| How to Get Rid of a Sore Throat Quickly Feb 21st 2013, 08:00 Sore throat is an irritation or inflammation of the throat, caused by bacterial infection, viral infection, or injury. Many sore throats are associated with the common cold, and go away after a day or two with rest and fluid intake. Some sore throats are more persistent, and are signs of viral or bacterial infections, such as mononucleosis or strep throat. Read the steps below for general tips, home remedies, and doctor-recommended procedures. Part One: Home Remedies for Relieving Sore Throat - Make a gargle to help reduce swelling and relieve discomfort. Mix together 1 teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water. Take the liquid into the back of your throat, gargle with your head turned slightly up, and spit the water out. Gargle once every hour or so.[1]
- Optional: Put one teaspoon of lemon juice in the gargle and gargle as usual.
- Use nonprescription throat lozenges for relief. Many herbal lozenges that you can buy over the counter contain analgesics like lemon or honey.
- Some throat lozenges, like Sucrets Maximum Strength or Spec-T, are safe and effective and contain medicine (local anesthetic) that numbs the throat to soothe pain.[1]
- Try not to consume lozenges with anesthetics for more than three days, as the anesthetics could mask a serious bacterial infection such as streptococcus (strep throat) that needs medical intervention.
- Use throat sprays for relief. Like lozenges, throat sprays such as Cepacol, help relieve pain by numbing the lining of the throat. Follow instructions on labeling for proper dosage, and consult a doctor or pharmacist for information regarding use with other medications and/or remedies.
- Soothe your throat pain with a warm compress. You can soothe pain on the inside of your throat with warm tea, lozenges, and throat sprays, but how about attacking the pain from the outside? Wrap a warm compress around the outside of your throat.[2] This could be a warm heating pad, a hot water bottle, or a warm, damp cloth.
- Make a poultice out of chamomile tea. Make a batch of chamomile tea (or soak 1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers in 1-2 cups boiling water and let steep). Once the tea is warm enough to touch, soak a clean towel in the tea, wring it out, and apply to neck area, repeating as necessary.[2]
- Make a plaster with sea salt and water. Mix 2 cups sea salt with 5 to 6 tablespoons lukewarm water to create a damp, but not wet, mixture. Put the salt in the center of a clean dishtowel. Roll the towel along its longer side and wrap the towel around your neck. Cover the plaster with another dry towel. Leave on for as long as you wish.[2]
- Use humidifiers or steam treatments for relief. Warm or cool mist moving through a humidifier can help soothe your throat, although take care not to make your room uncomfortably cold or damp.[1]
- Use a steam treatment with warm water and a dishtowel. Bring 2-3 cups of water to a soft boil and remove from heat. (Optional: steep chamomile, ginger, or lemon tea in the water.) Lest rest for about 5 minutes. Put your hand over the steam coming off the water to test if it is too hot. Pour the water into a large bowl, drape a clean dishtowel over your head, and bring your covered head over the steam issuing from the bowl. Breathe deeply through your mouth and nose for 5-10 minutes. Repeat as necessary.[2]
- Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. For pain relief, it's okay to take acetaminophen and ibuprofen, but avoid giving children under the age of 20 any aspirin, as the combination has been linked to a serious condition called Reye syndrome. [3] Follow dosage instruction on the label exactly.
Part Two: General Health Practices for Relieving Sore Throat - Get plenty of rest.[2] Try to sleep during the day, if possible, and maintain your regular sleeping schedule for night. Shoot to sleep more than your usual daily allotment, about 11-13 hours while symptoms last.
- Wash or sanitize your hands frequently. It's no secret that our hands are vectors for bacteria: We touch our face and other objects, increasing the likelihood of spreading bacteria. Wash your hands frequently if you have a sore throat or cold in order to prevent as much bacterial transmission.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.[2] Water may help thin secretions in the throat, and warmer fluids help soothe irritation in the throat.[1] Hydrating your body will help it fight off infections and clear the sore throat quickly.
- Shoot for 3 liters (13 cups) of water a day for men, and 2.2 liters (9 cups) of water a day for women.[4]
- If you have a cold or are showing signs of dehydration, avoid drinking coffee in excess. Above 5 cups per day, coffee is a diuretic, meaning it dehydrates the body. But recent studies suggest that normal coffee consumption does not inhibit the body's ability to retain fluids[5], meaning it's perfectly safe to drink under 5 cups of coffee and not worry about dehydration.
- Drinking electrolyte-rich sports drinks, such as Gatorade, will help your body replenish the salts, sugars, and other necessary minerals it needs to fight the sore throat.[6]
- Take showers every morning and every night. Take frequent, steamy showers.[1] Showering will help clean your body, offer a refreshing diversion, and allow the steam a chance to soothe your throat.
- Take vitamin C. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy.[7] The scientific evidence about whether vitamin C specifically helps sore throats is controversial, but it certainly won't hurt your sore throat.[8] You might as well take it.
- Other antioxidant-rich foods include: green tea, blueberries and cranberries, beans (pinto beans, kidney beans, and black beans), artichokes, prunes, apples, and pecans, among others.[9]
Part Three: Foods to Avoid While Symptoms Persist - Avoid dairy foods such as milk, butter, or ice cream. In some people, dairy increases mucus production.[10]
- Avoid overly sugary foods such as cupcakes or cake while suffering from sore throat. Sugary foods can irritate the throat. Popsicles, preferably sugar-free varieties, are acceptable as they can help soothe the throat.
- Avoid cold foods and cold drinks. Don't let the cooling sensation of drinks fool you: You want to keep your body's core temperature up. Try to drink water that is lukewarm, even if it doesn't taste the best.
Part Four: Signs That Your Sore Throat Needs Medical Attention - If your sore throat last for more than three days, see a doctor. It's better to be safe than sorry. You doctor can look at your throat, discuss your symptoms, and perform tests that hopefully will put you back on the path to a quick recovery.
- Check for signs of strep throat. Your sore throat is probably just that — sore. But there's a chance what you thought was sore throat is in fact strep throat or another potentially hazardous infection. Be on the lookout for these signs that you have strep throat:
- Severe and sudden sore throat without the usual signs of common cold (coughing, sneezing, runny nose, etc.).
- Fever over 101° F (38.3° C). Lower fevers suggest increased likelihood of viral infection, not strep.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
- White or yellow spots or coating on the throat and tonsils.
- Bright red throat or dark red spots on the roof of the mouth at the back near the throat.
- Scarlet blotches in the neck area or other parts of the body.
- Check for signs of mononucleosis, or mono. Mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus[11] and is usually associated with teens and young adults, as most adults have immunity to the virus. Symptoms of mono include:
- High fever, anywhere from 101° - 104° F (38.3° - 40° C), with attendant chills.
- Sore throat, with white patches on the tonsils.
- Swollen tonsils and swollen lymph nodes all over the body.
- Headache, fatigue, and a lack of energy.
- Pain in the upper left side of the abdomen, near your spleen. If your spleen hurts, seek medical attention immediately, as it could mean that your spleen has burst.
- Take 2-3 Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours.
- Take your temperature every 24 hours while having a sore throat. If at any time it reaches over 101 degrees, go to a doctor as this could be signs of viral or bacterial infection such as mono.
- Wash your hands often.
- If your throat isn't getting better after 2-3 days, it's good to see a doctor so they can check it.
- Wear a warm scarf if going outside.
Edit Warnings - Avoid soda, and high-sugar foods and beverages.
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