Sore Throat

Facts About Sore Throats
Self-Care

When your throat is red and sore, there are ways to help relieve pain quickly. While few sore throats are serious, you should also know when your sore throat means you should call your doctor. Then you'll be able to use self-care with confidence.

Facts About Sore Throats

When your throat hurts, it's a sign your body is fighting off "invaders" such as germs or allergens (substances to which you're allergic). Other symptoms that often go along with sore throats are hoarseness and swollen lymph nodes in your neck. Sore throats can be caused by strep, colds, flu, other infections such as mononucleosis, allergies, cigarette smoke, or straining the voice (such as shouting at a football game).

Self-Care

For most sore throats, your self-care goal is to feel less pain and to avoid substances which might be causing the condition. If your throat is sore, stop smoking at least until the redness and pain disappear. Drink plenty of liquids: at least 6 glasses per day. Gargling with warm salt water every hour or two offers temporary relief. Sucking on cough drops or lozenges, or taking aspirin or aspirin substitutes will lessen pain from a sore throat. If allergies are causing your sore throat, an antihistamine will stop irritating mucus from dripping. If possible, stay in environments where the allergen is filtered out.

Call Your Doctor If...

your temperature is 102 degrees F. or higher.
you have white spots on your tonsils.
breathing or swallowing are very difficult.
lymph nodes in your neck are hard, swollen, or tender.
you have a skin rash.
you were recently exposed to strep.

To help relieve sore throat pain, drink fluids, gargle salt water, don't smoke, and avoid allergens. See your doctor if you have symptoms listed above. In most cases you'll have your healthy throat back in a few days.