How to Keep Your Throat Clear

That scratchy, irritating feeling in your throat is an accumulation of mucus, which can affect your ability to speak and breathe if left untreated. The cause of throat issues range from allergies, smoking, and a cold to the more serious health concerns of sinus infections, the flu and strep throat. Your body requires continuous amounts of fluids to stay hydrated and keep your vocal cords clear of mucus, and benefits from warm fluids to loosen up buildup. In addition to soothing throat treatments, it also is recommended to avoid activities that can weaken the throat and exacerbate irritation.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Herbal tea
• Honey
• Warm or cool-mist humidifier
• Air purifier

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Instructions

• 1

  Drink hot, caffeine-free herbal tea several times throughout the day to prevent dryness that irritates the throat. Add 1 to 2 tbsp. of honey to your tea, as honey has soothing properties by coating the throat.

• 2

  Drink 8 oz. of water every two to three hours to stay hydrated. Drinking water throughout the day keeps the throat lubricated, and reduces the likelihood of mucus from resting on your vocal cords. Add a slice of lemon, lime or cucumber to your water pitcher if you do not like the taste of plain tap water.

• 3

  Avoid caffeinated beverages. Caffeinated beverages including soda, black tea and coffee are diuretics that provides little hydration and increases urination. The acidic quality of coffee and soda can irritate the throat, and should be avoided to reduce stress on the vocal cords.

• 4

  Use a humidifier. Warm and cool-mist humidifiers improve the level of moisture in the air, and prevents your mucous membranes from drying out and becoming irritated. Wash out your humidifier's reservoir with hot water every day to prevent bacteria from growing, which can affect allergies and worsen throat symptoms.

• 5

  Avoid smoking. Smoking reduces your trachea's ability to expel foreign bodies from phlegm, and causes a rattling cough known as smoker's cough. Cilia, tiny hairlike fibers in the trachea, begin to heal when you abstain from smoking, and improves the removal of foreign bodies from your throat.

• 6

  Use an air purifier in your home. Air purifiers clean the air of allergens that tend to irritate your allergies. Replace the air purifier's filter monthly to ensure it continues to clean the air rather than redistribute allergens.