Soothing a Pesky Sore Throat

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It beats coughing your lungs out.

Everyone gets sore throats randomly throughout their lives. Maybe you have a minor cold, maybe it’s allergies, or maybe your local air quality isn’t so good. Of course, with the advent of COVID, a light cough brought on by a sore throat prompts everyone around you to stare and back away, so you should probably go ahead and deal with that sore throat before they get out the torches and pitchforks.

Your first weapon against sore throats is food and drink. One of the best things you can drink to deal with a sore throat is iced herbal tea. The herbs and spices of herbal tea lend their anti-inflammatory properties to the walls of your throat, while drinking it ice cold cools and soothes them. Some quality iced tea will clear up low-tier sore throats fairly quickly. You can also try sucking on an ice pop for a cooling sensation, though try not to get one that’s citrus-flavored, as the acidity could cause further irritation. If you happen to have some, honey is a well-known sore throat soother, as its smooth composition coats the throat and protects it from further harm.

If food isn’t helping, try a home remedy. Gargle some salt water or take a hot shower to open up your brachial passages and loosen up irritating phlegm. When you go to sleep at night, try to keep your head elevated so you don’t put pressure on your neck, as that can exacerbate symptoms. If the air in your home is too dry, bust out the humidifier to moisten things up. Just make sure it’s clean, as dirty humidifiers can propagate bacteria and other unpleasant stuff.

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If you’re still having problems, try a nasal decongestant or allergy medicine. Just make sure the problem is centered in your throat; I can tell you from experience that you do not want to take Mucinex if the problem’s in your nose. A pain reliever like Ibuprofen can also help to fight off any inflammation. If you’re experiencing severe, long-lasting pain, you should see a doctor. On the bright side, sore throats alone aren’t an indicator of COVID. If you’re having trouble breathing, well, that might be another story. See a doctor either way.