How to Clear the Throat of Mucus

How to Clear the Throat of Mucus
Written By
Angie Briggs
Angie Briggs
Published: Mar 23, 2011
Updated: Dec 13, 2021
1 minute read

There can be many causes of mucus in the throat such as colds, allergies, gastroesophageal reflux and sinus infections. Throat mucus can be uncomfortable, make it difficult to swallow, cause constant throat-clearing or even drain into the stomach, causing nausea and bellyaches.

Add a pinch of salt to warm water and gargle. You can do this multiple times a day.

Drink some hot tea with honey to soothe your throat and break up mucus.

Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air and help break up the congestion.

Take vitamin C to help boost your immune system to fight off sickness. Eat oranges.

Take over-the-counter antihistamines if the throat mucus is caused by allergies or antibiotics if it is caused by an infection.

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Avoid spicy foods, especially near bedtime, if the throat mucus is being caused by gastroesophageal reflux.

Drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. Avoid caffeine and diuretics, as they can increase urination.

Use cough syrup with guaifenesin, which thins mucus secretions.

References

Angie Briggs

Angie Briggs has been a health and fitness writer since 2006. Her articles have been published on eHow, LIVESTRONG.COM and GardenGuides. She graduated from Thompson Institute with a diploma as a computer support specialist and received…

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