Are you suffering from a sore throat that is prolonged in nature? Although, a sore throat is not very severe, being prolonged in nature indicates that it is chronic. You should not ignore a sore throat that does not heal over a long period of time. This might be an indication of a serious problem, and you will require proper diagnosis.

When is a sore throat termed as chronic?

A sore throat may take various forms. It can be itchy, burning, scratchy in nature, and can also cause difficulty in swallowing food.
It is likely for a sore throat to be accompanied by a form of pesky cough that leads to further irritation of the throat.
Sore throats can also occur from common colds and several viruses. These usually resolve on their own.
However, when your sore throat is persistent and you cannot find relief, it is referred to as a chronic sore throat. The primary cause of sore throat includes strep throat, allergies, tonsillitis or the infection of your tonsils, inhaling air pollutants, influenza, cigarette smoking, and inhaling via the mouth.
Among these conditions, strep throat and tonsillitis may turn into severe problems, if not treated properly.
Smoking is a major cause of chronic sore throat. You should control your smoking to eliminate these sore throat symptoms.
Snoring is also a major cause for sore throat.
Relief from chronic sore throat
No matter what is the cause of your chronic throat pain, or sore throat is, you should follow some steps and undertake simple home remedies for soothing your scratchy, itchy and painful throat. Some of them include the following:

Do hot water steam inhalation daily, which will help
You must stay well hydrated and should moisten your throat by drinking lots of fluids throughout the day. You should add honey to warm drinks and hot tea.
You may take over the counter pain relievers.
You should install a humidifier in your home for preventing dry air that causes irritation to your throat.
You may try gargling regularly with warm water and salt, at least twice a day.
It is difficult to diagnose the exact cause of a sore throat, but when it worsens or does not tend to leave, something serious is indicated. You must consult a doctor and undertake a physical examination of your throat in order to detect the cause.

Prolonged Sore Throat - Can It Be Chronic?

If you are experiencing pain, irritation, or itchiness in your throat, the condition is referred to as a sore throat. It is likely for you to face difficulty in swallowing food and the pain worsens when you want to swallow. The primary symptom of a sore throat is throat pain. People of all ages can get affected by a sore throat.

Causes
There are several causes of a sore throat. The most common ones are as follows:

Viral infection
  Viral infections are the most common causes of sore throat.
  These are the infections that are caused by a virus, like the flu or cold.
  Measles, chicken pox, and croup are other viral infections that cause a sore throat.

Bacterial infection
  Several bacterial infections also lead to a sore throat.
  They may include strep throat, diphtheria, and whooping cough.

Environmental factors
  Several environmental factors also cause sore throat.
  Exposure to pollen, mold, pet dander, and several other irritants leads to postnasal drip.
  This causes throat pain and inflammation.
  Exposure to dry air, and smoking cigarettes are also common causes of a sore throat.

Diagnosis
  For the diagnosis of a sore throat, a physical examination of your throat is carried out, and your throat will be examined using a lighted instrument.
  Doctors usually look out for inflammations and white patches that indicate strep throat. Your breathing will also be checked.
  The back of your throat can be swabbed for examining samples in order to determine the virus.
  Certain blood tests may also be required to be undertaken.

Treatment
  The treatment of sore throat depends on the cause.
  In case your sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, you will be prescribed antibiotics for killing the infectious bacteria.
  The medicines should be taken strictly according to a doctor s prescription.
  You should complete the course of 10 days to get effective results.
  If you stop the treatment at an early stage on noticing improvements, a sore throat can recur soon.

There are certain simple home remedies which are effective for curing the most common forms of sore throat. They include:
  Gargling with warm, salted water.
  Consuming warm fluids like soup, tea, and water.
  Having throat lozenges.
  Reducing the inflammation using ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
  Avoiding exposure to allergens and irritants.

In case your sore throat is caused by a viral infection, the virus should be left to run its course. During its course, you will be prescribed medicines like pain relievers and decongestants for relieving the symptoms. Antiviral drugs are also used in some cases for fighting the virus effectively.

Sore Throat - Factors That Can Put You At Risk!

Allergies and the common cold afflict everyone. Every person comes down with either of these or both multiple times a year. Children, adults and the elderly all are equally vulnerable to both these minor ailments. And one of the chief complaints of both is a sore throat. But, how can you tell whether your painful throat is a result of an allergy or a cold? Read on to know more.

How are Allergies and Common Cold Similar?

Sore throat is not the only commonality between cold and allergies. There will be other similar symptoms as well.

  A runny and itchy nose

  Coughing

  Sneezing

  Blocked nose

  Painful sinuses

  Postnasal drip

  Conjunctivitis

That is why similar symptoms like sore throat and all the rest make it very hard to tell allergies and a common cold apart.

Can you tell the Difference between Sore throat caused Common Cold or Allergies?

There are a few questions that you will have to ask yourself to find the answer to whether your sore throat is triggered by cold or allergy.

  How did your sore throat manifest itself? Have you been feeling it coming for quite a while now? Maybe, your throat has been feeling itchy for a few days before a full-blown painful throat came along. Or did it start suddenly without a warning? If it is the former, then it is a case of a common cold. But the latter is possibly an effect of allergies.

  If other symptoms are periodic, that is they manifest at certain times of the day like early in the morning or during sunset, your sore throat could be because of allergies. But if the other symptoms last all day, then your sore throat owes its origin to the common cold.

  Are you feverish? Does your thermometer register an above normal body temperature? Then it is a case of a common cold. Allergies do not trigger a fever.

  Have your sore throat and other symptoms started abating in six or seven days? Then it is possibly common cold. The duration of allergies lasts much longer. Or they come and go   depends on the presence of allergens in the air. Treatment for the two kinds of sore throat Common cough and cold have no cure. Your doctor will suggest paracetamol to help manage the symptoms of the common cold and this will bring relief from a sore throat as well. Allergies can be treated with antihistamines. Talk to your doctor who will recommend the necessary medicines.

A sore throat can be a very painful and annoying problem. It could be triggered by both allergies and the common cold. However, there are medicines that can help with both.

How To Tell If A Sore Throat Is From An Allergy Or A Cold?

Strep throat is a common bacterial infection mostly seen among young adults and children, caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, a group A bacteria, that leads to pain and inflammation in the throat. While some people may have mild symptoms, others may encounter more serious symptoms such as high fever and chills, sore throat, swollen glands, loss of appetite, and difficulty in swallowing food.

If you don t treat the condition soon enough, strep throat can be really painful and troublesome. Although the ideal treatment option for this condition is antibiotic medications, research studies show that they are only effective in reducing the span of the infection by about half a day. Moreover, antibiotics have adverse side effects on your health, so it is always advisable to steer away from those heavy doses. The best way to keep yourself healthy and free from a strep throat is to prevent it from the very beginning. Here are a few steps you can follow to prevent yourself from getting a strep throat-

Avoid contact- Coughing and sneezing which are the usual symptoms of a strep throat, can be contagious. The infection usually spreads from person to person so make sure you do not come in contact with the person suffering from a strep throat for at least a week or two. Also, keep your mouth covered if you ever come in contact with a sick person.
Maintain good hygiene- Good hygiene is the key to a healthy body. In order to keep the infection at bay make sure you use an anti-bacterial soap or hand wash to clean your hands before and after you have your meal. If you re traveling around then always carry a hand sanitizer.
Change your diet- Include lots of fluid to your diet. Drinking lots of water and fluids will not only keep you hydrated, but will also moisten and lubricate your throat therefore reducing your chances of being affected by a strep throat. Include vitamin supplements or food that are rich in vitamins and avoid spicy or citrus food as they are likely to cause an irritable strep throat.
Avoid smoking- Smoking causes irritation to the throat tissues, which in turn increases the chance of getting a strep throat. So stop smoking, and avoid coming in contact with smokers as well.
Although strep throat may not sound like a chronic illness, it can lead to serious complications if not prevented at the outset. Since there are no proven vaccines to prevent the infection, adopting these aforementioned steps can help you stay away from a strep throat.

Follow These Steps To Prevent Yourself From Getting A Strep Throat!

What is Sore Throat?
A sore or dry throat is an unhealthy and painful scratchy feeling inside the throat which is coupled with pain while swallowing and can cause really bad irritation. A sore throat usually resolves on its own because it is a mild health problem.

Causes of Sore Throat-
A sore throat is caused by many important risk factors. Let us have a look at some of them:

Viral infection: It is the most common cause of a sore throat and several viruses are present which can result in a sore throat of many intensities.
Toxins like cigarettes, smoke or pollution can also lead to an acute sore throat because of the unhealthy chemicals present in these things.
A bad injury or infection in the throat can lead to a chronic sore throat. Sometimes when people should loudly for long periods also result in a sore throat because the tissues burn away of tear apart.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease also causes a sore throat when the acid from the stomach retreats back to the esophageal tract.
The development of cancer cells or tumor results in a sore throat and blocks the entire throat tract.
Treating a Sore Throat:
Sore throats are easily curable and sometimes they tend to go away on their own. Let us have a close look at the remedies:

Gargling with warm salt-water will hell you to get rid of sore throat because saltwater helps to wash away the viruses and germs.
Honey mixed in tea is an excellent detoxifier and helps your body and throat to get rid of the unnecessary foreign objects stuck in the tract.
Consuming fenugreek also helps in killing the bacterias which are causing the sore throat.
Chamomile tea is a proven relief during throat sores. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant abilities that help the throat to get relief and heal overtime.
Drink warm water or liquids which will constantly keep the throat wet and warm leading to the decline of the bacterias present.
Antibiotics can also be taken for 5-6 days if you think no other remedy is working in the right way. However, try not to give antibiotics to children of young age and stick to home remedies. 

Sore Throat - What Causes It?

A sore throat is usually caused by a bacterial infection and it usually indicates an onset of cold. It may also indicate strained vocal chords or a strep throat. Eating proper foods can help in easing the symptoms and fight inflammation; thus providing the requisite energy to the body.

The 9 foods which help in treating a sore throat are:

1. Bananas: These foods are packed with vitamin C that allows you to recover quickly from an illness. They are also relatively soft and easier to swallow which make them a preferred food if you have a sore throat.

2. Cooked carrots: Carrots contain good amounts of vitamin A; eating them roasted or sauteed is a good way to consume the required nutrients. This vegetable also contains carotenoids in good amounts which are beneficial for the body.

3. Tea: Tea is usually preferred by people when they have a sore throat. Tea has anti-inflammatory properties, which help in fighting infections in the body. Tea also helps in fighting stress and contributes to increased focus.

4. Cooked cabbage: Cabbage contains antioxidants along with Sulfur, vitamin K and vitamin C, which helps in fighting infection in the body. It can also relieve symptoms of headache.

5. Sage: Sage is a herb that has powerful infection fighting properties. Mixing crushed sage with warm water or sprinkling it in your soup can help alleviate symptoms of cold and sore throat.

6. Honey: Honey is an effective treatment for sore throat because of its strong anti-inflammatory properties. It is recommended to take honey during a sore throat.

7. Licorice: Licorice is another remedy that can be used to treat sore throat. It has certain properties, which cause a reduction in pain and help in clearing the airways.

8. Yoghurt: Yoghurt is soft, which makes it easier to gulp down in case of a sore throat. You may even add some fresh fruits to the mix for taste.

9. Garlic: Garlic has strong antibacterial properties, which help in easing symptoms of sore throat. You may directly chew garlic or add them to your food to gain the maximum benefits.

9 Foods To Help A Sore Throat

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