Sore Throat Remedies That Work

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All of us have experienced a sore throat at some point in our lives. There are many things that can cause sore throat, such as viruses, bacteria, allergies, pollution, moulds, smoking or even shouting or singing. However, when the cause is something like a cold or the flu, there is a number of symptoms that often go with a sore throat, like fever, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, white spots on your throat and tonsils, coughing, swelling in the throat, swollen glands in the neck, etc.

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Regardless of the cause, there are different medicines and remedies that you can take for sore throat. However, depending on the cause, as well as how strong the symptoms are, your doctor may prescribe different medicines, such as antiviral medicine, if the cause is a virus, antibiotics if it’s bacteria or other medicine. Nevertheless, there are also a number of over-the-counter medicines, as well as homemade remedies that may help alleviate the symptoms.

Lozenges and OTC Medicine for Sore Throat

Pain every time you swallow, itchiness, burning sensation, and similar, mean you have a sore throat, which can be very annoying and exhausting. One of the things that help a lot of people fight these symptoms are sore throat lozenges. There are a lot of over-the-counter lozenges that can help you if you have a sore throat. There are also medicated lozenges for sore throat that help fight colds and some prescription throat lozenges that contain pain or antibacterial medications. However, if the cause of your sore throat is a virus, antibacterial medicine may not help you.

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One of the reasons why sore throat lozenges can provide you with immediate relief is because many of them contain an anaesthetic that will gently numb your throat. This allows for temporary pain relief but the effect won’t last for too long. When lozenges slowly dissolve in your mouth, they release medicine that will not only lubricate your dry throat, soothing the irritated tissues, but it will also help you suppress the cough that can be very painful when your throat is sore.

Furthermore, some lozenges contain honey or propolis, which are used as remedies for many different conditions, and amongst others cough. The menthol or eucalyptus, contained in most lozenges, help soothe the irritated throat and help cool it. Sucking on lozenges will also increase your saliva production, helping you keep your throat lubricated and coating your throat. This means that the dryness of your throat will be reduced. As a result, this will not only alleviate the pain, but it will also help you with the itchiness and any other discomfort.

Another way to alleviate the pain and the soreness in your throat, as well as the swelling and the scratching, is to take OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen. All this being said, it’s important to know that lozenge tablets and OTC pain relief medications are just a way to alleviate the symptoms and relieve the pain, rather than a cure.

Other Remedies Against Sore Throat

Though it’s very unpleasant, sore throat is often non-threatening, and it usually lasts for three or four days. If your throat has been sore for more than 4 days, it’s important that you see a doctor. Regardless of the cause of the sore throat, you’ll probably want to try anything to alleviate the symptoms, and anything that helps is welcomed.

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One of the most mysterious products in the world, honey is proven to be a remedy for many illnesses. Honey works effectively as a cough suppressant, and it can also help soothe your throat. Furthermore, you can use it as a sweetener for tea, which can also effectively alleviate the soreness of your throat.

Another thing that can be effective against the discomfort from a sore throat, and most importantly the scratching, is gargling with warm water with salt. Gargle for a few second, and you can repeat this several times during the day.

medication, antibiotics

Hydrating properly is always important for our health, and when we are trying to fight off a cold, the flu or any other illness, it’s even more important. When it comes to treating a sore throat, hydrating can help a lot, since dehydration may make the symptoms worse. Drink water, warm teas, soups, and try avoiding caffeine.

To soothe the tissue in your throat, and in the nose, you can also try steam inhalation or a humidifier. The moisture that you’ll breathe in can help ease the pain, reduce the coughing and the swelling. You can also add a few drops of essential oil you like in your humidifier. Some essential oils are considered to help fight off colds, as well as provide other health benefits, both physical and mental, while also smelling great.