An ear, nose and throat doctor explains causes of constant throat clearing, and what can be done about this.
Constant throat clearing isn’t just a nuisance to you if you suffer from this, but it’s also a nuisance to all the people around you who hear it.
“Chronic throat clearing is from acid reflux,” says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology; one of her specialties is sinus surgery.
“Acid from the stomach comes up and irritates the back of the throat,” continues Dr. Silvers. This results in swelling.
“The mucous drips in the back of the throat causing post-nasal drip,” continues Dr. Silvers.
“This mucous is protecting the throat from the acid which will otherwise cause throat ulcers.
“The mucous is annoying, however, and causes an individual to clear their throat constantly, or intermittently to speak, depending on how bad the reflux and how much protective mucous is produced as a result.
“Stress is a big contributing factor to acid reflux,” adds Dr. Silvers.
“Stress will increase the production of stomach acid and the acid can reflux up.”
The more acid in your stomach, the more refluxed acid there will be if the conditions are ripe for reflux in the first place, such as having a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
The LES is normally tight and keeps acid in the stomach where it belongs.
Tourette’s syndrome can also be a cause of the constant or frequent clearing of the throat.
Symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome can be very mild and are often misdiagnosed as other conditions.
Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations known as tics.
These tics can range from simple motor tics, such as blinking or head jerking, to more complex movements and vocalizations like making sounds and repeating words or phrases.
The onset typically occurs in childhood, with symptoms often becoming noticeable between ages five and 10.
An NYC expert in ear, nose and throat care, Dr. Silvers has been named among America’s Top Physicians and Surgeons in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology numerous times since 2003.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Asier Romero
Source: mayoclinic.com/health/tourette-syndrome/DS00541/DSECTION=symptoms
