Sore Throat Causes and Home Remedies

Sore throat, also called throat pain, refers to the pain or irritation of the throat. One of the signs and symptoms of impending colds and cough, sore throat gives discomfort to a person, especially when eating, drinking, or speaking. The following are the causes, signs and symptoms, and home remedies for sore throat.

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Causes

Sore throat has numerous causes. According to Health Line, these include viral infections, such as croup, chickenpox, measles, and mononucleosis; bacterial infection, which includes diphtheria, whooping cough, and strep throat; environmental factors like allergens, dry air, smoking or exposure to cigarette smoke, excessive talking, and yelling; and gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, a digestive condition that involves back flow of stomach acid to the esophagus.

Signs and Symptoms

Sore throat also presents a number of signs and symptoms. According to Mayo Clinic, these may vary depending on the cause, and they include pain in the throat, pain when talking, difficulty swallowing, swollen glands in the neck or jaw, swollen tonsils, white patches on the tonsils, and hoarse muffled voice. Other symptoms associated with sore throat include fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing, body aches, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Home Remedies

While sore throat that is bacterial in nature can be managed with antibiotics (as per the physician’s advice), some home remedies can also be done to treat the condition.

Salt Water Gargle

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Gargling with salt water is one of the known remedies for sore throat. According to Everyday Roots, doing so draws out water from the mucus membranes since they are swollen and inflamed. This way, the target is to decrease swelling and relieve the throat pain. In addition, salt water aids washing of of excess mucus, which lets proper draining of discharge from the nose. As per the publication, the person heats water until it becomes warm. Next, salt is mixed and the resulting mixture is gargled. It is done for three times a day as needed.

Honey

Honey is another remedy for sore throat. According to Health Line, studies discovered that honey was better in managing nighttime coughs than usual cough suppressants. Also, some studies have learned that honey promotes effective wound healing, which may also help promote healing of the throat.

Hot Sauce

One hot remedy remedy for sore throat or throat pain is hot sauce. According to Reader’s Digest, hot sauce or hot peppers have capsicum, which aids in the reduction of pain and inflammation. As per the publication, the person adds some shakes of hot sauce or five shakes of ground cayenne pepper to a cup of hot water. Then, the person gargles the mixture for every 15 minutes and waits to see the results.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Since bacteria and viruses are potential causes for sore throat, apple cider vinegar acts as another remedy for the condition. As per Medicine Net, vinegar is a weak form of acid, which can kill bacteria in the throat and loosen the secretions that may be irritants to the throat. To prepare, the person mixes a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with eight ounces of water. The vinegar can also be mixed with a teaspoon of salt for a saltwater vinegar variant. The person may also add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a tablespoon of honey to the tea.

Sore throat is not as severe as tuberculosis or heart disease, but it may be part of the signs and symptoms of an infection and it also gives discomfort to a person. Thus, it is important to manage it with home remedies and seek medical consult for proper assessment, planning, intervention, health education, and evaluation.

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