Home remedies for burning sensation in throat and chest

Why Do I Have a Burning Throat? Causes & Treatments

A burning throat can cause extreme discomfort and irritation if left untreated for an extended period. While not a major medical concern, your burning throat may be a symptom of various underlying illnesses or gastrointestinal conditions.

On this page, The Centre for Gastrointestinal Health discusses the potential causes behind your burning throat, providing treatment options and home remedies to help alleviate your discomfort.

What Does a Burning Sensation in the Throat Feel Like?

People suffering from a burning throat commonly describe a painful, hot or tingling sensation around their oesophagus. Depending on the underlying cause, this burning or tingling feeling in your throat can last a handful of minutes to 3 days.
The location of your burning sensation can often be a solid indicator of the underlying cause for your symptom. For instance, if you’re experiencing a burning feeling in the upper region of your throat towards the back of your mouth, you may suffer from a viral or bacterial infection. Whereas gastrointestinal conditions, such as irritation from leaking stomach acid, typically irritate the lower parts of your oesophagus.

What Causes a Burning Sensation in Throat?

The direct cause of the burning pain is the inflammation or irritation of the throat, triggered by various illnesses, conditions and diseases.

These include:

• GORD
• Oesophagitis
• Barrett’s oesophagus
• Crohn’s disease 
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Bacterial infection
• Viral infection 
• Cancer

The following information will provide a breakdown of each condition and other symptoms to help determine the cause of your burning throat pain.

However, it is important to note that an in-person consultation with a relevant medical professional is the best and only way to diagnose a medical condition. Therefore, we recommend you always seek medical advice to ensure a proper diagnosis and receive the correct treatment.

Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), occurs when stomach acid flows upwards into your throat. This is caused by the weakening of the lower oesophageal sphincter, a muscle responsible for separating the stomach from your throat.

People with GORD experience burning throat pain due to the stomach acid pooling at the bottom of their oesophagus, causing irritation and inflammation. Consequently, this can result in nausea, chest pain, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and chronic coughing. 

You may suffer from GORD if you’re experiencing a burning throat with these other common symptoms:

• Unusually bad breath (known as ‘gut breath‘)
• Acid reflux 
• Regurgitating a sour-tasting fluid, typically during the night.
• Belching 
• Raspy voice 
• A sensation that something is stuck in your throat. 

A burning throat lasts between a few minutes to a couple of hours, with symptoms worsening when sleeping, lying down or after large meals. Furthermore, if you’re pregnant and experience a painful or burning throat, the cause is most likely from GORD.

While not a life-threatening condition, GORD does require medical attention and treatment to avoid extensive damage to your throat.

Treatment Options

Fortunately, you can treat mild cases of GORD with a few lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol and coffee consumption, avoiding spicy or acidic foods and eating several smaller meal portions throughout the day. 

As GORD symptoms are aggravated during the night when lying down, we recommend not eating 3 to 4 hours before bed and sleeping on your left side with your head raised. 

There are also several over-the-counter medications, such as antacids. If symptoms persist, a qualified doctor may prescribe proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a medication that reduces your stomach’s acid production. 

In extreme cases of GORD, you may require anti-reflux surgery through a laparoscopic procedure. This keyhole surgery involves a gastroenterologist tightening the lower oesophageal sphincter. 

Head to our GORD service page here for more information on treatment options via a gastroenterologist. 

Oesophagitis

Oesophagitis occurs when you experience severe throat inflammation due to persistent irritation and damage to your oesophageal pipe. If your burning pain radiates between your upper abdomen to your lower throat, you may suffer from oesophagitis. 

Aside from a burning throat and chest pain, some more serious symptoms include:

• Extreme difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Heartburn 
• Acid reflux
• Regurgitation 
• Vomiting 
• Coughing
• Belching

Typically, people who have untreated GORD are at particular risk of oesophagitis. This is due to the ongoing damage inflicted on their oesophagus by the pooling stomach acid. Other common causes can include infections around the oesophagus, radiation therapy, food allergies or ingesting harmful chemicals. 

You must seek medical attention if you believe you have oesophagitis, as it can lead to a range of conditions such as Barrett’s oesophagus or even cancer if left untreated. 

Treatment Options

Treatment of your oesophagitis depends on the specific cause. In instances where the inflammation is caused by your GORD, try avoiding rich or acidic foods for a period of time.

After several days if your symptoms have not subsided then it may be time to visit a healthcare professional. Other signs to visit a healthcare professional include severe difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath and extreme chest pain. For temporary relief, you can also try eating softer foods such as purees, custard, or cooked potato to help alleviate pain and discomfort when eating.

In other instances where your oesophagitis is caused by the consumption of harmful chemicals or food allergies that have scarred and tightened your throat, you may require an oesophageal dilation. This procedure involves the reopening of your oesophageal pipe through various techniques. For more information on the procedure and how it is done, head to our oesophageal dilation service page.

Barrett’s Oesophagus

Barrett’s oesophagus occurs when the lining of your throat is damaged by acid reflux, causing the tube’s cells to become irritated, red and thicker. This condition is most common in people with GORD, where persistent acid reflux has caused extensive damage to the oesophagus.

Aside from burning pain in the throat, you may have Barrett’s oesophagus if you are experiencing the following symptoms:

• A hoarse or raspy voice 
• Coughing
• Heartburn 
• Frequent indigestion 
• Regurgitation 

Barrett’s oesophagus is a serious medical condition, as it is associated with an increased risk of oesophageal cancer. Therefore, seeking professional medical attention is essential for treatment and preventing the condition from progressing to more severe stages. 

Treatment Options

If you believe you have Barrett’s oesophagus, you should book an appointment with a gastroenterologist for an initial consultation. If a gastroenterologist suspects you may be suffering from Barrett’s oesophagus, they will conduct a biopsy via an upper endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.

If your Barrett’s oesophagus results from GORD, a doctor will suggest lifestyle changes and may prescribe proton pump inhibitors to limit the damage inflicted on your oesophagus. In the instance where your Barrett’s oesophagus is at risk of turning cancerous, you will need to undergo regular medical examinations.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic gastrointestinal condition that is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This disease impacts the lining of your digestive tract, causing bowel tissue inflammation which leads to abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue and malnutrition. 

While uncommon, there are some instances where Chron’s disease inflames the oesophagus, consequently causing a burning feeling in the throat.  

Some other common symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:

• Fever 
• Abdominal cramping 
• Bloody or loose stools
• Constipation
• A sensation that your bowels are not completely emptied after going to the bathroom
• Decreased appetite 
• Iron deficiency (anaemia)

The cause of Crohn’s disease is currently unknown. However, medical professionals have identified groups of people at particular risk of developing Crohn’s disease. For instance, being a first relative (parent, child or sibling) to someone with the disease increases your risk of having Crohn’s. Furthermore, if you have an autoimmune disease, you are also at an increased risk of developing the disease.

Crohn’s disease can develop at any point in someone’s life, although most diagnoses occur before the age of 30. 

Treatment Options

Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition with no direct cure. During the diagnosis phase, a medical professional will conduct various blood tests and stool examinations. In some instances, you may undergo more invasive testing measures such as a colonoscopy or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. 

Following your diagnosis, a doctor can provide relevant and personalised treatment options to help manage Crohn’s disease. 

Such options typically include:

• Medications: Including antibiotics, antidiarrheal pills, biologics, immunosuppressants or steroids can help manage the disease. 
• Lifestyle changes: Understanding what foods can help promote good gut health and reduce the chances of a flare-up. 
• Surgery: In extreme cases, you may require surgery to correct any complications that arise, including bowel obstructions or perforations. 

Consulting a gastroenterologist is a great point of contact to help you manage your Chron’s disease and learn how to treat symptoms during flare-ups.

Burning Mouth Syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome could be another potential cause of the burning feeling at the top of your throat. This particular condition is a type of pain disorder that causes your mouth and tongue to feel a burning or intense tingling sensation. 

Many patients find that this burning sensation can enter the top of their throat and create further discomfort. Alongside this, other symptoms can include:

• Numbness around the mouth 
• Dry mouth with a salty or metallic taste. 
• Reduced or complete loss of taste 
• Persistently thirsty 

As the cause of burning mouth syndrome is unknown, diagnosis and treatment can be difficult. 

Treatment Options

If you have burning mouth syndrome, consult a medical professional for further examination and diagnosis. In the meantime, try drinking cold liquids and sucking on ice chips for temporary relief. You should also try avoiding any irritants such as spicy foods, alcohol or tobacco to help manage your pain. 

Bacterial Infection

A common cause that could be the reason behind your burning or sore throat is a bacterial infection. This contagious infection is spread via bacteria from one infected person to another through direct contact. 

Several types of bacterial infections can cause inflammation and discomfort in the upper regions of your throat. The most common type of bacterial infection to cause extreme discomfort is strep throat, which causes your lymph nodes to swell and results in severe throat pain. Alongside burning pains in your throat, you may also experience fever, extreme tiredness and other painful symptoms such as:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Redness and swelling around the roof of your mouth
• Headache
• Nausea and stomach cramps 
• Vomiting 
• irritated and swollen tonsils
• Bad breath

Fortunately, most bacterial infections can be treated with ease. However, it is important to seek medical attention to reduce the risk of any serious complications arising. 

Treatment Options

Your local GP can diagnose strep throat or other bacterial infections through a simple throat swab. Following this, the most likely course of action will be to complete a prescription of antibiotics.

You should start to feel pain relief within one to two days of starting the course of antibiotics. Other treatment involves resting and ensuring that you maintain a high level of fluid intake. You can also buy over-the-counter throat lozenges to help soothe pain and manage the burning sensation until you start to feel better.

If symptoms persist after a few days, you should seek medical attention.

Viral Infection

Common viral infections such as mono, tonsillitis, flu or the cold are also potential underlying medical conditions for your burning throat. COVID-19 is another very contagious viral infection that can also cause a burning and painful sensation in your throat. Unlike a bacterial infection, this disease spreads from one viral load to another. 

When viral infections enter your throat, it can infect the surrounding area and cause your throat to become inflamed, red and sore. People with a viral infection in the throat tend to feel the pain around the upper area of their throat, towards their tonsils. 

Other symptoms can include:

• Runny nose
• Fatigue 
• Red and swollen tonsils
• Headaches 
• Earaches
• Aching sensation in the body 
• Fever and chills 
• Congestion
• Vomiting 

Different to bacterial infections, viral infections cannot be treated with a course of antibiotics. 

Treatment Options

Your local GP can diagnose a viral infection through a physical examination. While there are some antiviral medications available, treating symptoms of viruses is more focused on managing the pain while the body fights off the infection itself.

Common methods for treating viral infections include plenty of rest and ensuring that you replace fluids lost from excessive sweating. You can try soothing pain in your throat through a range of methods, including sucking ice chips or drinking warm liquids such as herbal teas.

Cancer

In extremely rare cases, cancer may be the underlying cause of your burning throat. Symptoms typically last up to 3 weeks with gastrointestinal conditions and viral or bacterial infections. However, with cancer, symptoms such as a burning throat are consistent and cause ongoing health problems. 

Patients with oesophageal cancer experience persistent throat burn that can be described as a burning sensation alongside several painful symptoms. 

These include:

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Fatigue 
• Weight loss
• Lumps forming around your neck region 
• Earaches 
• Croaky or hoarse voice 
• Chronic coughing 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms with your burning throat, you need to seek urgent medical attention for an examination. 

Treatment Options

Depending on the severity of your cancer, your doctor will recommend a range of radiation therapy options and surgery. The best course of action is to discuss a treatment plan with a medical professional that best suits your personal circumstances.

If you believe that your burning throat results from a gastrointestinal condition, book a consultation with The Centre of Gastrointestinal Care. Our staff are made up of diverse specialities, ensuring that you receive the best possible care, no matter your condition. 

Contact us today for more information on our services or to book an appointment!

What does it mean when your throat and chest is burning?

What can I drink to relieve heartburn?

What is the home remedy for chest burning?

What helps get rid of burning throat?