What helps against Sore Throat?

Every person must have experienced a sore throat some or the other time in life. This is a condition in which a person might find it difficult to gulp, swallow or even speak.  Medically termed as pharyngitis, a sore throat is accompanied by symptoms like throat pain, a parched feeling, irritation, a pricking sensation and sometimes loss of voice. A sore throat may make you want to give up on speaking and eating. 

A sore throat may be a signal of an impending respiratory tract infection or an allergy. It may accompany a bout of viral fever too. Your physician may recommend a throat swab or a culture test to precisely pinpoint the cause of your sore throat. Your physician will also prescribe a medicine that help against sore throat . If the cause is a bacterial infection, the physician may recommend a course of antibiotics. If the cause is allergic, an antihistamine like cetirizine or loratidine may be prescribed. To reduce the swelling or the inflammation, non-steroidal inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen may be prescribed. Analgesics like benzocaine may help in reducing the severity of pain. 

Sore throat sprays

Sore throat sprays like Throatsil also help relieve symptoms as it contains analgesic along with antiseptic agents.

Lozenges

Lozenges are medicated candies which are available over the counter in a plethora of flavours like ginger, lemon, menthol, eucalyptus etc. Sucking on these may help against sore throat by lessening the pain temporarily. These lozenges also increase the secretion of saliva and thereby reduce the dryness and the parched sensation of a sore throat. Some of them have antiseptic ingredients in them.

For eras, certain home remedies have been considered to help against sore throat. 

Gargling with salt water

This may seem too simple, but it is effective nonetheless. Consistent gargles with lukewarm water can help against sore throat by soothing the burning and inflammation. Salt has an anti-infective effect and can control the infection in the pharyngeal area. The mucous discharge which may be accumulated at the site of infection can also be washed away with gargles.  

Warm beverages

In the era before medicines, warm beverages were considered to be the ultimate elixirs against sore throat. A steaming cup of tea flavoured with ginger or lemon grass seems like the answer to a prayer when your throat is on fire.  Soups flavoured with kitchen spices like pepper and clove can provide a soothing effect too. Hot milk with turmeric added to it is considered to help against sore throat.  A teaspoon of honey at bedtime can also soothe the irritation and prickling sensation and help you have a restful night.

Sore throat causes great discomfort and should be relieved as soon as possible with the various remedies mentioned above.