How To Soothe A Sore Throat?
Soothing a sore throat is not an easy task. Although there are several alternatives, it is a symptom that can be persistent and cause discomfort for several days. Also, there are multiple causes that originate it.
However, the most common cause is usually upper respiratory infection. In times of cold weather, pharyngitis is prevalent, with dysphonia among its signs.
Other respiratory infections with the same symptom can be colds, sinusitis, and laryngitis. All of them are caused mostly by viruses. Therefore, antibiotic treatment is not indicated and its use does not relieve throat irritation. Find out, then, what could help you combat this annoyance.
Causes of a sore throat
As already noted, throat irritation can have very different origins. Among the main causes of dysphonia, hoarseness and sore throat can be found:
- Ambient dryness: the lack of humidity in the air can dry out the mucous membranes. Also, it can happen that the ambient air is humid, but we breathe a lot through the mouth without passing the air through the nose.
- Allergies: People allergic to dust and mites, for example, often suffer from pharyngeal irritation.
- Voice fatigue: excessive use of the voice or overexertion of the voice by screaming exhausts the vocal cords.
- Irritating substances: there are chemicals that, being in the air, are capable of entering the body and irritating the pharynx. We can mention, among them, tobacco smoke.
- GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease consists of the rise of hydrochloric acid from the stomach into the esophagus, sometimes reaching the throat. This acid is highly irritating.
Remedies to soothe a sore throat
Here’s how you can soothe a sore throat with natural options. It is worth noting that natural remedies often do not have a scientific basis to support their use.
1. Gargle
Its use is very old and is usually recommended by grandmothers. Gargling is believed to be a good option to remove sore throat. They should be done with warm water and diluted salt. Those who have tried this natural remedy argue that the mixture would reduce inflammation of the pharynx. No scientific data have been found to support this theory.
The classic preparation consists of half a tablespoon of salt in a glass of water. Those who do not tolerate the salty taste could add honey to the preparation. Ideally, you should repeat the gargle several times a day.