Irritated throat? 10 tips to relieve symptoms

Throat irritation is not very serious in most cases, but it can be very annoying.. It is a burning or stinging sensation that can be accompanied by pain, especially when eating, drinking or swallowing saliva.

To deal with such a feeling there are different solutions ranging from natural and traditional remedies to products that we can find in a pharmacy. Next we will see what are the best tips to relieve that undesirable sensation of a sore throat.

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10 ways to improve symptoms of a sore throat

Having a sore throat can be due to a remarkable variety of causes. It is one of the common symptoms of viral infections such as the flu, laryngitis or mononucleosis, but also of bacterial infections that can lead to colds.

On the other hand, throat irritation can also be caused by too much exposure to irritants such as tobacco, environmental pollution or inhalation of certain substances Chemicals. In any of the cases there are remedies to relieve a sore throat as we are going to see.

1. Drink more fluids

Not drinking enough fluids can be the cause of a sore throat. Good hydration is essential for our entire body to function well, and if this is not the case, our throat can also have problems.

When the throat stops producing enough mucus to lubricate itself, irritation can appear. It is appropriate to drink between 1.5 and 2 liters of water a day to replace fluids, especially in cases of flu.

2. Take propolis

A highly recommended natural remedy to combat throat irritation is propolis. Bees store substances that contain natural antibiotics, capable of fighting bacteria that may be giving us problems. On the other hand, propolis has other substances that have the property of regenerating tissues. A tablespoon of propolis 3 times a day will be an excellent natural remedy to improve your throat.

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3. Take a hot infusion of mint with honey

Taking a hot infusion of a plant like mint and adding a tablespoon of honey is a great measure.. Peppermint has analgesic properties and soothes the throat, while honey is antiseptic and has a softening and sedative effect. Therefore, an infusion of mint with honey cleanses and purifies the throat, contributing to the relief of pain.

4. Make eucalyptus fumes

The eucalyptus is an Australian tree well known for its properties when it comes to fighting respiratory diseases. You can infuse its leaves and then drink the liquid, but there is also the possibility of making vapors. Inhaling the steam from the water with eucalyptus we will improve the condition of our throat, since we provide moisture and the beneficial properties of eucalyptus leaves.

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5. Gargle with sea salt

Gargling with sea salt is an excellent method to take care of our throat. Sea salt calms and helps to heal inflamed tissue, as well as having antiseptic properties. To do this, it is necessary to heat water with the salt and gargle with the solution at a not very hot temperature, rather at room temperature. A couple of times a day is enough.

6. Take candy and pills

Candies and lozenges make that sucking them favors the production of saliva. This helps lubricate the throat and soothe irritation. But in addition, many of them contain local anesthetics or anti-inflammatories in their formula, such as benzydamine. On the other hand, that candies or lozenges include ingredients such as menthol or eucalyptus is perfect to improve the sensation of the throat.

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7. Avoid gastric reflux

Mucosal irritation can sometimes be caused by reflux of stomach acid. There is increasing evidence of this cause even though the person may not be aware of reflux. There is the so-called "silent ebb" and the nocturnal. Thus, certain foods (such as citrus fruits, pineapple, chocolate, and fatty or spicy foods) should be avoided and not overeat before going to bed.

8. Stay away from irritants

Coffee, alcohol or tobacco are substances that can take their toll on the throat. These substances cause dry mouth and this causes a sore throat. On the other hand, there are people who are exposed to different irritants perhaps due to their profession. For example, painters inhale volatile chemicals found in paint every day.

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9. Don't breathe too much with your mouth

There are some people who have gotten into the bad habit of breathing too much through their mouth even when sleeping.. Normally you should breathe through the nose, or if for example we do sports, it is normal to inhale air through the nose and expire through the mouth. When you stop using the nose, the throat may become more dry and throat irritation may appear.

10. Protect voice

Throat irritation can also be caused by overexertion of the vocal cords. There are singers who are affected by this problem at some point in their professional careers. An overloaded voice is hoarse than usual, and we must let it rest and hydrate our throat well. It is important not to yell and relax your throat when speaking.

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Bibliographic references

• Craker, L. AND. and Simon, J. AND. (1986). Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants. Recent Advances in Botany, Horticulture, and Pharmacology. Food Products Press.

• Jones, Roger (2004). Oxford Textbook of Primary Medical Care. Oxford University Press.

• Kahrilas, PJ (2008). Clinical practice. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 359 (16), 1700-1707.

• Rutter, Paul Professor; Newby, David (2015). Community Pharmacy ANZ: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. Elsevier Health Sciences.

• Schauenberg, P. (1980). Guide to medicinal plants. Barcelona: Omega.