A sore throat at night can disturb your sleep and leave you feeling fatigued the following day. Luckily, most sore throats go away within a week without medical treatment. And while the condition lasts, there are plenty of home remedies to try that can reduce your discomfort and help you sleep.
“Ever notice that a sore throat seems worse in the morning? It's because your throat gets so dry overnight,” says Dr. Valerie Riddle, an infectious disease expert at NIH. “Having lozenges or hard candies—or anything that stimulates saliva production—will keep your throat moist.
Sip water and avoid hot drinks. Regularly drinking water can help keep your throat moist and lubricated. Tempting though it may be to have a hot drink before bed to help you sleep, these can make sore throat pain worse. A better bet is to gargle with salty water, though it's not so pleasant-tasting.
Usually viral infections go away in 5-7 days without treatment. Antibiotics don't work for a viral infection. If you have pain or high fever, a mild pain reliever like acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help ease the symptoms. If the sore throat is severe and lasts for more than a week, let your doctor know.
Sour, pickled, or brined foods: Foods made with vinegar or salt, such as pickles, can worsen the inflammation of a sore throat. Tomato juice and sauces: The acidic nature of tomatoes can make them a poor choice for people with sore throats.
In most cases, a sore throat gets better in a day or two. Sometimes, it may linger for a while. The key is to know when this common symptom may require for a trip to the doctor, especially when it may be caused by a serious disease, including cancer.
Dry indoor air can make your throat feel rough and scratchy. Breathing through your mouth — often because of chronic nasal congestion — also can cause a dry, sore throat. Irritants. Outdoor air pollution and indoor pollution such as tobacco smoke or chemicals can cause a chronic sore throat.
View Source , getting good sleep could help you recover from any illness associated with your sore throat. Sore throats can be caused by bacterial infections, but viral infections are more likely to cause them. While antibiotics may help a bacterial infection, they cannot treat sore throats caused by viral infections.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a preferred over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for treating a sore throat. But it may not be the safest choice for people with certain health conditions, like heart disease and kidney problems. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be a safer throat pain treatment for people who can't take ibuprofen.
Chronic pharyngitis is a persistent sore throat that lingers for a few weeks or returns frequently. Chronic pharyngitis may be caused by infection, environmental pollutants, allergies or acid reflux. Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause.
Any condition that irritates the esophagus will most likely cause painful swallowing. The esophagus carries food and liquid from your mouth to the stomach. Unfortunately, you can experience inflammation in the esophagus due to allergic reactions, acid reflux, infections, or medications.
In most cases, your sore throat will improve with at-home treatment. However, it's time to see your doctor if a severe sore throat and a fever over 101 degrees lasts longer than one to two days; you have difficulty sleeping because your throat is blocked by swollen tonsils or adenoids; or a red rash appears.
Sore throat symptoms that need medical attention
Viral sore throats typically show signs of improvement within five days. But if your symptoms don't improve or you have a fever of 101 or higher that lasts for a few days, it may be time to see your primary care physician.
Knowing whether your sore throat is viral or bacterial is usually determined by symptoms. Viral sore throats usually consist of a cough, swelling in the throat, and runny nose whereas bacterial sore throats are typically accompanied with nausea and vomiting, stomach ache, and there is no cough.
Individuals who perform oral sex on the penis of males are at a higher risk of developing sore throats after developing the sexually transmitted disease. On the other hand, individuals who perform oral sex on the vagina, vulva, or clitoris are at a lower risk of acquiring the infection.
Drink water, tea (herbal or decaf), broth, soup, and non-caffeinated sports drinks e.g. Gatorade. Hot tea with lemon and honey can help. Gargle with warm salt-water. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of regular table salt in 8 ounces (240 ml) of warm water, gargle for a few seconds, spit it out, then repeat a few times.
Two different germs cause sore throats – viruses and bacteria. They are both contagious and easily spread to others. The germs hang out in the nose and throat.
4. Cold Liquids and Popsicles. Warm salt water and hot tea help your throat, but so do cold liquids, ice chips and popsicles. Popsicles are especially helpful for young children - the cold acts as a temporary numbing agent to ease the discomfort.
You can spread the common cold from a few days before your symptoms appear until all of the symptoms are gone. Most people will be contagious for up to 2 weeks. Symptoms are usually worse during the first 2 to 3 days, and this is when you're most likely to spread the virus.
A viral sore throat is typically accompanied by other cold-like symptoms, such as cough, sneeze, runny nose and a hoarse or raspy voice. “A strep infection can make it feel very painful to swallow, and often comes with fever of 101-degrees or higher,” said Schairer.