What to Do When Your Throat Hurts: A Complete Guide

First aid can be done in the following way -

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To prevent dehydration and keep the throat moist, it is important that you consume adequate fluids, especially water. 

First aid is done differently for every problem caused by a sore throat. These methods are given below -

Cough

• Drink as much water as possible while coughing. 
• While sleeping, keep a pillow under the head and sleep with the head raised upwards. 
• If possible, take steam from hot water. 
• Depending on the severity of the problem, gargle with salt water three to four times a day.
• Do not smoke and do not drink alcohol. Do not go near anyone who is smoking cigarettes, the smoke from their cigarettes can also harm you. 
• Ginger tea or honey provides relief from coughing. 
• Take lozenges from medical stores depending on whether you have a cough with mucus or dry. 
• Drinking warm liquids can provide relief from coughing. 
• If you want, you can also buy medicine for cough from medical stores. However, consult your doctor before taking any medicine. 

Read More - (Dry throat)

Throat Pain

• Drink as much liquid as possible, so that the pain does not increase due to dry throat. 
• Gargle with salt water three to four times a day.
• If you have throat pain, do not take caffeine-containing substances, such as coffee. This dries the throat and causes dehydration in the body. Try to make the air around you moist. 
• Stay away from anything that can increase your throat pain. 

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Sore Throat

• If you have a sore throat or itching, stay away from things that can increase the sore throat, such as perfume, smoke, etc.
• Gargling with salt water helps remove mucus and provides relief. 
• Drinking tea with ginger, lemon and honey is beneficial for sore throat. 
• Try to make the air around you moist.
• If you have a sore throat, do not consume alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine.
• You can also take medicines available at medical stores for sore throats. However, talk to your doctor before taking any medicine.

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Hoarseness

• When you have hoarseness or loss of voice, speak less and give rest to your throat.
• Stay away from irritating substances, such as dust, smoke, etc. 
• Take enough fluids to keep the throat moist. Especially, consume as much water as possible.
• Do not clear your throat forcefully, this can increase your problem. 
• If you want, you can also take medicines available in medical stores for your throat. However, talk to your doctor before taking any medicine. 

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Burning In The Throat

The most common remedy for sore throat is gargling. Gargling with salt water does not allow germs to grow in your throat and also removes mucus. 

• If your throat is burning, do not smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol at all.
• Drink as much water as possible. 
• If possible, try to make the air around you humid.
• Do not eat or drink hot things. 
• Change your toothbrush from time to time.

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Sores In The Throat

The most common remedy for sore throat is to gargle with salt water. For this, add some salt to a glass of water and mix it well and gargle with this mixture three to four times a day. 

• Do not eat spicy or hot food or drink hot things. 
• Do not consume alcohol, cigarettes and tobacco until the sores heal. 
• Do not eat things that are hard to chew, these can increase the pain of sores.
• Bad breath can also occur when there are sores, for this you can brush frequently. 
• You can also take medicines available at medical stores for sore throats. However, before taking any medicine, consult your doctor. 

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Dry Throat

• The first and most important remedy to be done in case of dry throat is to drink lots of water or other fluids. This will not cause dehydration in your body and your throat will also be moist. 
• Stay away from anything that can dry your throat further, such as cigarette smoke, alcohol or caffeine. 
• Gargling with salt water provides relief when the throat is dry. However, if you have been suffering from a dry throat for a long time, do not add salt to the water. 
• Do not eat anything that is already dry. 
• Try to make the air around you humid. 
• You can also add honey to a glass of warm water and drink it. 
• Instead of breathing through the mouth, breathe through the nose. Breathing through the mouth causes the throat to dry up.

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A sore throat is not a disease in itself, it is a sign of some problem. Usually, a sore throat is caused by a viral disease or an internal problem, which gets cured on its own in some time. However, some problems require timely treatment, so if you experience the following symptoms, go to the doctor immediately -

• Having a very severe throat pain or pain that does not get cured for 1 week. 
• Saliva dripping from the mouth.
• Difficulty swallowing food, drinks or spit.
• Difficulty opening the mouth.
• High fever. 
• Difficulty breathing. 
• Pain in the joints.
• Pain while breathing. 
• Pain or stiffness in the neck. 
• Ear pain. 
• Blood in sputum or mucus. 
• Red throat or swelling in the throat.
• Lump in the throat.
• Hoarseness that does not get better for a week.
• Repeated sore throat.

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Home remedies and proper care can help to get relief from sore throat. Gargling with lukewarm salt water is the most effective way, as it reduces inflammation and infection. Warm liquids such as ginger tea, honey and lemon water soothe the throat. Avoid cold drinks and fried foods, as they can increase throat discomfort.

Use steam inhalation or herbal lozenges to reduce sore throat. If the throat problem persists for a long time, there is fever, or difficulty in swallowing, it is important to contact a doctor. With the right treatment and rest, the throat can heal quickly.