The Magic of A Good Night’s Sleep
Sore throats, especially in winters are very common and usually go away within a week. Getting a good night’s sleep is great for your immune system and helps the body fight infection. The NHS advises those with a sore throat to stay away from hot drinks and to stay hydrated. Sucking on ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets can help soothe the inflammation
Over-the-counter options can help ease discomfort
If you have a sore throat accompanied by bodyache or any other kind of discomfort, it is okay to take paracetamol or ibuprofen. You can also medicated sore-throat lozenges and anaesthetic sprays available over the counter that claim to target pain in the throat with anti-inflammatories.
The NHS England cautions however that “there’s little proof they help”, but a 2011 study on two different kinds of medicated lozenge found they brought relief and eased soreness and difficulty swallowing within minutes; effects lasted up to two hours post-dose.
Traditional Method of Gargling
The age old method of gargling may actually be the step in the right direction as it really helps in reducing inflammation (It is not recommended for children.)
Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of room temperature water; gargle with the solution, then spit it out. Repeat as necessary. It is an inexpensive yet super effective method to soothe an irritated and inflamed throat.
Don’t Assume Sore Throats Can Only be Treated With Anti-Biotics
For your information most sore throats are caused by a virus, so they cannot be treated by antibiotics but still they are prescribed. Last year, sore throats accounted for nearly a quarter of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions in England. Such prescriptions contribute to the global threat of antibiotic resistance.
US researchers reported in 2013 that, from 1997 to 2010, about 60% of patients with sore throats were prescribed anti-biotics, even though only about 10% needed them. Viral sore throats are accompanied by other cold symptoms that may include a runny nose, cough, red or watery eyes, and sneezing.
Streptococcal pharyngitis, “strep throat”, a bacterial infection has similar symptoms, but likely to be more severe, and possibly accompanied by a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery.
Beware of Irritants in your Environment
First off, you need to know that smoking cigarettes can cause a sore throat by irritating the windpipe. Smoking also lowers immunity, which can lead to recurring viral and bacterial infections, and weakens/irritates the lower oesophageal sphincter between the stomach and oesophagus (or food pipe), causing acid reflux from the stomach, which can irritate the throat.
Other possible causes of a sore throat include pollution or irritants in the air, allergies, dry air, and sudden changes in temperature, such as going from a warm office to the icy outdoors.
Boost your immune system
Believe it or not you can prevent sore throats by eating a healthy balanced diet and by having a flu jab, according to Abraham Khodadi, a prescribing pharmacist. He also said that this should also alleviate the need for supplements in otherwise healthy people – although Public Health England has suggested taking a daily vitamin D supplement in winter, which may help to boost immunity.
