Contrary to popular belief, sore throat is not actually a disease but a symptom of pharyngitis.
Pharyngitis is the inflammation of the pharynx or the tube extending from the back part of the mouth down to the esophagus. Having sore throat means there is pain, irritation or scratchiness that often becomes worse when you try to swallow food. In short, it can be pretty annoying and uncomfortable.
There are many causes to this problem, the most common is viral infection like flu or cold. Strep throat, meanwhile, is due to bacterial infection, and is usually given antibiotic treatment.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms depend on the cause of infection. But the most common ones include:
- Pain and scratching in the throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dry throat
- Swollen glands in the jaw or neck
- Inflamed tonsils
- Pus or white patches on tonsils
- Hoarse voice
- Fever
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Headache
Preventive Measures
While there’s no surefire way not to have sore throat in your lifetime, there are some preventive measures you can undertake to minimize your risk. Some of them are mentioned below:
- Keep yourself hydrated by drinking eight glasses of water each day. This will help keep the moisture in your throat. As you know, dry throat is more susceptible to irritation.
- Wash your hands all the time. This is an excellent way to prevent the spread of germs. Bacteria are a common cause of sore throat and you’d be better off staying away from these.
- Stay away from smoke, fumes and other irritants that can trigger sore throat.
- Avoid shouting, as this can strain your throat and cause pain.
- Quit smoking. As much as possible, minimize exposure to secondhand smoke. Smoking is another common trigger of throat irritation.
- Don’t share food, glasses or utensils with people who have throat infections. You’re not being a snub, you’re just being careful.
- Use a sanitizer when outside. When you don’t have access to a bathroom or sink, the next best thing to prevent spread of germs is by using a hand sanitizer.
- Wear a mask when visiting areas that are polluted.
- Disinfect telephones, computer keyboards and other areas in your home that are notorious for being breeding grounds for bacteria.
- Keep moisture in your indoor air with the help of a humidifier.
Effective Natural Remedies
Most people’s first reaction to sore throat is to chug down some antibiotics. But that’s not always helpful. Overuse of antibiotics can strengthen bacteria and make them more difficult to combat. It’s a smarter move to rely on simple but effective home remedies such as these ones:
- Gargle with warm salt water. This works by pulling the mucus from the swollen tissues in your throat. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water. Stir well. Gargle the mixture for a few seconds before spitting it out. Repeat several times each day.
- Drink lemon juice with honey. Lemon juice can kill bacteria and viruses causing sore throat. Mix one teaspoon lemon juice in a cup of warm water. Add a little bit of honey to sweeten the taste.
- Take cayenne and water concoction. Cayenne pepper contains a compound called capsicum, which is known for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to warm water and gargle this every 15 minutes.
- Use turmeric remedy. Turmeric contains powerful antioxidants that can combat many types of ailments. These include pharyngitis. To use this remedy, combine one-half teaspoon turmeric and one-half teaspoon salt, and add this to a cup of hot water. Gargle this mixture several times each day.
A sore throat is not a life-threatening ailment. But it does cause serious pain and discomfort. And if not treated immediately, can result in complications. Try getting pain relief and killing the root cause using the home remedies mentioned above. Don’t forget about the preventive measures as well.
