Cough cough cough... Why is it easy to have throat discomfort in autumn? Here is a guide to protecting your throat!

Cough, cough, cough... After the beginning of autumn, the climate is dry, the temperature difference between day and night is large, and the weather is changeable. Many people often feel dry and itchy throats, foreign objects, nausea and retching, but can't cough or swallow. This may be the symptom of pharyngitis. How to protect? Here is a guide to protecting your throat!

Why is it easy to have throat discomfort in autumn?

Autumn is the peak season for pharyngitis. Li Yunying from the Department of Otolaryngology at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine said that on the one hand, the air is dry in autumn, and the dust and smoke in the environment increase, which can easily irritate the throat; on the other hand, the weather is hot and cold suddenly, and the temperature difference between morning and evening increases. The dry and cold irritates the throat, which can easily cause the pharyngeal mucosa to be invaded by external bacteria and viruses, inducing inflammation; from the perspective of the human body environment, autumn dryness can cause the body to lose body fluids, the throat to lose nutrition, and inflammation occurs.

Especially for people who use their voice frequently, such as teachers, announcers, etc., the laryngeal and pharyngeal mucosa are subjected to long-term impact of strong airflow, which leads to local congestion and edema, and affects the secretion of throat glands. They are prone to dry and sore throat and hoarseness under the stimulation of specific environment in autumn.

Li Yunying also said that autumn is also a high incidence season for rhinitis. Rhinitis attacks lead to nasal congestion, and people often need to breathe through their mouths. The cold air is not filtered through the nasal cavity and directly stimulates the throat, which can also cause pharyngitis.

At this time, if you add the influence of bad living habits such as staying up late, fatigue, excessive smoking and drinking, spicy diet, etc., the body's immunity will decrease, and various discomforts such as dry and sore throat will come.

Don't confuse pharyngitis and laryngitis

Li Yunying said that the pharynx and the larynx are not actually the same part. The "pharynx" includes the nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx. Pharyngitis and laryngitis are two different diseases, and they also have different manifestations when they occur. Pharyngitis refers to an inflammatory disease of the pharyngeal mucosa, and the main manifestations are pharyngeal discomfort such as sore throat, dry throat, itchy throat, burning sensation in the throat, foreign body sensation, "crackling" throat clearing, coughing, nausea and retching; laryngitis is an inflammatory disease of the laryngeal mucosa, which is commonly known as throat inflammation by the common people, and its manifestations are mainly hoarseness and voice changes.

In addition, the larynx is an important organ of pronunciation, and improper use of the larynx is a common cause of laryngitis. Laryngitis must not be treated like simple pharyngitis, and attention should be paid to the recovery of the vocal function.

Clinical symptoms vary from person to person

Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the mucosa, submucosal tissue and lymphatic tissue of the pharynx, and is divided into acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis. Acute pharyngitis is mainly caused by viruses and bacteria; chronic pharyngitis is mostly caused by repeated attacks of acute pharyngitis, incorrect pronunciation methods, unhealthy living habits, various harmful physical and chemical factors, low resistance, or secondary to various chronic diseases such as anemia, constipation, cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, anxiety or depression. Li Yujie, chief physician of the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, said that pharyngitis is no longer a "special disease" for people who overuse their voices. People who often smoke and drink, like spicy food, white-collar workers, people who are prone to colds, patients with chronic rhinitis, and those who work in dusty environments are more likely to suffer from pharyngitis.

Clinically, acute pharyngitis has an acute onset, with dry itching, burning or mild pain in the throat at the beginning, and the voice may quickly become rough or hoarse, often accompanied by fever, dry cough or coughing up a small amount of sticky phlegm. Examination shows redness, swelling and congestion of the throat, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, and severe cases may cause edema of the throat, which may even block the throat and cause breathing difficulties. Chronic pharyngitis often has symptoms such as discomfort, dryness, itching, pain or foreign body sensation in the throat, and is often aggravated by fatigue and talking a lot. The pharyngeal mucosa is congested, the uvula is slightly edematous, and the posterior pharyngeal wall lymphoid follicles are more numerous, coarser and redder, but the body does not have a fever. These symptoms vary from person to person and may be more severe. Some patients may only have one or two symptoms, while others may have all of them.

Some people think that pharyngitis is a "minor illness" that will heal on its own in a few days; some people still do not change their bad habits such as smoking, drinking, and staying up late after experiencing symptoms of pharyngitis, and some patients like to buy medicine on their own. "These practices are irresponsible attitudes towards health." Li Yujie said that if acute pharyngitis is not treated in time, it will turn into chronic pharyngitis, which has a longer course and is more troublesome to treat; more seriously, if chronic pharyngitis is not cured for a long time, it will also cause rhinitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and other diseases.

A holistic view of medication

"The treatment of pharyngitis requires a comprehensive examination and scientific diagnosis. After the diagnosis is confirmed, the appropriate treatment plan should be used. It cannot be a one-size-fits-all treatment for everyone." Li Yujie said that there are many drugs on the market for the treatment of pharyngitis, but they must be used for the right symptoms.

If the patient only has a sore throat without fever or cough, there is no need to use antibiotics. Just take oral lozenges, take a rest, drink plenty of water, and use gargles locally. This can increase the contact area between the drug and the diseased tissue, which is especially beneficial for eliminating inflammatory secretions and alleviating local symptoms. If chronic pharyngitis has an acute attack and symptoms such as sore throat, itchy throat, cough, and increased secretions occur, see a doctor immediately.

It is worth noting that chronic pharyngitis is often associated with ear, nose, oral diseases and systemic diseases. In terms of treatment and medication, we should establish a holistic view, combine local medication with comprehensive medication, and do not neglect the treatment of other diseases other than the throat. Li Yujie gave an example to illustrate that a considerable number of patients with chronic pharyngitis suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is caused by direct damage to the throat by the acidic contents in the stomach. This type of pharyngitis is called "reflux pharyngitis." According to clinical experience, for patients with chronic pharyngitis who have poor long-term treatment effects, the possibility of reflux pharyngitis should be considered first, and gastroesophageal reflux should be actively treated; at the same time, do not eat too much, avoid hiccups, properly raise the head of the bed or raise the pillow when sleeping, reduce or avoid eating before going to bed, etc.

To prevent throat discomfort, start with a regular life

"Self-care is the key to preventing and treating pharyngitis." Li Yujie suggested that people should have a regular lifestyle, get enough sleep every day, and stay up late as little as possible; take part in more physical exercise to enhance the body's defense capabilities; pay attention to keeping warm in cold seasons to prevent colds; correct the habit of breathing with open mouth, avoid excessive use of the voice, and use incorrect vocal methods; resolutely abandon some bad eating habits, quit smoking and drinking, avoid eating raw, cold, spicy, and sour foods, and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables; keep the mouth clean at all times, brush your teeth in the morning and evening, and rinse your mouth after meals to reduce the possibility of infection.

Try to avoid contact with allergens and reduce environmental pathogenic factors. When going out in windy, foggy and hazy weather, you can wear a cotton mask to reduce the irritation of polluted air to the respiratory tract. Workers in special industries such as chemical plants and flour mills should especially take good occupational protection. At home, you should also reduce contact with irritants such as dust. The kitchen and living room should be ventilated or equipped with a range hood to keep the indoor air fresh, the temperature appropriate, and maintain a certain humidity; disinfect and clean frequently to reduce dust, pollen, etc., to reduce allergens in the environment.

Li Yunying said that although throat discomfort is extremely common, it can also cause great harm if not taken seriously. For example, if acute pharyngitis is not treated properly and recurs repeatedly, it can turn into a chronic disease; abnormal voice caused by pharyngitis affects image and employment; severe cases can affect breathing and swallowing, endangering life; if the throat infection spreads upward and affects the ears and nose, it can cause acute rhinitis, sinusitis, and otitis media; if it develops downward, it can invade the trachea, lungs and other lower respiratory tracts, causing bronchitis and pneumonia...

Li Yunying said that pharyngitis should be treated promptly and actively. From the cause, it is necessary to avoid the stimulation of dust, harmful gases, etc.; correct incorrect vocalization methods and avoid excessive use of the voice. At the same time, it is also necessary to actively prevent and treat chronic inflammation of the nose and mouth, remove lesions, strengthen physical exercise, and enhance disease resistance.

So, how to prevent pharyngitis? Li Yunying reminded that "self-discipline and moderation" in life is very important. The first basic requirement is to quit smoking and drinking, and stay away from secondhand smoke; the second is to try to avoid drinking coffee, alcohol, strong tea and carbonated drinks; in addition, you must maintain good living habits, avoid excessive fatigue, and keep a good mood. The working and living environment should maintain fresh and circulated air, improve the indoor temperature and dryness; it is recommended to wear a mask in the environment of dust and irritating gases.

People who use their voice a lot should pay attention to protecting their voice, use it reasonably, avoid shouting, singing, speaking for long periods of time and overusing the voice, and let the throat rest if mild symptoms of vocal fatigue occur; teachers should avoid continuous class arrangements, and it is recommended to use microphones in large classrooms to reduce the burden on the voice.

Li Yunying reminded that for professionals who speak frequently and for a long time, if they have trouble with improper pronunciation, it is recommended to receive professional pronunciation and rehabilitation training. Otolaryngologists can also provide effective help in this regard.

Proper diet is the key to maintaining throat

From the perspective of throat care, we should focus on strengthening nutrition, eat dairy products, lean meat, eggs, etc. in moderation, and eat more fruits. Li Yunying said. Drink more water to keep the throat moist; eat less or no sour, spicy, greasy, irritating food and hard-to-digest food such as potatoes and glutinous rice; do not eat too much at three meals, do not lie down immediately after a meal, and do not eat 3 hours before going to bed. Most throat diseases are caused by Yin deficiency and excessive fire. Avoid fried, pan-fried, spicy and other irritating foods; eat less hot foods such as beef.

Experts prescribe tea, porridge and soup to maintain a healthy throat

Five teas to protect your throat

Sore throat: 15 grams of honeysuckle, 15 grams of chrysanthemum, 5 grams of mint, 10 grams of platycodon, and 10 grams of licorice.

Dry throat: 15g Scrophularia, 15g Adenophora, 15g Ophiopogon, 30g Phragmites australis, and 10g Licorice.

Foreign body sensation in throat: 10g bupleurum, 5g mint, 10g perilla stem, 10g julibrissin, 10g platycodon, and 5g licorice.

Cough with excessive phlegm: 15 grams of mulberry leaves, 15 grams of loquat leaves, 15 grams of longli leaves, 5 grams of tangerine peel, 15 grams of monk fruit, and 5 grams of licorice.

Hoarseness: 10 grams of chrysanthemum, 10 grams of Sterculia lychnophora, 10 grams of Ophiopogon japonicus, 10 grams of Oroxylum butterfly, 3 salty bamboo bees, and 10 grams of raw licorice.

Li Yunying said that the above tea therapy recipes can be boiled in water or brewed with boiling water and then drunk as tea.

Five kinds of porridge and soup to nourish the throat

Mint porridge

Method: 30g fresh mint (10g dried mint), 60g polished rice, cook porridge first, then add mint and boil, season and serve. Suitable for those with sore throat and dry throat.

Tremella, Lily, and Lotus Seed Porridge

Method: 200g polished rice, 30g soaked Tremella, 30g lily bulbs, 30g lotus seeds. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 40 minutes. Suitable for those with dry throat, dry lungs, restlessness and insomnia.

Fig and lean meat soup

Method: 5 figs, 250g lean pork, cook soup and season. Suitable for people with dry throat and sore throat due to yin deficiency and dry lung.

Dendrobium, Ophiopogon japonicus, Olive and Lean Meat Soup

Method: Boil 30g of Dendrobium, 30g of Ophiopogon japonicus, 3 olives and 200g of lean pork. Suitable for those with dry throat, sore throat and hoarseness.

Stewed Pear with Sichuan Fritillary and Rock Sugar

Method: 3g of Fritillaria powder, 1 pear, 10g of rock sugar. Wash the pear and remove the core, pour the Fritillaria powder into the pear, then put the pear cup into the steaming bowl and cover it, add rock sugar and a little water into the steaming bowl, and steam for about 40 minutes. Eat with the pear meat and soup. Suitable for those with dry throat, cough and phlegm.