How To Make Throat Feel Better

Symptoms Of Strep Throat

The most common symptoms of strep throat include:

• Sore throat that can start very quickly
• Pain when swallowing
• Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
• Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
• Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Sometimes someone with strep throat also has a rash known as scarlet fever .

Home Remedies To Get Rid Of A Sore Throat

In the meantime, try some of Dr. Allans tried-and-true ways to alleviate your sore throat.

1. Warm and cold fluids

Sip on warm drinks, like tea or chicken soup. Or try cold liquids, such as ice water or popsicles. It depends on your preference and what soothes your throat best.

Liquids help clear mucous membranes, keep things flowing and prevent sinus infections, says Dr. Allan. Warm temperatures may also reduce coughs by soothing the back of your throat. Try both warm and cold to see what works best for you.

2. Gargling

Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt or a similar amount of baking soda in a glass of warm water. Gargle the concoction every three hours for an all-natural sore throat remedy.

Salt water can help reduce swelling and irritation in your throat. Baking soda also soothes the throat, breaks up mucus and can help with throat-irritating acid reflux.

3. Over-the-counter antihistamines and pain relievers

An antihistamine may dull or relieve throat pain. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen also help with pain thats located a little deeper in your glands and other parts of your neck.

Histamines are chemicals that help your immune system fight foreign substances. But sometimes, they go overboard, triggering symptoms that can make a sore throat feel worse, explains Dr. Allan. Antihistamines can counteract this overreaction.

4. Steam and humidity

5. Hot toddy

Dr. Allan shares why hot toddies can be very soothing:

6. Rest

Severe Symptoms Of Covid

Some of the most severe symptoms are most likely to result in hospital admission and testing. These are:

• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Bluish lips or face
• Inability to rouse from sleep or a resting state or mental confusion

Any of these symptoms should result in a phone call to a 24-hour nurse hotline or 9-1-1, when you will be given explicit instructions on how to proceed.

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How To Make My Throat Feel Better Its Soar

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Give Herbal Supplements A Go

Licorice root and slippery elm are two long-established herbal supplements that can help relieve discomfort associated with a sore throat as well. They can be consumed easily in lozenge form and in tea form. Just be sure to read product labels carefully and follow any instructions provided.

Buy Now: .

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Living With A Sore Throat

Easing the pain of a sore throat is all you can do beyond treatment. The best remedies include:

• Take over-the-counter pain medicine. This includes brand names such as Tylenol, Motrin, and Aleve. Do not give children younger than 18 aspirin. Aspirin may cause Reyes syndrome. This can be fatal.
• Gargle with warm salt water. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of water and stir.
• Suck on an over-the-counter throat lozenge. Hard candy works too.
• Eat a popsicle.
• Use a humidifier in your bedroom. Move it to other rooms you spend time in.
• Drink liquids to keep your throat from getting dry. Also, this helps prevent dehydration.

Home Remedies For Sore Throat To Avoid

Dr. Allan warns that not all sore throat remedies are created equally. He recommends you pass on these two:

• Apple cider vinegar. It probably has some antibacterial properties, but thats not going to do much for the sore throat itself.
• Essential oils. They havent been well-studied or clinically proven for safety or effectiveness.

And avoid things that can irritate your throat, including:

• Acidic foods or spicy foods.
• Lying down immediately after you eat, especially if you have acid reflux.

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Relieving Your Sore Throat With General Health Practices

Tip: Shoot for three liters of water a day for men, and 2.2 liters of water a day for women.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source

Try A Nasal Decongestant

Afrin 12-Hour Pump Mist Nasal Decongestant

Afrin 12-Hour Pump Mist Nasal Decongestant

If part of the reason youre breathing through your mouth is because your nose is clogged, use an over-the-counter medicated decongestant nasal spray or drops to open up airways, such as Afrin or Vicks. Nasal decongestants work well at eliminating congestion in your nose and drying mucus out, Dr. Abramowitz says. This can help you feel better and also decrease postnasal drip.

But you should limit use to a day or two. When used too much, OTC nasal decongestants can lead to a complication called rhinitis medicamentosa , also known as rebound rhinitis. This condition is characterized by nasal congestion that is triggered by the overuse of topical vasoconstrictive medications, especially intranasal decongestants, says Raj Dasgupta, MD, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.

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Other Causes Of A Sore Throat

Smoke, breathing in dry air, or acid reflux usually feels very different from an infection. Usually, patients dont feel as sick and the pain is not as severe.

Try sipping warm tea and sucking on cough drops or zinc lozenges. They can usually soothe the throat irritation and inflammation that cause discomfort. But some of the home remedies may mask the pain.

Sore Throat Remedies And Treatments

There are many ways to treat and ease the symptoms of the common viral sore throat. Because itâs caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help the common sore throat â but it will help strep throat. For mild bouts of sore throat, you can try the following home remedies.

Rest and Hydration

Get plenty of rest and sleep. You should drink a lot of fluids because they prevent dehydration and keep your throat moist. Stick to comforting beverages like a simple broth, soup, warm water, or caffeine-free tea with honey. Avoid alcohol or any caffeinated drinks like coffee, because they can dehydrate you.

Over-the-counter Pain Relievers

You can use a numbing throat spray or over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to keep you comfortable as you rest. If your sore throat is caused by allergies, you can take over-the-counter antihistamines to decongest your nose and get rid of postnasal drip that may be irritating your throat.

Alternative Medicine

While you need to check with your doctor before relying on alternative medicines such as herbal teas or lozenges, many of them can be bought over the counter. You must find out if there are any interactions with prescription medications or possible risks due to your medical history before you take any herbal remedy. Common alternative medicines for sore throat contain licorice root, marshmallow root, and slippery elm.

Sucking on Ice Chips or Lozenges

Purified and Humidified Air

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If Your Child Has A Mild Fever:

Here is a great tea for helping reduce mild fevers in children (from Rosemary Gladstar, Medicinal Herbs, pg. 206:

Use Spearmint, Catnip, Elder Flower:

To make the Cooling Tea:

Use 1 part Catnip, 1 part Elder Flower, and 1 part Spearmint. You can sweeten with maple syrup if the child is very young, or with honey for an older child. Children 3 to 6 years old can have 1/4 cup every couple hours while children younger than 3 can have a teaspoon “per year of age.”

These are all cooling herbs with diaphoretic actions that are very helpful.

NOTE: If a child has a very high temperature, please seek medical treatment, especially if it will not go away.

Mint–

Fight Dry Air With A Humidifier

Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Dry air can irritate a sore throat, prolonging your recovery time. Taking a steamy shower or using a humidifier can bring moisture back into the air, thus relieving any discomfort. The mucus membranes of the nose and throat love moisture, Dr. Abramowitz says. Steam provides moisture and warmth, which helps the vocal cords calm down and decrease in swelling. The moisture in your nose can also help clear out mucus and gunk, which can be part of the problem, he adds.

Just be sure to clean your humidifier before turning it on. Left neglected, a humidifiers water tank can breed bacteria and fungi, which then get pumped into the air, according to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission safety alert. While this may not make your throat feel any worse, it could cause flu-like symptoms or exacerbate allergies or asthma.

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Take Time To Recharge

If youre super stressed and worn out, your bodys immune system will have a harder time with the recovery processso get some rest! Time in bed or away from lifes usual stressorslike work, taking care of the kids, and cleaning up the housecan help recharge your immune system, Dr. Finkelston says. Aim for at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.

Lozenges Or Cough Drops

Suck on lozenges or cough drops to keep the throat moist. Some brands have topical anesthetics, which will ease throat pain at least temporarily and last longer than sprays.

• Lozenges with menthol also can feel refreshing and ease sore throat symptoms.
• Young children and toddlers should not be given lozenges as they can be a choking hazard.

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When To See A Doctor About Throat Pain

Dr. Allan advises using common sense when deciding whether to seek out medical care.

• Have throat pain thats severe, prolonged or not improving, or stretches into your ear.
• Have trouble swallowing, breathing or opening your mouth.
• Are coughing up blood or have blood in your saliva.
• Feel enlarged lymph nodes, or lumps, in your neck.
• Have white patches on the back of your throat or a rash, possible signs of strep throat or scarlet fever.
• Have a high fever.
• Lose your voice for more than a week or two.

And remember, when it comes to illnesses, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Wash your hands often. And if you do get sick, Dr. Allan recommends immediately replacing your toothbrush with a fresh, germ-free one.

Elevate Your Head When You Sleep

This helps in a few ways. When you lay flat on your back, it increases pressure on your neck and can exacerbate symptoms in your throat, Dr. Griffiths says. Propping yourself up helps relieve the pressure and can make you feel better, he says. If youre struggling with acid reflux, elevating your head also can work with gravity to help keep your stomach acids where they belongin your stomach.

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Preventing A Sore Throat

As sore throats are caused by bacterial or viral infections, they can be difficult to prevent.

If you have a sore throat caused by an infection, you can help prevent the infection spreading by practising good hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly and keeping surfaces clean and free of germs.

Drink Plenty Of Fluids Preferably Water And Herbal Teas

Your sore throat is inflamed and the body produces mucous to drain viruses or bacteria out of your system. Mucous drainage from the nose, which travels and can linger in the throat, is also a cause of sore throats. Drinking fluids flushes those out of the throat and soft palate area, which minimizes irritation. Remaining hydrated also boosts your bodys natural immune boosting response.

If you have a sore throat, try:

• Sipping on room temperature or cool water to keep the throat moist and lubricated. Sometimes drinking ice water causes throat spasms, which can lead to coughing and further throat irritation.
• Warming or heating water and adding a squeeze of lemon and a teaspoon of honey, which is a known throat-soother
• Sip decaf teas or herbal teas that advertise throat-soothing properties
• Suck on ice chips or 100% juice ice popsicles if your throat is really sore. This helps your body absorb fluids through the mouth while minimizing painful swallowing

DO NOT:Consume alcohol. Alcohol irritates inflamed throat tissues. Plus, as the CDC states on their Coronavirus Myth Busters page, Frequent or excessive alcohol consumption can increase your risk of health problemsDrinking alcohol does not protect you from against COVID-19 Plus, alcohol is dehydrating, which is counterproductive when focusing on hydration.

Try to avoid

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Other Sore Throat Remedies

A variety of other home remedies can help relieve your sore throat, including:

• Salt water. A salt water gargle is an effective way to kill bacteria, ease pain, and loosen mucus. Consider gargling a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 8 ounces of warm water.
• Baking soda. A salt water gargle is more common, but gargling baking soda mixed with salt water can help kill bacteria and prevent the growth of yeast and fungi. The National Cancer Institute recommends gargling a combination of 1 cup warm water, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt.
• Lemon juice. Lemons can provide pain relief and break up mucus, plus theyre high in vitamin C. Consider drinking 8 ounces of warm water with one teaspoon of lemon juice mixed in.
• Cayenne pepper or hot sauce. Cayenne pepper is high in capsaicin, which has pain relief properties. Consider gargling with 8 ounces warm water mixed with honey and a light sprinkle of cayenne or a few drops of hot sauce.
• Humidifier. Particularly during winter, dry air can cause a sore throat. Consider adding one or two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide or vapor rub to the water used in the humidifier.

A variety of teas can also ease your sore throat by relieving pain, reducing inflammation, or fighting bacteria. This includes:

Soothing A Sore Throat Coronavirus Or Otherwise

The very good news is that the large majority of those who catch COVID-19 never experience severe symptoms. In fact, some never have any symptoms at all, or a sore throat may be the only coronavirus they experience.

Again, the best thing you can do for yourself if you experience any of the potential coronavirus symptoms is the same thing you would do for any other flu hydrate, eat soft, nourishing foods, and get plenty of rest. Fortunately, sheltering-in-place mandates make it easier than ever to take good care of yourself.

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Gargle With Salt Water

Gargling with warm salt water can help soothe a scratchy throat. The salt pulls the mucus out of your swollen, inflamed tissue and helps relieve the discomfort.

The Mayo Clinic recommends combining 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of table salt with 4 to 8 ounces of warm water. Stir until the salt dissolves. Then gargle with it for several seconds and spit it out. Repeat the salt gargle several times each day.

How Do I Fight Off An Impending Sore Throat

Its not always possible to fight off an impending sore throat. However, there are some things that you can do if you feel a sore throat coming on.

Try resting up and limiting your exposure to things that may further irritate your throat. Also try reducing your stress levels, as high stress can negatively affect your immune system.

Sipping on warm liquids and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water can help too. Using a humidifier can add moisture to dry air.

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Pharmacy First Scotland: Sore Throat Treatment From Your Pharmacy

If you have a sore throat you can get advice and treatment directly from a pharmacy. Find your local pharmacy on Scotland’s Service Directory.

You don’t usually need to get medical advice if you have a sore throat however your pharmacist may advise you see your GP if:

• your symptoms are severe
• you have persistent symptoms that haven’t started to improve after a week
• you experience severe sore throats frequently
• you have a weak immune system for example, you have HIV, are having chemotherapy, or are taking medication that suppresses your immune system

If they’re not open, you should phone the NHS 24 service

If you have a persistent sore throat , you should see your GP who may refer you for further tests. This is because your sore throat may be a symptom of a more serious condition. Some possibilities are described below.

Visit your nearest accident and emergency department or call 999 for an ambulance if you have severe symptoms such as:

• difficulty breathing or swallowing

• current or past stomach problems, such as a stomach ulcer
• current or past liver or kidney problems

Children under the age of 16 should never be given aspirin.

Take painkillers as necessary to relieve your pain. Always read the manufacturers instructions so you do not exceed the recommended or prescribed dose.