What Kills A Sore Throat Fast At-Home

What Kills A Sore Throat Fast At-Home

Your poor sore throat. Is there anything that can help? A sore throat makes it more difficult to eat, drink, sleep, talk, and generally function — and who wants that? What’s even more frustrating is that sore throats can be caused by a myriad of maladies — from allergies to the common cold, from bacterial infections like strep throat to other issues. “The best way to get to the bottom of what’s causing your sore throat is to visit your doctor,” says family medicine specialist Daniel Allan, MD. But if you can’t make an appointment right away, Dr. Allan shares the most effective home remedies for a sore throat that’ll hold you over for a few days — along with those that don’t quite work as advertised.

6 Home Remedies to Get Rid of a Sore Throat

In the meantime, try some of Dr. Allan’s tried-and-true ways to alleviate your sore throat.

Warm and Cold Fluids

Sip on warm drinks, like tea or chicken soup. Or try cold liquids, such as ice water or popsicles. It depends on your preference and what soothes your throat best.   “Liquids help clear mucous membranes, keep things flowing, and prevent sinus infections,” says Dr. Allan a nasal development services expert.  Warm temperatures may also reduce coughs by soothing the back of your throat. Try both warm and cold to see what works best for you.

Gargling

Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt — or a similar amount of baking soda — in a glass of warm water. Gargle (but don’t swallow) the concoction every three hours for an all-natural sore throat remedy. Saltwater can help reduce swelling and irritation in your throat. Baking soda also soothes the throat, breaks up mucus, and can help with throat-irritating acid reflux.

Over-the-Counter Antihistamines and Pain Relievers

An antihistamine may dull or relieve throat pain. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen also help with pain that’s located a little deeper in your glands and other parts of your neck. “Histamines are chemicals that help your immune system fight foreign substances. But sometimes, they go overboard, triggering symptoms (such as congestion and post-nasal drip) that can make a sore throat feel worse,” explains Dr. Allan. Antihistamines can counteract this overreaction.

Steam and Humidity

Take a hot shower. When it gets really steamy, breathe in the throat-clearing magic. Dr. Allan says steam loosens mucus and can moisturize and soothe a sore throat.

Hot Toddy

A hot toddy is a drink combo made with water, whiskey, honey, and lemon juice and served hot. Some people add spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger. Honey coats your throat and soothes it by reducing irritation. Honey also has antibacterial properties, and the sweetness can calm your throat’s nerve endings and reduce coughing. Whiskey (a small amount; too much can dehydrate you) breaks up and thins mucus. Whiskey also dilates your blood vessels on the surface of your throat, so immune cells in your blood can multiply and fight the infection. Spices stimulate saliva production, improving both hydration and mucus flow in your throat.

Rest

Put your head on your pillow at a decent hour and close your eyes. “Don’t underestimate physically resting your body and voice,” Dr. Allan says. But beware: Lying flat can sometimes cause swelling due to an increase in pressure at the back of your throat. Instead, try elevating the bed or sitting propped up or in a chair to alleviate the pain and discomfort.

Home Remedies for Sore Throat to Avoid

Dr. Allan warns that not all sore throat remedies are created equal. He recommends you pass on these two: Apple cider vinegar. “It probably has some antibacterial properties, but that’s not going to do much for the sore throat itself.” Essential oils. “They haven’t been well-studied or clinically proven for safety or effectiveness.” And avoid things that can irritate your throat, including dry air, smoking, acidic foods, or spicy foods, and lying down immediately after you eat, especially if you have acid reflux.

What is a Sore Throat?

Sore throat, or pharyngitis, refers to pain, tenderness, or discomfort in the throat. It is most commonly caused by mild viral infections such as the flu or common cold but can also be a result of other health conditions. A sore throat typically appears with symptoms like cough, runny nose, dry/raspy sensation in the throat and mouth, and a hoarse voice. You may also experience difficulty and pain while swallowing foods or liquids.

Why Does My Throat Hurt When I Swallow?

There are many reasons your throat may hurt when you swallow. You could have a viral illness like a cold, mononucleosis, or viral pharyngitis. You may have strep pharyngitis due to Group A Strep (GAS) bacteria. Your throat may hurt if you have post-nasal drip from a sinus infection and you clear your throat a lot. Other more serious potential causes of painful swallowing include a tonsil abscess and epiglottitis, which is a bacterial infection of the tissue that lies above the vocal cords.

What Drink Helps a Sore Throat?

In addition to herbal tea and ginger ale, other drinks may help a sore throat fast. Staying hydrated will keep your throat moist and help decrease pain. It also helps thin mucus. Aim to drink 8 cups of fluids per day. Sip warm beverages (e.g. tea with honey, soup, warm water with lemon), drink really cold beverages, water, clear broth, and caffeine-free sports drinks are all good options. Compounds in peppermint tea help soothe throat pain and they have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Marshmallow root tea has antimicrobial properties and helps coat a sore throat. Chamomile tea helps lubricate the throat and it has antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.

How Long Do Sore Throats Last?

How long a sore throat lasts depends on the underlying cause. If your sore throat is caused by a simple cold or the flu, it will last about a week to 10 days. If your sore throat is due to mononucleosis, or mono, it may last for 4 weeks or more.

What Should You Avoid When You Have a Sore Throat?

It is important to know what to avoid when you have a sore throat besides knowing how to soothe a sore throat. If you have a sore throat, you should avoid all things that will cause further irritation. Do not eat spicy or acidic foods, as these may irritate your throat. Avoid smoking and smoky environments. Do not drink very hot liquids as this may contribute to further throat pain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About What Kills a Sore Throat Fast

What is a sore throat a symptom of? Sore throat is most usually a symptom of the common cold, flu, allergies, strep throat, bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus, viral infections, tonsillitis, and epiglottitis, an infection of the flap over the voice box. A sore throat can also result from non-infectious things like acid reflux or swollen lymph glands.

How do I get rid of a sore throat quickly? You can get rid of a sore throat by following some of the home remedies suggested above, such as saltwater or diluted apple cider vinegar gargle, drinking plenty of warm fluids and water, and sucking on popsicles, lozenges, or hard candies. Use humidifiers to keep the air moist, and try massaging the lymph nodes on the sides of your neck, if they are swollen. Avoid smoking, and drinking or eating anything acidic or hot, or other things that can irritate the throat. Sleep well and rest until symptoms improve.

How to soothe a sore throat Drinking warm beverages such as herbal teas, honey and lemon juice mixed with warm water, chicken soup, and ginger tea can be soothing for a sore throat. Drinking ice-cold water, or sucking on popsicles or ice chips can relieve pain by numbing the throat. Sucking on cough drops can keep the saliva flowing, and prevent dryness and irritation. Many such lozenges also have soothing ingredients such as menthol and honey that relieve pain.

What kills a sore throat overnight? Sore throat generally does not go away overnight. Sore throats caused by the common cold or flu may last up to a week or 10 days, but more severe throat infections can last up to a month or longer. See your healthcare provider if you have severe throat pain, if your sore throat does not improve within a few days or worsen, or if your sore throat is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, difficulty swallowing, or blood in saliva or phlegm.

What medicine should you take for a sore throat? If sucking on cough drops and lozenges does not help, try OTC pain medications such as ibuprofen or throat sprays that contain lidocaine. See a doctor if you don’t find adequate pain relief with home remedies and OTC medications. Do not self-medicate with antibiotics, it can give rise to resistant bacteria. Antibiotics should be taken only on prescription from a healthcare provider.