The Minnesota Throat Tickle: What Causes It & How To Fix It

WHAT IS CAUSING THAT IRRITATING TICKLE?

Do you ever wonder what causes that tickle in your throat when you have absolutely no other signs of being ill? Here in Minnesota, we have changing weather conditions and 4 seasons that bring various issues for us as well, so I thought it might be nice to know how to treat that tickle.

DRIP DRIP DRIP

Don't know what's causing it, but having to carry a Kleenex with you everywhere you go? That's me. I believe it's from some kind of allergy, so I take a small dose of allergy medicine every day. It does seem to help, but when it doesn't, I've got to figure out what the next step is.

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STOP STOP STOP

Maybe it's because I talk for a living, but one of the most irritating issues for me is getting a tickle in my throat when I'm trying to have a conversation or when I'm singing. What in the world causes that irritation, and what is the best way to get rid of it fast?

According to an online article, numerous things can irritate the back of your throat, so there isn't just one simple answer to cure it. (Darn!) But here are a few ideas.

THROAT INFECTIONS

Before I had my tonsils removed, I suffered a lot from throat infections. Most throat infections will go away on their own.

THE FIX:
Rest
Pain Medications
Home remedies like gargling with salt water, honey, humidifiers and lemon and honey tea and lozenges.

STREP THROAT

Unfortunately, if you have strep throat, things will be much worse.

THE FIX:
Antibiotics.

A COLD

If you have a cold lasting more than 14 days, you might have a sinus infection. (Or you might live in Minnesota.)

THE FIX

To treat this kind of tickle in your throat, you may need:
Decongestant medications
Steroid nasal sprays
Antibiotics

DEHYDRATION

I'm guessing that for most of us, dehydration probably has something to do with it. Yeah, I know. You're supposed to drink about half your body weight in ounces of water each day, but that's not always possible.

THE FIX
Drinking more water can reduce the tickle, but if you need more than that you can also use a humidifier to add moisture to the environment.

ALLERGIES

These are a problem for many of us here in Minnesota. The first step in treating your allergy problem is to figure out what you are allergic to. It's hard to avoid things like pollen in the air, but knowing what you're allergic to can help.

THE FIX:

Find out the problem
Avoid the problem

If you can't avoid it, get medications like antihistamines to reduce the irritation.
Of course, if you have more than just a tickle in your throat, such as severe pain, you may want to speak with your doctor to get to the bottom of it. Otherwise, grab a warm glass of water with lemon and a Kleenex, and we'll just get through it like we always do.