When your throat is sore and you want to cough – top 10 remedies
A sore throat accompanied by a dry, hacking cough is an extremely unpleasant condition that each of us has had to deal with. In such a situation, it is difficult to fall asleep, it is painful to swallow food, and even talking becomes almost impossible. And if the painful condition is aggravated by a sore throat, swelling of the larynx, and loss of voice, the situation becomes completely critical.
When faced with such a problem, you want to get rid of it quickly, but before you run to the pharmacy for soothing lozenges and buy antibacterial agents, you should visit a doctor and find out the cause of the ailment.
Why does my throat feel sore and I have a cough?
According to doctors, in 95% of cases these symptoms are associated with colds and inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract. They are caused by diseases such as acute respiratory viral infections, pharyngitis, laryngitis and other pathologies caused by pathogenic microbes.
However, the throat can be sore for some other reasons. Often this symptom appears in smokers, cough with sore throat can be a side effect of taking some medications, and even increased strain on the voice, in telephone operators, lecturers or singers can provoke these unpleasant symptoms.
There are also a number of diseases that manifest themselves with coughing and a sore throat. For example, these symptoms may be the first signs of tuberculosis or indicate pathologies of nasal breathing (rhinitis, adenoids, curvature of the nasal septum). People with heart failure may develop the so-called “heart cough”, the distinctive feature of which is a sore throat. Sometimes a sore throat becomes a symptom of gastrointestinal diseases, in particular, reflux esophagitis. New growths in the bronchi, neurosis of the pharynx, syphilis, some endocrine disorders and even banal allergies – all these diseases can be accompanied by a cough and dry mucous membranes, which causes a sore throat.
How to deal with cough and sore throat
It is quite obvious that unpleasant symptoms in the throat need to be fought. However, to eliminate them, you first need to find out the reason for their appearance. If the “smoker’s cough” is to blame, you should give up this bad habit. When the unpleasant symptoms are caused by taking medications, you should ask your doctor to change the medications; if the sore throat and cough are an allergic reaction of the body, you need to identify the source of the allergy and protect yourself from contact with it. As for the diseases that provoke the above symptoms, they need to be fought under the supervision of a doctor. As soon as the disease recedes, the sore throat will disappear.
In this article, I would like to focus on colds, which cause a sore throat and a desire to cough. To eliminate this problem, doctors prescribe a variety of drugs.
For example, to combat an infectious agent, specialists prescribe antiviral drugs, and in the case of a severe form of the disease – antibiotics. To alleviate the condition of the throat, anti-inflammatory and painkillers can be prescribed. Cough drops also help with a sore throat. Additionally, the doctor can prescribe immunomodulators that will strengthen the immune system and promote a speedy recovery. And if the above symptoms are caused by neurosis of the pharynx, a neurologist will help cope with the problem, who will prescribe sedatives, and in difficult cases – tranquilizers and antidepressants.
Folk remedies are a great help in the fight against dry cough and sore throat. Recipes based on natural ingredients perfectly disinfect, relieve pain and inflammation, and also liquefy phlegm, helping to convert a dry, hacking cough into a wet one, which is much easier to cope with. And with the liquefaction of phlegm, the sore throat goes away.
Top 10 Remedies for Sore Throat and Coughing
1. Salt and soda
The simplest, but at the same time extremely effective means for gargling with inflammation, cough, hoarseness and sore throat is a solution of salt and soda. Salt has excellent disinfectant properties, and soda softens the mucous membrane of the throat, helping to remove phlegm and speed up recovery. The solution for gargling is very easy to prepare: dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of soda in a glass of warm water, then immediately begin the procedure. At the same time, remember that in order to achieve maximum effect, you should gargle at least 5 times a day.
2. Onion oil
Onions will help eliminate unpleasant symptoms in the throat. For this purpose, take a couple of large onions, peel them and chop them finely. Pour a glass of unrefined oil into a frying pan and heat it up well. Put the chopped vegetables in the frying pan and fry them until golden brown, then remove from the stove and strain the oil through cheesecloth. After letting the remedy cool down a little, use it to gargle your throat 4-6 times a day until the problem disappears.
3. Sage decoction
Sage is famous for its bactericidal and wound-healing properties. In addition, this medicinal plant eliminates inflammatory processes and softens the mucous membrane of the throat, easing the patient’s condition. To feel the healing power of sage, you should prepare the following decoction: pour 1 teaspoon of dry leaves of the plant with a glass of boiling water and, covering with a lid, leave for 15 minutes. After the allotted time, strain the liquid and use it to gargle. If you carry out the procedures every 2-3 hours, you can feel relief on the second day.
4. Chamomile tea
Chamomile-based remedies are among the first to come to the rescue in case of dry cough and sore throat. This is not surprising, because nature has not yet come up with a better remedy that can remove pathogenic microbes and cope with inflammation. To help the throat, pour 1 tbsp. of dry chamomile flowers with a glass of boiling water and let the remedy brew for half an hour. After the allotted time, dissolve a teaspoon of honey in the chamomile infusion and drink it in a cup at least 3 times a day. And to enhance the effect of chamomile tea, gargle your sore throat with this composition throughout the day.
5. Garlic
Before going to bed, put one peeled garlic clove in your mouth and suck on it, biting it a little so that the vegetable releases juice. How does it work? It is no secret that garlic is rich in allicin, which has antimicrobial properties and quickly destroys microbes that cause throat diseases. Moreover, when mixed with saliva, garlic juice becomes exactly the remedy that can quickly relieve inflammation and swelling in the throat. Practice shows that literally 1-2 procedures that can be performed not only before bedtime, but also in the morning, will help relieve unpleasant symptoms of upper respiratory tract diseases.
6. Apple cider vinegar
Natural apple cider vinegar will help you cope with a sore throat and other unpleasant symptoms. The acetic acid contained in this product destroys bacteria and viruses no worse than allicin, and also relieves a sore throat that interferes with swallowing food and talking. To obtain this healing composition, you need to dissolve 1 tbsp. vinegar and 1 tbsp. liquid honey in a glass of warm water. First, gargle your throat three times with the prepared solution, and drink the remaining liquid.
7. Carrots with beets
There is another useful recipe that works in several directions at once, eliminating cold symptoms and normalizing the condition of the throat. Moreover, the ingredients for its preparation can be found in any kitchen. To do this, mix beetroot juice and carrot juice in equal proportions. In 250 ml of the finished mixture, dilute 1 tbsp. honey and you can take it in a glass in the morning and evening, drinking it in slow sips.
8. Mint and lemon balm
Inhalations are a great way to relieve a sore throat and dry cough. The procedures can be carried out with medicinal compositions purchased at a pharmacy, or you can pour 1 tbsp. lemon balm and 1 tbsp. mint leaves with boiling water (1 glass). After 30 minutes, when the remedy is infused, you can fill a teapot or inhaler with it and inhale the healing vapors. Carry out the procedures 2-3 times a day, and soon you will feel the long-awaited relief.
9. Fir oil
There is another recipe for preparing an inhalation remedy. It will be especially useful for people who, in addition to a dry cough and sore throat, suffer from hoarseness. To prepare the solution, dissolve 10 drops of fir oil and a piece of Zvezdochka balm (literally the size of a match head) in a glass of boiling water. Inhale the healing vapors for 15-20 minutes through an inhaler or a regular teapot.
10. ALMOND
Almonds can be of great help in the fight against upper respiratory tract diseases. To quickly get yourself in order, soak several almonds in water overnight, and in the morning grind them to make a paste. Take this remedy 1 tbsp after each meal (at least 3 times a day).In addition, you can buy almond oil at the drugstore, which is also extremely useful for a sore throat. Add 1 teaspoon of this oil to food or simply drink 1 teaspoon three times a day.
Despite the fact that the above recipes have long proven themselves as effective means for treating upper respiratory tract pathologies, do not forget to consult a specialist before using them.
Recommendations for the treatment period
In addition, remember that for a speedy recovery, the use of medications and folk remedies alone is not enough. It is important to follow the recommendations that will help strengthen the immune system and speed up recovery. In this regard, during treatment:
completely avoid spicy and salty foods, tobacco and alcohol, as these harmful products can irritate the mucous membrane of the throat; try to talk less, so as not to irritate the throat unnecessarily; drink more warm liquids: teas, fruit drinks, herbal infusions.
If the sore throat and cough are caused by an allergy:
Buy an air ionizer to freshen and clean the air in your home; regularly do wet cleaning in your home, removing dust; get rid of dust collectors: carpets, thick curtains, soft toys; ventilate your bedroom for at least 10-15 minutes before going to bed; be sure to change your clothes after a walk outside; after returning from the street, rinse your nose and gargle with a weak solution of table salt.
When coughing and sore throat are symptoms of reflux disease, to reduce the load on the stomach:
Normalize your weight; try not to overeat; avoid spicy and fatty foods; forget about alcohol and smoking; do not lie down after eating.
All these tips will help you cope with unpleasant symptoms. Do not spare time and effort, because in addition to recovery you will get strong immunity, which will protect you from relapses. Good health to you!
