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Stuck with a red, irritated throat? If so, you're probably more than eager to take care of it quickly. Sore throats can really hurt, and interfere with your everyday activities. Read on to learn how to treat a sore throat.
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Introduction
- If you have a sore throat, you are probably very anxious to find relief. A scratchy, irritated, painful throat makes doing everyday things like eating and speaking just about unbearable. The good news is that sore throats are treatable, and there are a variety of ways to help ease your pain. From prescriptions to over-the-counter remedies to natural solutions, there are a plethora of options for treating the misery of a sore throat.
Step 1: See Your Doctor
- One of the problems with sore throats is that it is difficult to determine the cause on your own. Viral infections, bacterial infections, or irritants such as smoke or allergens can all be potential sore throat catalysts.
- If you feel a sore throat coming on, the best course of action is to head for your family doctor's office. If you do have an infection, it is important to get it treated right away. You also want to be sure that you don't spread any illness to others. If you have an infection, your doctor will tell you what you need to do. She/he may even give you a pain reliever if your symptoms are severe enough.
Step 2: Ease the Pain
- You have two nonprescription options here. You can either use an over-the-counter medication, or try a natural remedy. Whichever you choose is up to you, and both types of treatments have been found effective.
OTC Medications
- If you opt to head for the local drug store, the following products or ingredients have been shown to be effective for sore throats:
- Acetaminophen
- Ibuprofen
- Aspirin
- Naproxen
- Lozenges
- Throat Sprays
Natural Remedies
- If you prefer to go natural, try some of these remedies:
- Salt water gargle (1 tsp with 1 cup water)
- Hot tea or water with lemon and honey
- Turmeric gargle (1 cup hot water with 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1/2 tsp salt)
- Apple cider vinegar (mix with equal amount of honey)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Frozen fruit bars
Step 3: Help Your Throat Heal
- It's nice to relieve the pain of a sore throat, but ultimately you want to cure it altogether. Drink lots of liquids, and make sure you get proper bed rest. Avoid smoke, pollution or known allergens as much as possible. Also, you should refrain from any strenuous exercise until you feel better. Use common sense, and take good care of yourself so that you can heal.
Conclusion
- A sore throat can be annoying and painful. However, there are plenty of remedies that can make you feel better in no time. You should always see a doctor if you have a sore throat, as it may be an indication that you have an illness or infection. Then get something to ease the pain. Make sure that you eat right, drink water, and allow yourself to rest so that your throat can heal and you can get back to your everyday routine.
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