Scratching in the neck especially at night | Scratching in the neck

Scratching in the neck especially at night

Scratching in the throat, which occurs especially at night, is often caused by too little humidity in the bedroom. Optimally, the moisture content in the room air is about 60%. Particularly in the cold winter months, the humidity in the rooms drops due to constant heating.

But also in summer the humidity can drop too much due to warm air or air conditioning systems. As a result, the mucous membrane of the throat dries out, the mouth becomes dry and the throat scratches. Especially at night the scratching becomes noticeable, because the body produces less saliva when sleeping and one swallows less often.

Regular airing leads to an exchange of air in the rooms and the air humidity is optimized. In the bedroom it is best to air the room twice a day. You will also sleep better if the room temperature is a few degrees cooler than in the other rooms – the radiator in the bedroom is best left off.

With the help of a hygrometer, which measures the room climate, the humidity can be determined. In addition to humidifiers and water bowls on the heater, plants in the room also cause an increase in humidity. But also a chesty cough is noticeable, especially at night when falling asleep. Those affected suffer from an agonizing coughing irritation that prevents them from falling asleep and sleeping through the night.

Can this be an indication of lung cancer?

Although a scratching in the throat is almost always harmless, some sufferers are afraid that it could be an indication of lung cancer. The symptoms of lung cancer include coughing with sputum, severe chest pain, night sweats and sudden weight loss. In addition, a tumor in the lung can also cause other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, sore throat and hoarseness.

However, many of these symptoms also occur in other diseases, which is why there is no clear symptom that points to lung cancer. In addition to tobacco smoke, hereditary predisposition is also one of the risk factors for lung cancer. Scratching in the throat can have many causes and is in most cases completely harmless.

People who suffer from a scratchy throat and are very afraid of having lung cancer because of a family history or their cigarette consumption should consult a doctor and talk to him about it. An x-ray can quickly provide information as to whether the affected person has a tumor in the lung. This could also be of interest to you: How do you recognize lung cancer?