Key Points at a Glance
- They often catch us off guard without any warning and ruin our fun for a few days—sore throats.
- If it hurts when you swallow and your throat feels scratchy, you probably have a cold coming on.
- The upper respiratory tract is usually infected. More than 200 different pathogens can cause this condition.
- What can you do if your efforts to prevent a cold haven't worked and you've developed a sore throat?
Everyone knows that extremely unpleasant feeling—that moment when you realize a cold is inevitable because the first symptoms are already there. Maybe you’ve been feeling a little exhausted for a few days now and have been wondering why, but once the sore throat sets in, there’s no doubt about it. Now the only thing that helps is the answer to the question: What can you do about a sore throat?
Preventing a sore throat is a good idea, but it doesn't always work
It’s already too late to prevent it. Even if we’re always careful to avoid catching a cold, we won’t always succeed. Of course, there are factors that strengthen the immune system and thus prevent cold viruses from overcoming the body’s natural defenses.
But even getting enough sleep, plenty of exercise in the fresh air or sports, and a balanced, vitamin-rich diet—combined with limited alcohol consumption and avoiding nicotine—are no guarantee that you won’t eventually catch a cold, the first sign of which is a sore throat. Furthermore, even if you use a humidifier and ventilate the room regularly to maintain a great indoor climate—both at home and at the office—you can still catch a cold. That’s because the viruses come from other people—so it’s easy to catch them from coworkers or on public transportation on your way to work.
When Should You See a Doctor for a Sore Throat?
Prevention is therefore only partially effective. For mild sore throats, there are a few ways to relieve the symptoms; more on that below. If you’re really sick—for example, if you have a fever of 39 degrees or higher, along with a severe sore throat or severely swollen tonsils—you should see a doctor. It’s not uncommon for the throat to become so swollen that it’s difficult to breathe.
If even mild pain in your throat and pharynx does not go away after a few days, you should also see an ENT specialist, who can prescribe medication to relieve your symptoms.
What can you do about a sudden sore throat?
If the discomfort isn’t too severe, throat lozenges, sprays, and the like are often enough to help you get through the day. Of course, there’s also a whole range of home remedies available. For example, it’s advisable to drink at least two liters of fluid a day; unsweetened tea (preferably with sage!) and still water are best. Gargling usually helps, too—all you need is a little salt dissolved in warm water. If you do this twice a day, you’ll soon have the pain under control.
Keeping your neck warm from the outside can also relieve the symptoms. So even if you’re indoors, wrapping a scarf or shawl around your neck can help. And if you feel like you need to take a day or two off to really get rid of that sore throat, then you should do just that—take it easy and get plenty of sleep. That’s the only way your body can truly recover.
