouth that does not go away on its own requires immediate medical attention.

As stated, the most common cause of Dry Throat is drying up of mucous membranes in the throat which happens as a result of vigorous exercise, mouth breathing and sleeping with the mouth open, dry climatic conditions such as during summers in regions like Arizona, and insufficient intake of fluids. Tobacco and marijuana use also play a role in development of Dry Throat. Inflammation of the throat can also result in Dry Throat. Some of the medical conditions that may cause Dry Throat are:

• Dehydration
• Enlarged tonsils
• Side effects of certain medications like antihistamines
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Strep throat
• Excessive throat clearing
• Excessive coughing
• Excessive vomiting
• Mononucleosis
• In some extremely rare cases cancer of the throat or esophagus

Some of the other causes of Dry Throat include:

• Excessive marijuana use
• Tobacco use
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Excessive shouting and screaming

In majority of the cases Dry Throat does not come alone but presents with a variety of different symptoms depending on the condition that is causing Dry Throat. Some of the symptoms that tend to accompany Dry Throat are:

• Cough
• Problems with breathing
• Hoarseness of voice
• White patches covering the tonsils or throat
• Sore throat
• Dysphagia
• Heartburn
• Vomiting
• Body aches
• Visual disturbances
• Lymph node enlargement
• Lethargy
• Fever and chills
• Hypotension
• Muscle weakness

If Dry Throat is accompanied by fever and white patches in the throat and mouth signal the onset of the more serious medical condition and needs immediate medical evaluation.

Dry Throat in majority of the cases is a benign condition and can be successfully treated by a variety of home remedies, some of which are detailed below:

Saltwater Gargles: Saltwater Gargles is one of the most common and best Home Remedies used for treating Dry Throat. Gargling with saltwater soothes the Dry Throat and provides relief of symptoms by calming down inflammation. You need to gargle with saltwater three to four times a day for a minute each time.

Herbal Tea: Herbal Tea is quite an effective home remedy to calm down inflammation and irritation of mucous membranes and hence is an effective home remedy to get rid of dry throat. They work by forming a thin coating above the mucous membranes. Herbal tea made up of herbs like licorice root, slippery elm, and marshmallow root are quite effective to get rid of Dry Throat. Adding honey to the herbal tea extract helps further in getting rid of Dry Throat.

Fluid Intake: When you suffer from Dry Throat, it is necessary to increase the intake of fluids to keep the mucous membranes moist. The intake of fluids can be anything from plain water to any fresh fruit juice. Increased fluid intake also helps to treat dehydration which is also one of the causes of Dry Throat. Some people prefer drinking hot fluids especially when they are suffering from a sore throat as it gives the throat a soothing effect and helps get rid of Dry Throat. Alcohol is something that one should abstain from as it tends to increase dehydration and make the symptoms even worse

Air Humidifier: Using air humidifier is also a good remedy to get rid of Dry Throat as it tends to make the environment more humid, especially in the summer months where the climate is extremely dry and there is very little moisture in the air which is a perfect condition for the onset of Dry Throat. Similarly in the winter months using a heater or vaporizer is also quite effective in treating Dry Throat.

Throat Lozenges: This is also quite an effective home remedy for treatment of Dry Throat. Throat lozenges moisten the dry mucous membranes and provide relief from the symptoms of Dry Throat. It also stimulates the production of saliva which also helps in keeping the mucous membranes moist. Sugar free gum is the best remedy to stimulate saliva production and keep the mucous membranes moist so as to get rid of Dry Throat.

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Also Read:

• Why I Am Waking Up With Dry Sore Throat Every Morning?: Causes, Home Remedies