Hot or cold fluids for sore throat

What To Do When Your Throat Hurts

We’ve all had sore throats around this time of year. Your throat feels scratchy and may hurt when you swallow. What can you do to soothe a sore throat? And when is it a sign of a more serious infection?

Most sore throats are caused by viral infections such as the common cold or the flu. These throat problems are generally minor and go away on their own.

To soothe your irritated throat, keep it moist. “Ever notice that a sore throat seems worse in the morning? It’s because your throat gets so dry overnight,” says Dr. Valerie Riddle, an infectious disease expert at NIH. “Having lozenges or hard candies—or anything that stimulates saliva production—will keep your throat moist. It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids.”

For young children who might choke on hard candies or lozenges, try cold liquids and popsicles. Throat pain might also be soothed by throat sprays and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, but don’t give aspirin to young children.

Contact a doctor if your sore throat is severe, doesn’t feel better after a few days, or is accompanied by a high fever or swollen glands. These symptoms could be signs of a bacterial infection, such as strep throat. Taking antibioticsPrescription medications used to treat bacterial infections such as strep throat. won’t help at all if your sore throat is caused by viruses, but they’re essential for fighting bacterial infections like strep.

Strep is the most common bacterial throat infection. Although it can occur in adults, strep throat is more common in children between ages 5 and 15. Riddle says strep can be harder to detect in younger children, because it can cause a runny nose and other symptoms that make it seem like a cold. “If your child has severe throat pain, a fever above 100.4 degrees, or swollen glands, you should get medical attention right away,” advises Riddle. Children with strep also may experience nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.

To see whether you have strep throat, the doctor will take a throat swab. If test results confirm strep, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. After 24 hours of taking them, you should no longer be contagious. You’ll likely begin feeling better within a couple of days, but to fully recover it’s important to finish all of the medicine.

Strep is highly contagious. Treat it quickly to prevent it from spreading to others. Riddle says, “Not only can the infection be transmitted, but there are potential complications from untreated strep throat.” These include ear infections, rheumatic fever and kidney problems.

Another fairly common throat infection is tonsillitis, which occurs when you have sore, swollen tonsilsStructures in the back of your throat that help prevent infection by trapping germs that come in through your nose and mouth.. It’s caused by many of the same viruses and bacteria that cause sore throats. If you have frequent bouts of tonsillitis or strep throat, you may need surgery (called a tonsillectomy) to have your tonsils removed. 

The best way to protect yourself from the germs that cause these infections is to wash your hands often. Try to steer clear of people who have colds or other contagious infections. And avoid smoking and inhaling second-hand smoke, which can irritate your throat.

• The best drinks for a sore throat are soothing beverages like warm water with lemon and honey. 
• You should also try ginger tea, chamomile tea, or peppermint tea as herbal remedies to soothe your sore throat. 
• To relieve your sore throat and get key nutrients to boost your immune system, you may also want to try warm soup with chicken and vegetables, or a smoothie with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. 
• This article was medically reviewed by Jason R. McKnight, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine. 

It can be difficult to get rid of a sore throat. However, drinking the right fluids may be all you need to relieve the scratchy, painful feeling. Here are some of the best drinks to soothe your sore throat: 

1. Sip warm water with lemon and honey 

Any warm beverage can help soothe a sore throat. "Hot water on its own is soothing and can help provide relief for sore throat, cough, and runny nose," says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian in the New York City area. 

Drinking warm lemon water may be especially useful when you have a sore throat due to an illness, as it can add a small extra dose of vitamin C to your diet. Vitamin C can boost your immune system and may even help you overcome colds. 

Adding honey to your lemon water may also treat a sore throat and cough. For example, a small 2017 study found that honey can help speed up the recovery of a sore throat due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. 

2. Try ginger tea 

Ginger tea may also help soothe a sore throat. In fact, a 2013 study indicated that a hot water extract of fresh ginger might help protect you from the respiratory syncytial virus — a highly infectious virus that commonly affects young children — though more robust human studies are still needed. 

"Drinking ginger tea can be beneficial if you're not feeling well," says Gorin. "There's some evidence to show that it can help soothe a sore throat and reduce congestion, but more research needs to be conducted." 

3. Drink chamomile tea 

If you're not a fan of ginger tea, you may want to opt for chamomile tea, which is made from dried Matricaria flowers. According to Amber Robins, MD, a board-certified family medicine doctor and lifestyle medicine strategist at Camillia Wellness in Maryland, chamomile tea can reduce inflammation in the throat. 

Plus, chamomile tea can promote relaxation and help you sleep, which can boost your immune system and help you better recover from illness. People who don't get an adequate amount of sleep may be more likely to get a common cold or other infections. 

"As with any warm beverage, your discomfort can be soothed as the steam helps with decongestion," says Taylor Schomaker, RDN, a registered dietitian and owner of Enlightened Nutrition LLC, a nutrition coaching practice based in Michigan. "Chamomile tea is naturally caffeine-free, and some research suggests that chamomile, itself, may help promote sleep and relaxation in the brain." 

4. Have peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is another warm beverage that people often turn to when trying to ease sore throat symptoms. This is because it contains spearmint, which has anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce swelling and soothe a sore throat. 

Plus, as with any hot beverage, Robins notes that inhaling the steam from peppermint tea can treat other symptoms like congestion. 

"Similar to steam from a vaporizer or shower, the steam from peppermint tea can help decrease nasal congestion," Robins says. "This gives you the feeling that you can breathe better." 

5. Eat warm soup

Chicken noodle soup is a classic home remedy for common illnesses, and it offers many of the same benefits as hot teas or warm lemon water. 

In fact, any kind of warm soup — especially one with healthy protein or vegetables — can be a great way to soothe your sore throat and get some key nutrients when you're feeling sick. 

"Broth-based soups are a great way to get a little nutrition into you when you don't feel like eating when you're sick," Gorin says. "I'd go with a soup that has additional ingredients, such as chicken breast, tofu, beans, or veggies." 

6. Make a smoothie 

When you're sick, you might experience a decreased appetite, says Schomaker. This can make it more difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs to fight off an illness. 

That's why a nutrient-packed smoothie makes a great option, as long as you use fruits and vegetables loaded with antioxidants — molecules that may boost our immune system. 

Some antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to add to your smoothies include: 

• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Mangoes
• Kale
• Spinach 

The bottom line 

Sore throats are common, especially during cold and flu season. Therefore, finding ways to soothe your throat at home while providing your body with the nutrients it needs to fight an infection is important. Some great drink options for sore throats include hot tea or broth, warm water with lemon and honey, or antioxidant-rich smoothies.

Related articles from Health Reference:

• How to treat strep with antibiotics and home remedies
• 5 of the best home remedies for acid reflux
• 6 home remedies to relieve headaches naturally
• 8 science-backed home remedies to soothe coughing naturally
• Why are my feet always so cold? 8 medical conditions that may cause cold feet 

Ashley Lyles is a graduate of New York University's Science, Health & Environmental Reporting Program. She was the 2017 recipient of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's Jason Kahn Fellowship in Medical Journalism. Her work has taken her to Honduras, Cambodia, France, and Ghana and has appeared in outlets like The New York Times Daily 360, PBS NewsHour, The Huffington Post, Undark, The Root, Psychology Today, TCTMD, and Tonicamong others.

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