Effective Home Solutions for Alleviating a Persistent Sore Throat
Family medicine specialist Amy Zack, MD, offers practical and reliable home remedies to soothe a sore throat. Here are some of her recommendations:
Sipping warm liquids, such as tea or chicken broth, can help loosen mucus and soothe throat irritation. Cold liquids like ice water or chilled herbal tea may also alleviate throat pain and reduce inflammation. It's essential to find the temperature that works best for you.
Honey is another effective home remedy. It coats the throat, eases irritation, and has antibacterial properties. Honey can be used in hot tea, hot water and lemon juice, cough drops, lozenges, throat sprays, or swallowed by itself (except for children under 1 due to the risk of infant botulism).
Hot showers can help relieve soreness and inflammation in the throat. Steam from a hot shower or humidity from a humidifier can loosen mucus and soothe a sore throat.
Lozenges and throat sprays help keep the throat moist and may have a slight numbing effect. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation in a sore throat.
Avoid spicy food, acidic food, hard or crunchy foods, and foods that cause extra irritation or are difficult to swallow with a sore throat. Antihistamines may help reduce congestion and post-nasal drip, preventing some throat irritation.
If symptoms persist or worsen, Dr. Zack advises consulting a physician. Salt water or a baking soda gargle (not to be swallowed) can help reduce swelling and soreness. However, it's important to note that honey, lozenges, throat sprays, and OTC medications should only be used as temporary solutions and not as a substitute for medical advice.
Some OTC throat care products contain benzocaine, which can help with pain, but should only be used four times a day. Essential oils haven't been well-studied or clinically proven for safety or effectiveness in treating a sore throat.
Avoid using apple cider vinegar as it doesn't do much for a sore throat itself. Aspirin isn't the best OTC option for treating a sore throat, and giving it to children or teenagers could trigger Reye's syndrome.
Home remedies are great for a minor sore throat, but the best way to get to the bottom of what's causing discomfort is to visit a doctor. A sore throat, also known as pharyngitis, can be caused by allergies, viruses, bacterial infections, or other factors. If throat pain is severe, not improving, stretches into the ear, causes nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, trouble swallowing, breathing or opening the mouth, coughing up blood, has blood in saliva, feels enlarged lymph nodes, has white patches on the back of the throat or a rash, has a high fever, loses voice for more than a week or two, or has a high fever, it's best to seek medical care.
In conclusion, while home remedies can provide temporary relief for a sore throat, it's essential to consult a physician if symptoms persist or worsen. By following these recommendations, you can help soothe a sore throat at home and potentially speed up the healing process.
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