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<\/p>\nIt\u2019s a sensation we\u2019ve all experienced before. The feeling of having to clear your throat that usually proceeds \u2013 or follows \u2013 a cough or cold and tends to go away soon after.<\/p>\n
But for some, it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
As many as 60,000 people in the UK, estimated by a 2022 study, could be living with chronic throat issues \u2013 throat clearing, the feeling of a lump, or a hoarse voice \u2013 that can persist for months or even years.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a topic that Mail on Sunday columnist and GP Dr Ellie Cannon addressed in her weekly column last month.<\/p>\n
Referencing a friend who complained of her colleague\u2019s annoying habit, Dr Cannon asked readers whether they had ever found themselves repeatedly clearing their throats, and whether they had discovered the cause \u2013 and we were flooded with emails and letters. Scores of readers wrote in to say they too had experienced chronic throat clearing for years with no respite.<\/p>\n
\u2018I am often apologising for clearing my throat, and at night I often sit up drinking water and coughing,\u2019 wrote one 78-year-old woman.<\/p>\n
\u2018I am so fed up with it, especially if I am out or at the theatre,\u2019 said another. One 69-year-old man said: \u2018It drives me mad \u2013 and my wife too! On occasions, I panic because I don\u2019t feel I will manage to settle and go to sleep. I don\u2019t know what to do.\u2019<\/p>\n
Experts say there are many reasons why patients may experience chronic throat clearing \u2013 and that the symptom, if it persists for more than a few weeks, should always be discussed with a GP. But, intriguingly, some now believe there could be a simple issue repeatedly missed by doctors that would put thousands out of their misery.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As many as 60,000 people in the UK could be living with chronic throat issues \u2013 throat clearing, the feeling of a lump, or a hoarse voice\u00a0<\/p>\n
Professor Anthony Hobson, a gastrointestinal scientist at London\u2019s Functional Gut Clinic, says a common but little-known food intolerance could be a major driver of throat irritation, particularly in older adults.<\/p>\n
\u2018Chronic throat clearing can be due to things such as acid reflux or serious issues like cancer,\u2019 he says. \u2018But for the vast majority of patients, there will be a much more common explanation. And there are simple lifestyle changes that can get rid of this. But many GPs don\u2019t know about them \u2013 meaning thousands of patients are potentially living without treatment or taking medication that is entirely unnecessary.\u2019<\/p>\n
While tens of thousands the UK are seen annually by specialists for persistent throat issues, many more will see their GP without being referred to a throat expert.<\/p>\n
In most cases, throat clearing, like a cough, will just be a long-lasting symptom from a viral respiratory infection, such as a cold. Known as post-nasal drip, it can occur when excess mucus from the nose drips down the throat, causing a tickling sensation, and can persist after an infection for more than eight weeks. But when the sensation continues for longer than this \u2013 or worsens \u2013 it can be a sign of an underlying problem.<\/p>\n
For some, especially older adults, this can be due to damage to the nerves or muscles in the food pipe \u2013 the oesophagus.<\/p>\n
Professor Alyn Morice, head of respiratory medicine at the University of Hull, says: \u2018The problem can be triggered by viruses or infections \u2013 which increase the susceptibility of the nerves to damage \u2013 or simply by age, as the nerves become more sensitive.<\/p>\n
\u2018One of the most common symptoms of this nerve irritation is throat clearing, as it can feel like a tickle in the throat.\u2019<\/p>\n
Diagnosed once other conditions are ruled out through a medical examination of the oesophagus, the issue can be dealt with through speech therapy and with certain medications, says Professor Morice.<\/p>\n
Drugs, including antibiotics and the anti-nausea medication metoclopramide, appear to help, though both must be discussed with a medical professional first.<\/p>\n
IT’S A FACT <\/p>\n
Humans produce about a litre of mucus a day, which is then swallowed and broken down by stomach acid.<\/p>\n
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In other cases, throat clearing can also be caused by acid reflux, also known as heartburn \u2013 whereby the acidic contents of the stomach travel back up into the oesophagus.<\/p>\n
One in three people in the UK will experience acid reflux, but many wrongly presume they don\u2019t have acid reflux if they don\u2019t have heartburn, an uncomfortable feeling in the chest. But in some cases, throat clearing can be the only symptom of the condition as the acid causes irritation in the throat. This triggers the production of mucus, and throat clearing is simply a reflex response to clear this.<\/p>\n
Without treatment, acid reflux can lead to serious complications such as oesophageal sores and inflammation. It can also increase the risk of throat cancer.<\/p>\n
The first step when looking at throat issues is ruling out things like cancer, some forms of which can cause symptoms like throat clearing.<\/p>\n
Patients are then usually sent to a gastrointestinal specialist, who will insert a camera through the nose to look for signs of acid reflux.<\/p>\n
\u2018More often than not, there\u2019ll be a bit of redness there \u2013 and patients can be prescribed very strong medications for the condition,\u2019 says Professor Hobson.<\/p>\n
Drugs known as proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), which work by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach, have also been relied upon for years by GPs to treat the condition.<\/p>\n
But recent research suggests there can be serious health risks from taking PPIs for too long, with long-term use linked to mental health problems, bone-thinning osteoporosis, cancer, Parkinson\u2019s and dementia.<\/p>\n
Instead, lifestyle changes are now considered the most effective treatment for acid reflux.<\/p>\n
Being overweight or obese, smoking, eating a diet high in fatty or processed foods and drinking alcohol are all considered risk factors. Patients may also be given over-the-counter medications that neutralise stomach acid, and are safe to take long term.<\/p>\n
This was the case for 82-year-old Rocky Gooding.<\/p>\n
Having recovered from thyroid cancer just a few years before, Rocky grew panicked after finding herself clearing her throat for weeks on end.<\/p>\n
\u2018I would get a lot of phlegm in my nose that would go down the back of my throat in the night, so when I woke up in the morning I would have to clear my throat endlessly,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n
\u2018It was getting to the point where I was having trouble swallowing \u2013 if I took a vitamin or pill that was too big I would choke slightly. I began to get nervous that the cancer had come back.\u2019<\/p>\n
Eventually, Rocky mentioned her throat clearing to her GP during a routine check-up, and after further tests was diagnosed with acid reflux.<\/p>\n
Now the grandmother-of-two uses nasal rinses twice a day and takes heartburn relief medication Gaviscon before she sleeps \u2013 which she says has massively improved her throat clearing.<\/p>\n
\u2018If you\u2019re experiencing other symptoms \u2013 like heartburn, regurgitation or a cough \u2013 there\u2019s a high chance acid reflux is behind persistent throat clearing,\u2019 says Professor Hobson.<\/p>\n
\u2018But most people with throat symptoms don\u2019t have the rest of these \u2013 and doctors will put them on anti-acid medications for two months or longer, which won\u2019t cure the issue.\u2019<\/p>\n
However, Professor Hobson argues that many people with chronic throat clearing are suffering from another underdiagnosed problem: an intolerance to common foods such as onions and garlic.<\/p>\n
A food intolerance is not the same thing as an allergy \u2013 a damaging immune reaction to certain compounds. Instead, an intolerance occurs when the digestive system has trouble breaking down certain foods.<\/p>\n
![\"For](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/103710945-15272173-For_Jan_Kirby_68_throat_clearing_was_the_first_and_only_sign_of_-m-19_17626992832.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
For Jan Kirby, 68, throat clearing was the first \u2013 and only \u2013 sign of the stage four liver cancer that later took her life<\/p>\n
IT’S A FACT <\/p>\n
Studies have shown that drinking ice-cold fizzy water can help relieve the need to clear the throat.<\/p>\n
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In this case, Professor Hobson claims an intolerance to a carbohydrate called fructan is likely to be to blame for chronic throat clearing.<\/p>\n
Fructan is also found in fruits such as watermelon and grapefruit, as well as legumes such as kidney beans.<\/p>\n
Studies estimate as much as four in ten of the population may have some sort of sensitivity to fructan, which can worsen with age, as digestion naturally slows.<\/p>\n
When the body can\u2019t fully digest fructan, Professor Hobson says excess gas builds up in the stomach.<\/p>\n
\u2018This gas pushes up stomach fluid into the throat,\u2019 he says. \u2018It\u2019s similar to when people burp and a bit of fluid comes up. However, the difference is that, normally, we swallow that fluid, meaning it doesn\u2019t affect the throat.<\/p>\n
\u2018But at night the throat muscles relax, leaving that fluid to pool at the back of the throat for hours, causing irritation.<\/p>\n
\u2018This is why many people report symptoms of throat clearing being worse in the morning. And why, unlike with acid reflux \u2013 where pure stomach acid is being pushed into the throat \u2013 it causes more mild symptoms, like feeling the need to clear your throat, rather than ulcers and burning.\u2019<\/p>\n
Luckily, he says, there are some easy fixes.<\/p>\n
First, patients who suspect their gut may be behind their throat problems should try to modify their diet \u2013 cutting out foods that are high in fructan.<\/p>\n
There is also a product, called Fodzyme, which can help digest foods high in fructan. A month\u2019s supply can be purchased for around \u00a365.<\/p>\n
\u2018If you\u2019re going out for dinner, and can\u2019t control the amount of fructan in your meal, then you can take this alongside your food,\u2019 says Professor Hobson.<\/p>\n
Medications such as Gaviscon \u2013 which creates a barrier to keep the contents of the stomach down \u2013 can also help when taken before bed. And, crucially, experts say it is important that patients consider when they eat big meals.<\/p>\n
\u2018If you want to eat a heavy meal, eat it for breakfast or lunch, not last thing at night before you sleep,\u2019 says Professor Hobson. \u2018This reduces the risk of stomach fluid pooling in the back of the throat.<\/p>\n
\u2018There is no easy cure for this problem but, with the right knowledge and planning, patients can reduce their symptoms.\u2019<\/p>\n
…But for Jan it was a sign of terminal cancer ![\"While](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/103710943-15272173-While_the_family_will_never_know_for_sure_it_s_likely_that_the_t-m-18_17626991299.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
While the family will never know for sure, it\u2019s likely that the throat clearing was caused by the cancer in Jan\u2019s lungs<\/p>\n
For fit and healthy Jan Kirby, 68, throat clearing was the first \u2013 and only \u2013 sign of the stage four liver cancer that later took her life.<\/p>\n
The doting mother and grandmother developed the symptom in the summer of 2024, says husband Rob. \u2018She started clearing her throat all the time,\u2019 he recalls. \u2018It didn\u2019t keep her up at night, but it was really obvious when we were doing things like sitting and watching telly.\u2019<\/p>\n
Rob urged Jan to visit her GP, but she refused \u2013 and the throat clearing went away.<\/p>\n
Then, in November of that year, Jan\u2019s health declined.<\/p>\n
\u2018She would complain of feeling queasy after a glass of wine and felt bloated after eating,\u2019 says Rob. \u2018So I took her in for further tests.\u2019 On Christmas Day, they received the tragic news \u2013 Jan had advanced liver cancer that had spread to her spine and lungs.<\/p>\n
While the family will never know for sure, it\u2019s likely that the throat clearing was caused by the cancer in Jan\u2019s lungs.<\/p>\n
The doctors told the couple that nothing more could be done.<\/p>\n
\u2018I said in that case, I\u2019m taking her home \u2013 she didn\u2019t want all those tubes and wires coming out of her nose and veins,\u2019 says Rob. And he did. Just weeks later, Jan passed away.<\/p>\n
Now, Rob hopes that Jan\u2019s story will encourage others to seek help when they develop similar symptoms.<\/p>\n
\u2018Jan never complained about anything,\u2019 he says. \u2018You wouldn\u2019t believe she was so ill in those last months. She had no other symptoms at all.<\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019re all heartbroken and devastated but have to carry on. I just hope her story might help somebody else.\u2019<\/p>\n
Readers share how they’ve beaten their constant coughs<\/p>\n
I have suffered since childhood with non-allergic, perennial rhinitis and after Covid, my symptoms are much worse.<\/p>\n
My advice for others suffering persistent throat clearing is twice daily nasal irrigation \u2013 morning and before bed.<\/p>\n
It makes your sinuses feel much cleaner for a while.<\/p>\n
No expensive sachets are needed \u2013 just a ratio of 3tsp salt to 1tsp bi-carb in a half-pint of boiled, cooled water.<\/p>\n
C.D. Field, 73, Middlesborough<\/p>\n
I suffer from constant throat clearing caused by post-nasal drip, mainly after a visit to my grandchildren.<\/p>\n
One of them will inevitably have a streaming cold, which I will pick up. Once it\u2019s over, I\u2019m then left with three to four weeks of nasal drip.<\/p>\n
The only thing I have found that will clear it out is a brisk early morning walk before breakfast, which seems to shift the mucus by coughing, brought on by the increased rate of breathing.<\/p>\n
I also get the benefits that come from walking.<\/p>\n
Graham Williams, 68, London<\/p>\n
I started experiencing lots of mucus in my throat a few years ago, and was constantly trying to clear it or cough it up.<\/p>\n
It began around the same time that I discovered I was lactose intolerant and started to buy lactose-free milk.<\/p>\n
It was only when I took a break from the lactose-free milk did I realise I\u2019d been free of the mucus while off it.<\/p>\n
I now use lactase drops and have virtually no mucus.<\/p>\n
Jean M, 74, South Croydon<\/p>\n
I developed chronic throat clearing in 2011.<\/p>\n
I was put on daily acid medicine, and for the seven years after my throat clearing would return seemingly at random.<\/p>\n
One day, a friend remarked how it returned only when my partner was on the scene, yet during break-ups it ceased.<\/p>\n
After finishing with him completely it disappeared for good.<\/p>\n
Very interestingly, seven years later we had a chance meeting and a brief chat. Once we parted, I started throat clearing again.<\/p>\n
Sandy Conway, 68, London<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a sensation we\u2019ve all experienced before. The feeling of having to clear your throat that usually proceeds…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":253468,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[97,59,102,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-253467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-dailymail","tag-gb","tag-health","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=253467"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253467\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/253468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=253467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=253467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=253467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}