Coughing is the body’s natural reflex to clear irritants or mucus from the airways. While occasional coughing is normal and helps keep the respiratory system healthy, excessive coughing can definitely be harmful and cause throat pain or damage.
How does coughing work?
Coughing is a complex reflex that involves both the brain and respiratory system. When receptors in the back of the throat, voice box, or lungs get stimulated by irritants or excess mucus, signals are sent to the brain stem, which then triggers a cough. The large breathing muscle under the lungs (the diaphragm) contracts, forcing air up through the voice box and throat. This burst of air helps to expel mucus and irritants from the airways.
There are two main types of coughs:
- Productive coughs bring up phlegm or mucus from the lungs.
- Non-productive or dry coughs do not produce phlegm or mucus.
In both cases, the high speed of air brushing over the throat during coughing can irritate and inflame the tissues lining the throat and voice box. Excessive coughing can make these issues worse.
How can excessive coughing hurt your throat?
Frequent bouts of coughing, whether dry or chesty, can take a toll on the throat in several ways:
- Irritation and inflammation: The high-speed air rushing over the throat with each cough can irritate and inflame the mucous membranes lining the throat, trachea (windpipe), and larynx (voice box). This can make the throat feel sore, scratchy or irritated.
- Swollen tissues: Prolonged irritation from repeated coughing can cause the throat tissues to become swollen. A swollen larynx and vocal cords can change your voice quality and volume.
- Tiny tears: The burst of air during coughing can create tiny tears or abrasions on the vocal cords. This can lead to hoarseness or difficulty speaking.
- Strained muscles: Frequent coughing engages the strong muscles around the diaphragm and abdomen. Overuse can lead to muscle strain, soreness, or spasms.
- Increased mucus: The irritation can stimulate the throat’s mucous glands to produce more secretions to try to soothe the tissues. But excess mucus dripping down the throat can also trigger more coughing.
In more serious cases, prolonged bouts of violent coughing can actually cause tears or ruptures of throat tissues, vocal cord injuries, passing out, broken ribs, or headaches from pressure changes.
Who is at risk for throat injury from coughing?
Anyone with a persistent cough that lasts for weeks or keeps recurring is at risk for throat discomfort or damage. Groups vulnerable to throat irritation from coughing include:
- Smokers
- People with chronic bronchitis
- Those with pneumonia or the flu
- Individuals with postnasal drip
- Those exposed to air pollution or allergens
- People with untreated acid reflux
- Individuals who live with a hacking or wheezing cough due to asthma, emphysema, or COPD
- Children and elderly adults with weaker throat tissues
How can you tell if coughing has injured your throat?
Watch for any of the following signs that excessive coughing may have harmed your throat:
- Persistent sore, irritated, or scratchy feeling in the throat
- Hoarse, raspy, or strained voice quality
- A “barking” cough instead of your usual cough
- Difficulty swallowing
- Change in vocal pitch or volume
- Loss of voice
- Sharp throat pain when coughing, talking, or swallowing
- Fever
- Blood in phlegm or mucus
Seek medical care right away if you experience severe throat pain along with difficulty breathing or swallowing. These can signal a serious injury or infection.
How to avoid throat damage when coughing
To help minimize irritation and injury to your throat when you have a stubborn cough:
- Stay hydrated – Drink plenty of water to keep your throat moist.
- Use a humidifier – Moist air can soothe irritated tissues.
- Avoid irritants – Don’t smoke or expose yourself to secondhand smoke.
- Rest your voice – Whisper as little as possible when your throat hurts.
- Try honey or throat lozenges – Honey and some lozenges have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Use cough drops – Cough drops can coat and numb an irritated throat.
- Take OTC pain relievers – Medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can relieve throat pain.
- Try prescription sprays – Lidocaine or steroid nasal sprays may help reduce coughing fits.
- Use proper technique – When coughing, don’t strain. Take small sips of water afterward.
- See your doctor – Get treatment for any underlying condition causing chronic cough.
Medical treatments
If home remedies don’t fix a sore irritated throat from coughing, doctors have several methods to ease the discomfort and promote healing:
- Throat lozenges: Some OTC lozenges contain anesthetics, anti-inflammatories, or antiseptics to numb and soothe throat irritation.
- Cough suppressants: Codeine, hydrocodone or prescription suppressants can reduce coughing fits.
- Corticosteroids: Steroid medication taken orally or inhaled can decrease throat inflammation.
- Warm salt water gargles: Salt water can draw out mucus, fluids, and soothe irritated throat tissues.
- Antibiotics: If a bacterial infection caused the cough, antibiotics may be prescribed.
- Voice rest: Your doctor may advise complete voice rest to allow the vocal cords to heal.
For chronic or severe cases, your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist to examine your throat and vocal cords. They may recommend imaging tests, biopsies, or surgery if needed to treat any injuries.
When to see a doctor
Consult your doctor promptly if you experience any of the following:
- Cough lasting longer than 3 weeks
- Cough that produces blood
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Fever over 101 F (38 C)
- Chest pain when coughing
- Weight loss or night sweats along with cough
Seeking prompt medical treatment is crucial for identifying and treating any serious underlying causes of chronic cough, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, or lung cancer.
Can coughing too much tear your throat?
Yes, excessive coughing can definitely tear tissues in your throat, especially the fragile mucous membranes lining the larynx and trachea. The high forces generated when coughing essentially create micro-tears in the tissue. This not only causes pain and irritation, but also increases your risk of infection. These tiny tears are often responsible for the scratchy, sore feeling many people experience after a bout of violent coughing.
What helps stop coughing fits?
Here are some remedies that can help suppress coughing fits:
- Sipping warm fluids – Warm water, tea, or broth can soothe your throat.
- Using a humidifier – Moist air keeps your throat from drying out.
- Sucking on cough drops or hard candy – They increase saliva to coat your throat.
- Trying honey – Honey is a natural cough suppressant.
- Taking OTC cough medicine – Cough suppressants contain dextromethorphan to dampen the cough reflex.
- Using cough and throat sprays – Sprays with lidocaine or phenol can numb your throat.
- Inhaling steam – Steam loosens mucus and secretions triggering the cough.
If these methods don’t relieve your coughing fits, see your doctor. Prescription cough medicines, steroid therapy, or treating the underlying condition may be necessary.
Can you damage your throat by coughing?
Yes, frequent bouts of coughing can definitely damage different areas of your throat, including:
- Larynx: The sudden bursts of air can irritate the vocal cords and larynx, leading to swelling, vocal cord strain, hoarseness, or laryngitis.
- Trachea: The windpipe can become inflamed or develop tiny abrasions from repeated irritation.
- Pharynx: Inflammation, ulcers, or tears can occur in the back of the throat (pharynx) from excessive coughing.
- Esophagus: Forceful coughs can potentially cause tears or ruptures of the esophageal tissues.
Violent coughing can also strain the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the vocal cords, trachea, and diaphragm. This may lead to painful muscle spasms or soreness. See your doctor promptly if coughing causes severe throat pain or difficulty swallowing.
How long does throat irritation last after coughing?
For minor irritation from infrequent coughing, any sore throat or scratchiness usually resolves within 3-7 days on its own. However, if you have an underlying respiratory condition like bronchitis, postnasal drip, or asthma that’s causing chronic coughs, throat discomfort can persist for weeks.
Ongoing irritation from habitual heavy coughing linked to smoking or environmental allergies can also delay healing. Using OTC remedies and prescription meds may help control the cough and allow your throat to recover faster. See an ENT specialist if symptoms last more than 2 weeks despite treatment. They can examine your vocal cords and windpipe for any injuries needing specific care.
When should you worry about coughing up blood?
Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) is always a concerning symptom that needs prompt medical evaluation. Small streaks of blood from minor throat irritation generally isn’t alarming. But repeatedly coughing up blood in any amount warrants an urgent trip to your doctor to investigate the cause.
Potential reasons for coughing blood include:
- Lung cancer
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolism
- Bronchiectasis
- Tuberculosis
- Fungal infections
- Blood clotting disorders
Don’t assume coughing up blood is ever “normal” or something to ignore. Call your doctor whenever you notice blood when you cough, even if it’s only minor droplets. Prompt treatment for the underlying lung condition is crucial.
Conclusion
Frequent bouts of coughing, whether dry or productive, can definitely take a toll on your throat. The high-speed air rushing over the larynx and vocal cords during coughs can irritate, inflame, and even tear the delicate mucosal tissues. This leads to throat pain ranging from minor soreness to severe discomfort that disrupts talking and swallowing.
While occasional brief coughing is expected and beneficial, chronic uncontrolled coughs almost always require medical treatment. Seeking prompt care for persistent coughs reduces your risk of complications like throat injuries, pneumonia, and lung damage from excessive pressure. With proper diagnosis and management of any underlying illness causing coughs, your throat can fully heal and recover.