Sore Throat

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Sore Throat

It feels as though someone's holding a lit match at the back of your throat. That raw, burning sensation seems to radiate to your whole head. And you know what that means: at least a few more days of discomfort, as your sore throat takes it course.

A sore throat is often the earliest symptom of a cold or the flu. But you can also get a sore throat for a lot of other reasons--from viral or bacterial infections, dry air, smoking, exposure to irritants or too much cheering at a hockey game.

A persistent, recurrent or severe sore throat, or one accompanied by fever, needs medical treatment. But many sore throats can be soothed by the simple remedies given here and should disappear within a week.

Suck on soothing lozenges. "I simply suggest sugar-free vitamin C such as N'Ice," says Michael Benninger, M.D., chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and chairman of the committee on Speech, Voice and Swallowing Disorders of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. If you want a lozenge with actual pain-numbing power, look for one that contains benzocaine, such as Cepacol or Chloraseptic, adds Arthur Jacknowitz, Pharm.D., professor and chairman of clinical pharmacy at the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in Morgantown. But don't rely on these lozenges for more than two or three days, Dr. Benninger warns. "While they relieve pain, they don't do anything to address the real cause of your pain, whether it be an infection or the abuse of your vocal cords."

Or try zinc gluconate tablets. Some people swear by these, and in one study at the Clayton Foundation Biochemical Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, they did prove to be effective relievers of sore throat and some other cold symptoms.

"The trick is to let the dissolved zinc bathe your throat for a while," says Donald Davis, Ph.D., the study's main researcher. "Don't just swallow the tablet." The lozenges should be used for no more than seven days, he adds, because large amounts of zinc can interfere with your body's ability to absorb other minerals.

Sip something hot. Try decaffeinated tea or herbal tea with honey, suggests Dr. Benninger. "A number of the performing artists I see use that, and it appears to work for them. I don't know why, but it is very soothing."

Tip your head back and roar. While gargling won't kill off the germs causing your sore throat, it will moisturize and temporarily soothe your upper throat, Dr. Benninger says. And while there are many possible gargles on the market, such as Listerine, salt water is as good as any, and it's cheap, he adds.

Mix one teaspoon of salt (no more or you'll dry out your throat!) in a pint of warm (never hot) water. To gargle, start by taking in a deep breath. Pour a small amount of salt water into your mouth and tilt your head back. Let air bubble out slowly to create the garling effect. If it's noisy, it's right. Gargle as often as you like.

When to See the Doctor At the first sign of sore throat, most doctors suspect strep throat, a very painful form of sore throat caused by the streptococcus bacteria. It's a serious concern, since strep throat, if left untreated, can lead to problems such as rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. "With strep throat, the pain is really bad, and it hurts to swallow," says Michael Benninger, M.D., chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and chairman of the committee on Speech, Voice and Swallowing Disorders of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. If small children are in this kind of pain, you can usually tell: "They scrunch their faces when they swallow, they cry, and they drool," says Dr. Benninger. And children with strep throat usually run a fever as well. So if you suspect that you or your child does have strep throat, be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible. There are prescription antibiotics that can usually cure the condition quickly. Also have your sore throat checked by a doctor if it's accompanied by any of the following. Trouble breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth Joint pains Earache Rash Fever above 101°F Blood in the phlegm or saliva A persistent lump in the throat Hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks

Indulge in garlic. "When a sore throat is caused by a virus infection, as opposed to bacteria, eating garlic can bring quicker relief," suggests Yu-Yan Yeh, Ph.D., associate professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University in University Park and a researcher on the healing properties of garlic. "Garlic has been shown to have antiviral and antifungal activities."

Try an eye-opening cocktail of tomato or mixed vegetable juice, two garlic cloves and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Run it through a blender and drink. Or simply add garlic to your favorite dishes. "It doesn't matter whether it's fresh or powdered garlic," Dr. Yeh says.

Avoid tobacco smoke. "To avoid a sore throat in the future, don't smoke and don't expose yourself or your children to sidestream smoke," says Dr. Benninger. Smokers are much more likely than nonsmokers to have chronic throat irritation. And their children have more throat infections than the children of nonsmokers.

Keep indoor air cool and moist. During the cold winter months, the extreme dryness of heated indoor air may cause a recurring mild sore throat, especially in the morning and especially if a stuffed-up nose is making you breathe through your mouth, Dr. Benninger says. "A humidifier on your furnace is okay as long as it's working well, but most people don't keep the house humid enough. Indoor air should be at 35 to 40 percent relative humidity. If you can't achieve that with your furnace humidifier, keep a humidifier in your bedroom, and close the bedroom door at night."

Keeping the temperature of your house on the cool side--65° to 68°Fwill reduce your need to add moisture and will also help keep inflammation down.

Trade in your toothbrush. "Lingering sore throats may be traceable to bacteria on a toothbrush," says Richard T. Glass, D.D.S., Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Oral Pathology at the Colleges of Dentistry and Medicine at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.

If you're having chronic problems, he suggests you trade in your toothbrush for a new model every two weeks. "It's also a good idea to throw your toothbrush away at the beginning of an illness, when you first start feeling better two or three days later and then when you feel completely well."