Saturday 15 May 2010

Sore Throat Pain Relief Ideas That Work

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A sore throat is an acute inflammation of the lower pharynx. This inflammation usually affects the mucous membrane and causes it to discharge secretions similar to sputum. In some cases, the throat can be very dry that coughing to discharge the secretions can be harsh on the throat. The tonsils and the soft palate may also become inflamed and cause pain when swallowing. A burning sensation and a tightness in the throat are also common occurrences when one has sore throat.

Some common causes of sore throat include colds, allergies, and habits like breathing through the mouth. A sore throat can also be an indication of a more serious disease if it is severe and chronic. However, for mild and random sore throats, the following sore throat relief ideas work effectively:

*Consider the cause of your sore throat.

Determining the cause of your sore throat is necessary before you can administer the proper cure and relief treatment. If colds and flu are prevalent in your office or any place you frequent, these viruses are probably the cause of your sore throat. Excessive shouting and eating foods that are too spicy can also cause sore throats. However, if you suspect that your sore throat is caused by something more serious like strep throat, you must have it checked by your doctor.

*Take prescription or over-the-counter painkillers.

Your doctor can prescribe prescription medication for your sore throat. Depending on the severity or the perceived cause, he or she can prescribe plain painkillers or one with antibacterial properties. You can also use over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or naproxen to relieve the pain in your throat. You can also take an analgesic to reduce inflammation like aspirin and acetaminophen. Just be sure to inform your doctor of any medication you have taken or are currently taking. This way, you can avoid over-medicating and possibly adverse drug interactions.

*Suck on throat lozenges.

Lozenges with zinc, menthol, benzocaine, or phenol are ideal to suck on since they can numb the throat. Menthol hard candies are also good substitutes if you cannot find lozenges. Sucking on lozenges promote saliva production which prevents dryness and scratching in the throat. Saliva production also reduces the chances of bacterial infections in the throat.

*Gargle mouthwash or salt water frequently.

The alcohol in the mouthwash has antiseptic properties which can cleanse the throat if there are bacteria. It also disinfects scratches and lesions in the throat which might be caused by dry coughing. Salt water works the same way and is cheaper in comparison. Simply combine a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Gargle the mixture several times a day. This will increase the blood supply to the area by washing away mucus and dilating capillaries, thereby enabling better circulation of infection-fighting antibodies.

*Eat a soft or liquid diet.

Instead of meals that require you to swallow solid food like meat, opt for soups, yogurts, and mashed vegetables to avoid irritating your throat further. Supplement this diet with lots of water and natural fruit juices to facilitate the development of antibodies. Remember to avoid too much spices in your meals as these can aggravate your sore throat.

By: kristine

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Tuesday 11 May 2010

Sore Throat in Children and the Need for Good Parental Care

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Children are very often confronted with sore throat. Sore throat is usually accompanied by sneezing, runny nose and coughing. Sore throat also involves throat inflammation, swelling, discomfort and pain. The cause of sore throat is infection with viruses and even without treatment, the illness disappears in a matter of days. Sore throat usually involves inflammation of the tonsils and pharynges and it is also referred to as tonsillo-pharyngitis. Common symptoms of sore throat in children are: painful, irritated throat, tonsil inflammation and swelling (sometimes the tonsils may be covered in pus), swelling and tenderness of the lymph glands, fatigue, headache, stomachache, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever. In some cases, rashes can occur in certain areas of the body.

The viruses responsible for causing sore throat are very contagious. Especially in the flu seasons, it is very difficult to prevent sore throat from occurring. Good personal hygiene can decrease the chances of contracting the viruses that cause sore throat, but can't fully prevent the development of the infection. The viruses responsible for causing sore throat can be transmitted by air, secretions or direct contact.

It is important to be able to distinguish between sore throat and strep throat. While sore throat can clear up by itself in just a few days, strep throat is more persistent and it requires treatment with antibiotics. Parents often panic when their children become sick. Sore throat is in many cases no reason for panic. No medication is required in overcoming sore throat, its symptoms simply disappearing after a few days. If you suspect that your child may be suffering from strep throat, you should check for fever, intense pain and increased sensitivity in the regions around the neck and ears. However, if the symptoms of the illness are mild and their intensity doesn't seem to be progressing, there is no reason to be concerned about.

Despite the fact that sore throat is usually not a serious illness, it is best to pay a visit to a pediatrician anyway. The doctor will perform a simple test, in order to reveal the origin of the infection. If no presence of harmful bacteria is revealed, all the doctor may prescribe are analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, if the sore throat is actually caused by streptococcus bacteria, the doctor will prescribe an appropriate treatment with antibiotics.

A sore throat can be overcome very quickly by children's immune system. All that parents can do is to ensure that they get enough rest and that their fever is under control. You should make sure that your child drinks enough fluids and that he eats enough food. Loss of appetite is a common symptom of sore throat and it is important to convince the child to eat properly when he is ill. The food should be easy to swallow and non-irritating. Convince your child to eat more warm soup, mashed potatoes, yogurt and soft fruits. Fever may lead to dehydration and therefore make sure that your child drinks enough fluids. Pay attention to your child's needs and try to relief the discomfort of his illness. Just like many other ailments, sore throat in children can be easily overcome with the help of good parental care.

By: Groshan Fabiola

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Friday 7 May 2010

Sore Throat – Now You Can Easily Get Rid of Sore Throat

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A sore throat is an infection that can be either viral or bacterial. It is most commonly caused by a contagious viral infection (such as the flu, cold or mononucleosis), although more serious throat infections can be caused by a bacterial infection (such as strep, mycoplasma or hemophilus). Bacterial sore throats respond well to antibiotics while viral infections do not. For viral infections, there are many natural remedies that you can take to cure a sore throat.

Common viruses, and even the viruses that cause mononucleosis (mono) and the flu, can cause a sore throat. Some viruses can also produce blisters in the mouth and throat ("aphthous stomatitis").

There is a lot of medication that a doctor can prescribe for sore throats but natural alternatives include gargling with hot water and salt, having honey and ginger with hot water, drinking a lot of fluids, basil leaves in warm water, chamomile tea, grapefruit seed extract, hyssop seem effective as well. Sore throats are also0 treated with natural or herbal tonics and throat paints.

Lemon Juice, Honey and Hot Water - Now here is a little drink that will help sooth a sore throat. Add lemon juice (from one lemon) some honey, to a glass of hot water. Now you may drink this drink, it will help to sooth your throat and make your feel better.

Cayenne pepper. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to 1 cup of boiling water; stir well and gargle while mixture is very warm. This brings more circulation to the area and helps draw away the infection. To this formula you can add 4 parts echinacea, 1 part garlic bulb, and 2 parts peppermint leaves to 1 part cayenne.

Mix ginger and lemon juice. Run down the throat without swallowing. The ginger will cling to the sides of the throat to provide temporary relief and a barrier to prevent damage from coughing. The acidic lemon juice will help with removal of mucus.

Sage - Sage is another popular alternative medicine used in the treatment of sore throats. Sage is beneficial in treating pharyngitis and other throat pains by reducing inflammation and protecting the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.

Another way to keep sore throats from emerging or getting rid of sore throats that have already decided to make there present is by eating dill pickles. Again the vinegar comes into the picture again. This way you can have the benefit of the vinegar with something good to snack on as well.

Simply use water as hot as you can stand. Add at least a teaspoon of salt to a glass of water. Then gargle with a mouthful of the hot salt water as long as possible. Spit it out. Gargle with fresh salt water. Do this for about five minutes, or until the sore throat pain subsides.

Now here is a little drink that will help sooth a sore throat. Add lemon juice (from one lemon) some honey, to a glass of hot water. You'll feel a lot better instantly. I actually like to do this, but I will put the lemon and honey in a chamomile tea.

By: peterhutch

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Monday 3 May 2010

Sore Throat – Symptoms and Treatment

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A sore throat is a disease primarily located in the area around the tonsils. It is also known as pharyngitis or tonsillitis.The pharynx is the part of the throat that lies between the mouth and the larynx or voice box. It is associated most commonly with the common cold or influenza. While most sore throats heal without complications, in some cases, they develop into a serious illness.

Sore throat refers to the inflammation of the pharynx or back of the throat. It occurs frequently when a person has a cold or an attack of influenza. 10% of sore throat may be due to strep throat infection. Strep throat is an infection of the pharynx, caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, whereas sore throat may be a viral or a bacterial infection. Strep throat is common among children and teenagers, between the ages of 5 to 15.

Sore throats have many different causes, and may or may not be accompanied by cold symptoms, fever,or swollen lymph glands. Proper treatment depends on understanding the cause of the sore throat.

Sore throats are normally caused by either a viral or bacterial infection. The most important difference between a virus and bacteria is that bacteria respond well to antibiotic treatment and viruses do not. A sore throat is commonly spread by: sharing drinks, kissing, coughing, nose blowing, and sneezing.

Symptoms

Symptoms of sore throat throughout the body include fever, headache, nausea, and malaise. These may be present with either a viral or bacterial infection. Symptoms specific to the throat include pain with swallowing for pharyngitis and a hoarse voice when laryngitis is present. Cold viruses tend to cause more coughing and runny nose than strep throat.

For the vast majority of sore throats, there are no treatments to cure the disease. These cases of sore throat are caused by viruses, against which there are few medications. Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial sore throats. But they will have no effect on viral sore throats.

Cinnamon is regarded as an effective remedy for a sore throat resulting from a cold. One teaspoon of coarsely powdered cinnamon, boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder, and two teaspoons of honey can be taken as a medicine in the treatment of this condition. Two or three drops of cinnamon oil, mixed with a teaspoon of honey, also give immense relief

Therefore, drinking enough fluids is very important. When it is hard to drink, it is important to decrease your body's requirements for fluid through rest and lowering any fever that is present. Choose high-quality fluids such as soup broth (which replaces both salt and water losses) and sugar-containing solutions (they help the body absorb the fluids more rapidly). Avoid caffeine because it can cause water loss.

Complications

Complications such as rheumatic fever (inflammation of connective tissue and joint pain), scarlet fever (fever with body rash), tonsil abscess, and glomerulonephritis (kidney disease) can result from untreated streptococcal infection. Severe pharyngitis associated with Corynebacterium diphtheriae and infectious mononucleosis can obstruct the airway and cause lower respiratory problems (e.g., pneumonia).

By: peterhutch

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