Did you just wake up with your throat itching, scratching, and burning? Regardless of the reason (singing and drinking all night long or the flu season), sore throat can vary from slightly irritating to downright miserable.
However, before running to the doctor’s office, you can try to win control over the situation first. From home-made remedies to sore throat medications, the following things can help your throat feels good again in no time.
Stay Hydrated
Make sure to soothe your sore throat by sipping plenty of liquids to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is essential for your body so it can produce enough saliva and mucus to keep your throat naturally lubricated. Dehydration makes the swelling and inflammation worse. Recommended drinks are water, warm teas and warm soups. Avoid hot drinks, since they may burn your already sensitive throat and make the problem worse. Also, try to stay away from caffeine and alcohol, which can dry you out even more. To get your saliva flowing, sucking on crushed ice, ice pop, or a piece of hard candy to get your saliva flowing.
You can also dissolve half a teaspoon of salt or baking soda in a glass os warm water and gargle every two or three hours. This way, you get your saliva flowing while reducing swelling and irritation.
Take Medications
The fastest and most effective way to treat your sore throat is to take sore throat medications. You can easily find a quick sore throat relief that isn’t going to break the bank.
Lozenges are proven leaders among the sore throat medicines, beneficial for nasal congestion, cold and flu. Besides their refreshing taste, being able to dissolve the medicine slowly on the tongue lets you get the most relief out of every lozenge. For optimal effect, choose a powerful formula that combines menthol, eucalyptus oil and vitamin C. Thanks to its cooling properties menthol can help suppress your cough and relieve your irritated and sore throat. Also, you can take as many as you want (not more than 30 per day though). You can get more boxes: one for home, one for work, and one for on-the-go to make sure you’re prepared for when you need a lozenge in a pinch.
Mouth sprays are also quick and powerful sore throat medications. The purpose of a spray is to moisten the mucosa of the mouth, tongue and throat and retain moisture for 1-2 hrs. The way these sprays work is by replacing natural saliva which helps you chew and speak. They also help prevent mucous membranes from sticking together. Hold the spray 2-3cm from the mouth and aim carefully. Spray once or twice into the mouth.
Note: Avoid spraying near the eyes and keep out of reach of children.
Gargles are another way to treat your sore throat. Instead of preparing home remedies, you can find ready to use gargles that are even more effective. The purpose of this medicine is to kill most bacteria present in a sore throat (pharyngitis). They usually come with a measuring cup of 15 ml. Fill the cup and gargle for 30 seconds without swallowing. Repeat every 3-4 hours if necessary.
Enjoy a Steam Shower
Dry air can irritate many parts of the body, including the throat. Steam therapy involves the inhalation of water vapour and is proven to be very helpful for treating dryness of the skin, nose, throat, and lips. The warm, moist air works by loosening the mucus in the nasal passages, throat, and lungs. You can use a humidifier, or create steam by taking a hot shower. Breathing in the steam from a warm shower helps reduce swelling and can ease the pain of a sore throat. Keep taking deep breaths into the steam for several minutes, and repeat as necessary to ease your sore throat.
Drink Tea with Honey
Being a natural antibacterial and soothing sore agent is one of the many health benefits of honey .Honey can be even more successful than some medicines in alleviating symptoms of cold and allergy symptoms. In addition to this, tea provides an ideal vehicle for honey.
Camomile tea, for example, is one of the oldest known herbal remedies, and also favourite among the tea admirers. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce swelling and redness, while the fact that it helps lubricate your throat may be useful in warding off hoarseness and pain. Combination of a cup of camomile tea with one spoon of honey might also reduce cough.
Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants that also has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Gargling green tea can help you relieve your sore throat. Brew up a cup of green tea and let it cool down to a comfortable temperature. Then gargle it for several seconds before spitting it out. You can repeat this process 2–3 times as needed.
Tip: No matter how nice a cup of hot teal feels to your throat, always leave your tea to cool to a warm temperature to avoid making the already bad situation worse.
Get Some Rest
There's no instant cure for a sore throat, but there are steps you can take to make it feel better. Every doctor’s advice is not to underestimate the importance of physical rest. Whatever the reason for your sore throat might be, make sure to get lots of rest. Give your voice a rest too, especially if your throat got irritated from speaking to long or too loud. However, have in mind that lying flat can sometimes cause swelling due to an increase in pressure at the back of the throat. If you can, elevate your bed or try sitting propped up on a chair to elevate the pain and discomfort.
You have probably noticed that sore throat feels more painful at night and even worse in the morning. This is a result of your throat getting very dry during the night. Having lozenges or hard candies (or anything that stimulates saliva production) can keep your throat moist during the night.
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