Causes of hoarseness, throat clearing, coughing and dry mouth

Throat discomfort such as hoarseness, throat clearing, coughing, and dry mouth are not illnesses per se, but are usually seen as symptoms triggered by a variety of factors.

• Overuse of the voice (e.g. frequent speakers, singers)
• Allergies – if these affect the throat
• Age – the elasticity of the vocal cords diminishes with age
• Side effects of medication (e.g. long-term medication such as antihypertensives, diuretics, antidepressants)
• Respiratory tract infections caused by colds/influenza
• Heating air, air conditioning systems
• Breathing through the mouth (e.g. due to a blocked nose)
• Snoring,
• smoking, dust
• stress, stage fright

All people who talk a lot, such as teachers, educators or salespeople, are reliant on their voice for their work. Especially in speaking and singing professions, the voice must perform at its best every day. The strain this causes leads to a feeling of dryness in the throat. The voice becomes strained and husky, with a frequent need to clear the throat.

At the beginning of every year, allergy sufferers are plagued by hay fever when microscopic pollen irritates the mucosa. A dry throat, throat clearing, coughing and an annoying itchy palate are unpleasant side effects. 

Did you know that some groups of medications are known to cause dry mouth and therefore coughing and hoarseness? The most well-known groups of active ingredients that can cause dry mouth (medically referred to as xerostomia) include ACE inhibitors (for high blood pressure), diuretics for dehydration, antidepressants and antihistamines (for allergies).

Older people are also prone to a dry throat, since ageing diminishes the elasticity of the vocal cords, causing discomfort even when the voice is used only occasionally. Medication side effects are also a common cause of dryness in the mouth and throat. A sore throat, coughing and hoarseness are inevitable.