7 Ways to Soothe Sore throat

Every time we feel something in our throat , we assume it  can be sign of a cold, or maybe your vocal chords are tired and strained or maybe an indication of something more serious like strep throat.

Here are tips to try when you start  feeling scratchy, hoarse, or just plain sick:

1.  Saltwater gargle

Studies have found that gargling several times a day with warm salt water can reduce swelling in the throat and loosen mucus, helping to flush out irritants or bacteria.

Doctors recommend dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in one cup of water. If the salty taste is too unpleasant for you, try adding a small amount of honey to sweeten the mixture slightly. Just remember to spit the water out after gargling, rather than swallowing!

2.  Lozenges and sprays

Sucking on cough drops stimulates saliva production, which can help keep your throat moist. But many varieties are no more effective than hard candies. For an added benefit, choose brands with a cooling or numbing ingredient, like menthol or eucalyptus.

3.  Cough syrup

Even if you don’t have a cough (yet), over-the-counter cough syrups can help ease soreness. Like drops and sprays, they coat the throat and provide temporary pain relief.

If you’re headed to work, be sure to choose a non-drowsy formula. But if you’re having trouble sleeping due to a sore throat, a nighttime formula which contains a pain reliever and an antihistamine can relieve pain and help you get some shuteye.

4.  Fluids

Staying hydrated is very important, especially when you’re sick and your throat is irritated or inflamed.   You should be drinking enough fluid so that your urine is light yellow or clear. This keeps your mucous membranes moist and better able to combat bacteria and irritants like allergens, and makes your body better able to fight back against other cold symptoms.

Water always works, but you can also change it up with something slightly sugary, like a watered-down fruit juice, or something salty, like chicken broth.

5.  Tea

Tired of drinking water? A warm cup of herbal tea can offer immediate, soothing relief for a sore throat. What’s more, non-herbal teas—whether they’re made with black, green, or white leaves—contain antioxidants that are thought to strengthen immunity and ward off infection.

6.  Chicken soup

An age-old home remedy for colds, chicken soup can help soothe a sore throat, as well.  The sodium in the broth may actually have anti-inflammatory properties, and it can feel good going down.

Soup has an added benefit when you’re sick. Eating can be painful and difficult with a swollen or very sore throat, so sipping some liquid nourishment will ensure that you’re getting the nutrients you need to fight off your infection.

7.  Rest

It may not be the quickest solution, but getting some rest is probably the best thing you can do to battle the infection that caused your sore throat in the first place.

The vast majority of sore throats are caused by cold viruses, and we know that there’s very little we can do to cure a cold once we’ve got it. Making sure your body is well rested will at least help it fight off the virus.