Despite the fact that the groundhog predicted an early end to winter, the season hasn’t quite given up its grip on Arizona. Cool weather (at least by desert southwest standards) continues, and with it, the threat of sore throat in Goodyear persists – a common wintertime ailment in many parts of the U.S.
Sore Throat Symptoms & Causes
That dreaded yet familiar scratchiness in the back of the throat is often the first sign of an impending cold or upper respiratory infection. In addition to throat pain, you are likely to experience additional symptoms such as hoarseness, dryness, swallowing difficulty, swollen glands in the neck and jaw and tonsil inflammation. While most sore throats clear up after a few days, speeding up the process will spare you much misery. To help beat a wintertime sore throat in Goodyear, try the following remedies.
- Rest.It’s important to give your body plenty of rest when you are dealing with a sore throat. Getting a good night’s sleep will encourage faster healing and allows your immune system to build up strength to fight off an infection.
- Keep quiet. Physical rest is important but be sure to give your vocal cords a break, too. Refrain from speaking as much as possible in order to limit throat discomfort.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids to moisten your throat and reduce pain and swelling. Cold beverages are best for your throat, so avoid hot liquids, which can cause irritation.
- Soothe your throat. Sucking on hard candy, ice cubes, throat lozenges or cough drops will help soothe your throat and ease discomfort.
- Salt water gargle. Gargle with warm salt water several times a day in order to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Simply dissolve half a teaspoon of regular table salt in a glass of warm water, stir and gargle.
- OTC pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain medications such as Ibuprofen or paracetamol will help relieve discomfort. Antibiotics are only effective for a bacterial infection.
- Avoid environmental irritants. Environmental pollutants such as tobacco smoke irritate the windpipe, triggering a cough that may exacerbate swelling and slow down the healing process. Avoid cigarettes and other triggers like dry air and extreme temperature changes.
- Strengthen your immune system. Sticking to a healthy, balanced diet provides an immune system boost, enabling it to fight off viruses and infections more effectively. Be sure to include foods high in Vitamins C and D or take supplements.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with a Goodyear ear, nose and throat specialist at the first sign of a sore throat. This will enable you to rule out a more serious illness that requires treatment with antibiotics. If your sore throat lasts for more than a week, schedule a follow-up appointment.
