How to Soothe a Sore Throat

Fall season is cold season.  Cold as in “Brrrrr, Rexburg is so cold!” And cold as in “I think I’m coming down with a cold”.  Neither one are pleasant experiences for your average person.

While there isn’t much a student can do about the ever-decreasing temperature, there are plenty of things you can do about oncoming colds and sore throats.  For ideas on how to prevent colds, check out THIS (will link to blog post) previous blog post.  Here we will offer some tips on how to calm that annoying sore throat. 

First, let’s discuss some causes for sore throats.  The most common cause is due to a viral infection such as the common cold, flu, or viral infections such as mononucleosis.  They can also be caused by a bacterial infection such as strep throat.  Finally, there are external causes for sore throat such as allergies, dryness (which is especially bad in the winter), air pollution and muscle strain.

Here are a few ideas to help you calm your sore throat:

- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for the fain and/ or fever.  You may alternate this with an anti-inflammatory drug such as Advil or Aleve.  These will help reduce swelling and can also help if you have an accompanying fever.

- Gargle saltwater.  This can also help reduce swelling and relieve discomfort.  Providers recommend dissolving 1 tsp salt into 1 cup warm water.

- Drink fluids.  Keeping yourself hydrated is important to keeping your mucous membranes moist and better able to fight illness.  Warm liquids, such as broth, will also feel good going down.

- Use throat lozenges.  These help your mouth secrete saliva to keep your throat wet.  Some have a local anesthetic in them which helps to numb the area.  Ones including menthol or eucalyptus are more effective.

- Use a humidifier in your bedroom.  If you sleep with your mouth open the dry air can irritate your throat.  Increasing humidity helps keep mucus membranes moist.  If you do not have a humidifier, try leaving a pot/pan of water by your bedside.

- Get rest.  Resting is hard for busy college students but sometimes just taking a day to sit and not overexert yourself can be very beneficial and speed your recovery.  While you are resting, try not to talk too much as this can strain your throat area as well.

Hopefully by using one or more of these tricks you will be able to provide some relief to your sore throat.  If it doesn't resolve itself within a few days or if your symptoms worsen, see your doctor.

Sources:

Web MD. (2011, May 24). Sore-throat home treatment. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/tc/sore-throat-home-treatment

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013, May 7). Sore throat. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sore-throat/DS00526/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

MacMillian, A. (2013). 10 ways to sooth a sore throat. Retrieved from http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20640098,00.html

Pictures:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipes/cooking-tips/homemade-chicken-broth#slide-1 

http://healthyliving.msn.com/diseases/cold-and-flu/10-ways-to-soothe-a-sore-throat 

http://www.sandyrooney.com/usher-in-cold-season/