You have probably suffered from a scratchy throat at one point in your life. A scratchy throat can leave you feeling uncomfortable and irritated. It’s a highly uncomfortable feeling as whatever you eat or drink hurts and makes you feel physically sick.
But you don’t just have to suffer; there are plenty of things that you can do that will help make your throat feel better. So if you want to find out how to cure a scratchy throat, reduce the pain, and get some relief, read on because we will give you six different ways to try that will help you.
Here are ways to treat a scratchy throat:
1. Sip on Warm Fluids
Sipping on warm fluids can help calm a scratchy throat by soothing the inflamed tissue and warming up your body overall. Drinking a warm liquid will hydrate you and help reduce inflammation — two factors that help soothe an irritated throat. Some beverages you can sip on include: tea, warm milk, and soup.
2. Gargle on Salt Water
Gargling is a popular home remedy for a scratchy throat. A scratchy throat can result from nasal congestion, hay fever, and other respiratory allergies. Gargling on saltwater helps to break up the mucus build-up in your throat, causing the scratchy feeling.
Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of table salt to 4 to 8 ounces of warm water to make this. Dissolve the salt in the water by stirring. After a few seconds of gargling, spit it out. Gargle with salt several times a day.
3. Try Over-the-counter Pain Relievers
Pain relievers, like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, are an easy way to treat a scratchy throat. These can bring relief from both pain and inflammation. If you have a cold or flu causing your scratchy throat, taking over-the-counter pain relievers will make it easier to get the rest that’s sometimes necessary when dealing with a nasty cold.
4. Have a Little Honey
Honey has served as a natural remedy for thousands of years. It is one of the best ways to treat a scratchy throat. If you have quality, organic honey, then there are even more allergy-friendly benefits to it. Honey is rich in anti-bacterial properties and antioxidants, which are two leading causes of a scratchy throat.
5. Chew on a Lozenge
Are you worried that a swollen, scratchy, painful throat is more than just a cold? Itching, pain, and dryness can also indicate an allergic reaction to something you came into contact with. Lozenges and hard candy are good choices to treat a scratchy throat because they provide moisture while soothing the pain.
6. Rest
Rest can sometimes be the best treatment for a scratchy throat. The body heals itself faster when it gets the proper rest. So get yourself ready with lots of pillows, turn on Netflix and relax while taking in more fluids.
Lying flat, however, can sometimes cause swelling in the throat due to an increase in pressure. As an alternative, try elevating the bed or sitting upright in a chair to alleviate the pain and discomfort.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Generally, at-home treatment will improve your sore throat. However, you should see a doctor if you have a severe sore throat and a fever over 101 degrees for more than a week. You have difficulty sleeping because your tonsils and adenoids block your throat or a red rash.
If you don’t have a doctor, you can visit any Post Oak ER near you. After you arrive at our ER, our physicians will evaluate your symptoms and prescribe the treatment needed for your scratchy throat.
Each of these steps can help you relieve some of the pain and discomfort caused by an irritated, scratchy throat. These are the most common techniques to soothe a scratchy throat; however, not everyone responds to the same treatment. Try some of these remedies and see which works best for you.