What to do if you have a sore throat?

This quickly strikes us, especially in the cold and humid season: suddenly there are problems with swallowing, there is a scratchy throat, and then there is hoarseness. A sore throat is often one of the first symptoms of an approaching cold. In this case, viruses most often affect the mucous membranes and cause painful inflammation there.

The Best Home Remedies for a Sore Throat: What Really Helps

Although sore throat complaints usually go away on their own after a few days, however, home remedies for sore throats can bring us some relief. These tips will help relieve a sore throat without resorting to special lozenges bought at a pharmacy:

1. Tea

Few things help with colds and sore throats as well as a good cup of tea. Various herbal teas can help ease the discomfort. These include:

Sage - has an anti-inflammatory effect and soothes the mucous membrane

Thyme - stimulates the immune system

Chamomile - like sage, fights inflammation

2. Gargling with salt water

Gargling with salt water has been recommended since Grandma's time as a simple home remedy for sore throats. Why? The salt and water solution kills germs, cleans the back of the throat, and helps the mucous membranes. To prepare a gargle solution, mix a teaspoon of salt with 250 milliliters of water and gargle. You can repeat this five or six times a day.

3. Potato wraps and curd wraps

Which neck wraps help with pain depends on the person: some people prefer warm wraps, for example, with potatoes. They are boiled, ground, and then wrapped in a clean cloth. The warm wrap is fastened around the neck with a second cloth or scarf.

4. Inhalation

Inhalation has a cleansing effect on the airways, similar to gargling with salt water. For this, certain essential oils and ointments, which your doctor may prescribe, are suitable. Just add a few drops to hot water, put a towel over your head, lean over the bowl and take a few deep breaths in and out for a few minutes.

5. Ginger and honey

Ginger and honey can also get rid of the most annoying sore throats very quickly. To do this, simply brew ginger tea (preferably with the fresh root, but in a pinch tea bags will do) and add some honey. Ready!

6. Warmth

With a cold, we quickly freeze because the immune system requires all the energy of the body to fight pathogens. At the same time, it is very important that in case of sore throats and difficulty swallowing, we dress warmly, especially for the legs. Because when we are warm, it improves blood circulation, including in the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. Thus, we quickly get rid of the viruses and bacteria that cause colds, and the sore throat goes away!

7. Chicken soup

An old tip, but one that still holds true: warm chicken soup, best homemade, should always be on the menu for colds when you find it hard to swallow. It contains a protein substance called cysteine, which is said to have anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, chicken soup helps to balance the water and mineral balance.

Causes of sore throat

But why, in fact, should we regularly deal with a sore throat? In most cases, a sore throat is caused by a respiratory infection. Viruses, in particular, can cause discomfort. And there are many: more than 200 different pathogens are known to cause the common cold. Therefore, it is not surprising that, on average, two or three times a year, every adult gets a cold, which is manifested by a sore throat, cough, or even a fever. The infection causes swelling of the inflamed mucous membranes, including those in the nose and even in the throat.

But besides the classic cold, there are other possible causes of a sore throat. These include:

Tonsillitis

Laryngitis

Flu

Pfeiffer glandular fever

Measles

allergies

Covid-19

Important: With these diseases, home remedies for sore throat often reach their limit. Complaints should be considered after consultation with a doctor or healthcare professional. By the way, environmental irritants can also cause a sore throat, such as cigarette smoke or too dry air.

When should you seek medical attention for angina?

In most cases, although a sore throat is uncomfortable, it is more likely to be categorized as a harmless accompanying symptom of a cold. In this case, home remedies for a sore throat often already allow you to deal with the situation. However, if some other symptoms appear or the discomfort lasts for more than three days, you should consult a doctor to find out the reasons. These symptoms should be checked by a doctor:

high temperature (from 39 degrees Celsius) for several days

severely swollen throat that restricts breathing

very severe sore throat that gets worse rather than better

nausea up to vomiting

What can I do to avoid getting sick in the first place?

Since a sore throat is often the result of a cold, the most effective way to prevent it is prevention. The best way to do this is to use the following tips:

Strong immune system: Those who exercise regularly (about three times a week for 30 minutes each time), eat a balanced diet and get good sleep can already do a lot to protect their body, preventing sore throats, etc.

Maintain hygiene: Regular hand washing under running water and soap is a must. If you are on public transport, avoid touching handrails if possible, or at least wash and sanitize your hands afterwards.

Drink enough: So that the mucous membranes do not swell and do not cause pain, they should be moistened whenever possible. The best way to do this is to drink plenty of water. This makes it easier for viruses to leave the body.

Unfortunately, since there are so many different cold triggers, it's really not that easy to always stay healthy and prevent sore throats, coughs, and the like. But if you follow the tips above, you will definitely get sick less often.