Why does my Throat Hurt When I Wake up

Everyone wants to wake up happier than they did the night before. All of us want to wake up feeling energized, refreshed, and clear-headed for the day ahead. Although it might sound strong, “brimming with energy” may be a bit extreme. A sore throat can make it difficult to get up in the morning. This could be a sign that you are having nighttime problems.

Nighttime routines can easily be simplified

Bruce Stewart, MD, an otolaryngologist at Banner Health in Tucson, AZ, shared his insight into why your throat feels tired or sore when you wake up. Dr. Stewart explained that there could be many reasons why your throat feels sore or tired when you wake up. Start by asking questions.

• Have you recently moved to a different climate or home?
• Do you wake up every day with a sore throat?
• Are you experiencing any other symptoms?
• Do you notice your partner snoring or waking up?

Finding the cause

These questions and others may help you unravel the mystery of what happens to your eyes when you close them. These are the questions you should prepare to answer when you see your primary doctor to discuss your symptoms. These are possible causes for your discomfort at daybreak.

• Sleep Apnea, Snoring, or Similar (To help determine your risk for sleep apnea), please fill out the Sleep Apnea Profiler .
• Allergies/congestion
• This is not the best place to get a good night of sleep
• Temporary illness, such as a cold or viral infection
• Nighttime heat conditions without AC
• Allergy to detergents or bedding
• Insufficient water intake
• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and other gastrointestinal diseases
• Smoking

Although these conditions might not be the root cause, they can help you to identify it. Bad sleeping habits can cause difficulty breathing at night. Poor sleeping habits could be a sign of a poor mattress. Your sore throat could also be caused by snoring. Snoring can be a sign of obesity or narrowing of your airway.

Dr. Stewart identified allergies and snoring as the major causes of sore throats. Are you the recent owner of a brand new plant? Are you a recent owner of a new plant? Have you ever tried a new laundry detergent? Are you sick of eating hot links for dinner?

Home remedies

If your symptoms aren’t severe, you may be able try home remedies. Dr. Stewart shared some tips to pamper your airways tonight.

• To reduce congestion and snoring, you can use bedside humidifiers.
• Antihistamines can also be used to lessen allergic reactions.
• If you suffer from GERD, over-the-counter antacids such as Nexium or Prilosec might be helpful. To elevate your head, you can use a few pillows. Place books under two bedposts to elevate your head.

How to treat a sore throat

These home remedies may be enough to alleviate your sore throat symptoms. If you have persistent sore throat symptoms, it is time to visit your doctor.

Similar articles written with the assistance of Banner Health doctors and experts provide more information on how your sleeping habits impact your overall health.