Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesReliefTriggers and Risk FactorsWhen to Talk With a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Relief
Triggers and Risk Factors
When to Talk With a Healthcare Provider
Several factors can cause a sore throat at night, such as environmental factors or symptoms of other common health conditions that may get worse when you lie down. Sore throat symptoms may come and go as the triggers of your sore throat come and go, such as seasonal allergies or dry winter air.
Learn more about what causes a sore throat at night and how to get relief so that you can feel and sleep better.
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Causes of a Sore Throat at Night
Dry Air
Breathing in dry air can lead to adry throat, which may become irritated and sore.Running the heater or air conditioning overnight can make the air you breathe drier and may be why your throat is only sore at night. Mouth breathing while sleeping, especially in a dry environment, can make your throat dry and sore.Dry throat may be particularly bad in the winter when the air is cold and dry.
Postnasal Drip
Postnasal dripis when mucus drains down your throat. One of the symptoms of postnasal drip is a sore throat. One reason why postnasal drip may cause sore throat at night is that the mucus collects at the back of the throat while you’re lying down or sleeping.This can lead you to cough or clear your throat more, which can make your throat sore.
Allergies
Exposure to allergens throughout the day can leave you with a sore throat at the end of the day. Allergies may be seasonal, such as from pollen in the air, or year-round, such as from dander or pet hair. Allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever or nasal allergies) can cause a sore throat.
Asore throat from allergiesis likely a result of postnasal drip as the immune system triggers mucus production to trap allergens that enter the nose. The collection of mucus at the back of your throat can cause discomfort and soreness in the throat.
Muscle Strain
Muscle strain from talking a lot or loudly can cause throat pain similar to a sore throat.If you’ve been using your voice a lot or speaking over loud noises during the day, you may feel a sore throat coming on at night. This is just a matter of overuse of the muscles in your throat.
Acid Reflux
Relief for a Sore Throat That’s Worse at Night
Getting relief from a sore throat at night can not only help you feel better but also help you sleep better. Below are at-home remedies to try for sore throat relief:
If you have symptoms of a viral infection, such as a cough or runny nose,in addition to a sore throat, getting treatment for the infection will help relieve your sore throat.
Tips for Better SleepIn addition to sore throat relief, it’s important to practicegood sleep habitsto reap thebenefits of a good night’s sleep. For example, try not to eat within three hours of bedtime to prevent acid reflux,which can wake you and cause a sore throat.
Tips for Better Sleep
In addition to sore throat relief, it’s important to practicegood sleep habitsto reap thebenefits of a good night’s sleep. For example, try not to eat within three hours of bedtime to prevent acid reflux,which can wake you and cause a sore throat.
Sore Throat Triggers and Risk Factors
In addition, seasonal allergies may make you more susceptible to a sore throat as the excess mucus can irritate your throat.
You might also find that a sore throat at night is triggered after eating certain foods for dinner. The acid reflux that may happen after eating these foods, like spicy food, can cause a sore throat.
If you’re still unsure what’s causing your sore throat at night, talk to a healthcare provider about what your sore throat feels like and any other symptoms you have. It might also help to share patterns you notice when your sore throat symptoms come and go. If your sore throat keeps happening for more than two weeks, it may be time to talk to a healthcare provider about it.
In addition, seek medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms along with your sore throat:
Summary
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pharyngitis.Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Sore throat (pharyngitis).Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Treatments for post-nasal drip.Familydoctor.org.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.Baylor College of Medicine.When to worry about a sore throat.Mount Sinai.Pharyngitis - sore throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pharyngitis.Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Sore throat (pharyngitis).Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Treatments for post-nasal drip.Familydoctor.org.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.Baylor College of Medicine.When to worry about a sore throat.Mount Sinai.Pharyngitis - sore throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pharyngitis.Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Sore throat (pharyngitis).Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Treatments for post-nasal drip.Familydoctor.org.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.Baylor College of Medicine.When to worry about a sore throat.Mount Sinai.Pharyngitis - sore throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pharyngitis.
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Sore throat (pharyngitis).
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Treatments for post-nasal drip.
Familydoctor.org.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.
Baylor College of Medicine.When to worry about a sore throat.
Mount Sinai.Pharyngitis - sore throat.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
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