Almost everyone has had the occasion to spend a quiet day and suddenly experience discomfort and a stinging pain in the throat; before you even know it, you are wondering if you are getting a cold. How can a simple sore throat develop into a full-blown cold? There are many factors that trigger this worsening, but by acting promptly you can manage the situation in the hope that the malaise does not turn into a real cold.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: with Home Remedies
Step 1. Gargle with salt water
This mixture is able to dissolve the fat coating that protects the virus responsible for the cold. Gargle several times a day to break that protection, soothe the pain and avoid aggravating the situation.
- Take a sip of salt water and gargle intensely.
- Keep in mind that the virus responsible for the common cold first invades these organs, then spreads to other parts of the body; the tonsils and adenoids are the first line of defense against pathogens that enter the body through the respiratory tract.
Step 2. Rest to allow the body to fight the infection
Allow the body's tissues to regenerate while you rest, which will block a possible progression of the sore throat into colds. When you sleep, the immune system releases cytokines, protein molecules that "tell" it about the exact type of viral cells that are attacking the body. For this reason, when you feel a little sleepy due to the symptoms that accompany a sore throat, you should sleep rather than try to resist!
- Tissues regenerate and repair themselves when you are able to rest and sleep properly.
- It is recommended to sleep at least 8-10 hours a day to help the body eradicate the infection.
Step 3. Get plenty of fluids
Drinking a lot and maintaining good hydration allows the mucous membranes that line the throat to remain moist, reducing the risk of developing a cold. Dry membranes are breeding grounds for viruses that can grow and spread to other parts of the body; the correct humidity is essential to stop pathogens.
- In addition, drinking plenty of water makes secretions more liquid, making it easier to expel mucus from the respiratory system.
- Avoid sweet or caffeinated drinks, as they only aggravate symptoms. drink plenty of hot liquids instead (soups and tea).
- You can also suck on balsamic candies to keep your throat moisturized.
Step 4. Inhale the steam
It allows you to manage congestion by exposing the nasal passages and throat to hot air, which, in combination with moisture, dissolves the mucus present in the airways and therefore reduces the risk of the infection remaining in the body.
- For best results, you can add eucalyptus essential oil or benzoin tincture for a more soothing effect.
- A hot shower or cold vaporizer can also help: the released moisture can soothe a dry and irritated throat.
- Keep in mind that steam can have limited benefits; furthermore, some studies suggest that steam inhalation is not effective for chronic or recurrent sinus disorders. Trying it probably won't do any harm, but it won't be a miracle cure either.
Step 5. Eat six small, frequent meals and avoid hard-to-eat foods
It is better to eat six smaller but more closely spaced meals instead of the traditional three, because large rations and hard foods can cause throat pain. Soft foods, such as cereals, soups, and the like, do not cause pain when swallowed due to their texture.
Step 6. Consume cold drinks and food
Ice cream, cool drinks, and popsicles can soothe a sore throat. Cold drinks give a feeling of relief to the throat; to be sure, it is not yet known how they can be effective, but the mechanism can also be psychological, since the low temperature can mask the pain.
As this remedy isn't fully supported by science, keep in mind that it may work in some cases but not others. If you're unsure, try sipping a cold non-citrus drink and seeing what effect it has on your throat. If that doesn't help, you can also try sipping a hot drink; others find this option more effective
Step 7. Include foods rich in vitamin C in your diet
It strengthens the immune system by improving the effectiveness of phagocytes, the cells that kill foreign bodies by ingesting them. Make sure you get the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C by eating fruits and vegetables with each main meal.
- Among the foods that are richest in it are mentioned: oranges, blackberries, broccoli, blueberries, kale, lemon and lime.
- Like other home remedies, vitamin C has limited potential; many experts believe it could help, but it is probably not as effective as medical treatment. So keep in mind that there is no guarantee that taking vitamin C will prevent colds, even if it does help your body stay healthier overall.
Method 2 of 3: with drugs
Step 1. Know what you can achieve with medication
The main goal of sore throat treatment is to reduce its signs and symptoms. Antibiotics are not the first-line medications for treating a sore throat caused by a cold, because they are ineffective for most viral infections.
- You should only take antibiotic therapy if you have a prolonged infection, such as strep.
- A sore throat is a symptom that indicates that the body's natural defenses are fighting against infection.
- The tonsils at the bottom of the throat trap foreign agents and when they "catch" many of them begin to swell.
Step 2. Take over-the-counter medications
They can relieve discomfort and allow the immune system to fight the infection. by reducing symptoms you can rest better and defend yourself against pathogens more effectively.
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You can take simple pain relievers to soothe the discomfort associated with throat inflammation. they work by blocking and interfering with the pain signals that are sent to the brain.
Among the best known, consider ibuprofen, aspirin and paracetamol
Step 3. Take antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection
If through diagnostic tests and a medical examination you have confirmation that it is indeed a bacterial infection, you must take this class of drugs, which helps the body to fight microorganisms otherwise difficult to eradicate.
- Do not take antibiotics left over from previous treatments for other conditions because they are ineffective if the sore throat is not caused by a bacterial infection.
- Most throat infections are viral in origin and cannot be treated with these medicines.
Method 3 of 3: Define the Origin of Sore Throat
Step 1. Know the most common causes of this disorder
It is not always due to a cold and often you cannot prevent it from developing; if it's triggered by a viral infection, you can't prevent its progression by treating it with antibiotics.
Step 2. Get a medical examination
Go to the doctor to determine the cause of your discomfort; he can use luminous instruments to assess the health of the throat, as well as the ears and nasal passages. He can also feel the neck to see if the lymph nodes have swollen, as well as check the mechanisms of breathing using a specific device: the stethoscope.
Step 3. Ask your doctor for a throat swab
To understand if you have developed a bacterial infection, your doctor can undergo such a test: he will take a sample of saliva from the back of the throat using a sterile cotton swab, then send it to a laboratory that will analyze it and identify the possible presence of the bacterium. streptococcus.
- The test result is usually available within minutes of collection.
- If the result is positive, it can mean that there is an ongoing bacterial infection, while if it is negative it can indicate a viral infection.
- While a swab can help your doctor differentiate a bacterial infection from a viral one, it doesn't affect how your doctor treats a bacterial infection. For this reason, many doctors can skip this step entirely.
Step 4. Get a complete blood count (CBC)
A blood sample can be taken to count the different types of cells to determine which blood cells are present in high, normal or insufficient quantities and to determine whether the infection is viral or bacterial.
Step 5. Run an allergy test
Sore throat can also be caused by allergic reactions. Ask your doctor to prescribe the patch test to see if the pain is due to any allergies; in this case, you should go to a specialist to undergo further investigations and properly manage the problem.
