It is in autumn and winter that there is an exacerbation of viral infections. The body experiences stress due to a sharp reduction in daylight, immunity is reduced, which gives "green light" to various viruses and other health problems. The most common diseases, the symptoms of which are sore throat. the first thing that comes to mind in this case is angina. But is it? In fact, there are many diseases accompanied by pain in the throat. Among them there are also the most dangerous - cancer or AIDS. How to recognize the cause of sore throat, how to help yourself to prevent dangerous complications? The main thing is not to rush to conclusions and be more attentive to yourself.
Symptoms and Causes
The disease appears suddenly. Sometimes, before we can do anything. In most cases this is sometimes caused by viruses (adenoviruses and enteroviruses), not bacteria. The dominant symptom is sore throat, which is aggravated during swallowing, sensation of something heavy, angular and hot in the throat. The state of health is usually terrible. You feel "broken," complaining of muscle aches and headaches, you often have fever. At self-examination of a throat we confirm reddening of a mucous membrane of a back wall of pharynx, a palatine arch and a uvula. Sometimes we see signs of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and in children, in whom the disease can be more serious, swollen cervical lymph nodes.
As already mentioned, the main culprits of the infection are viruses that fall on the mucous membrane of the throat, nose and bronchi. On Wednesday, in which we spend all our time - at work, at school, on the street - we are surrounded by millions of potentially dangerous viruses. If our immune system is not damaged, it protects us from their invasion, and we do not even notice that the viruses are present around us. But in a period of decreasing the body's resistance, viruses become more dangerous. This happens, for example, in case of physical fatigue, poor nutrition, chronic stress, and when our body is exposed to unfavorable weather conditions.
Sore throat - why does it hurt?
If you are not properly dressed, when you leave a warm room on the street there is intense cooling of the body. Then the body protects itself from the loss of heat by the reciprocal compression of the blood vessels. On the basis of impulses, blood vessels are contracted in the mucous throat, nose and bronchi. The mucous membrane is less supplied with blood, its cells have less ability to fight the virus. Therefore, it is the mucous throat, nose and bronchi that are easy prey for viruses and bacteria. Vessels are narrowed, muscles are cut due to hypothermia, as a result of blood is not enough, and viruses attack the unprotected area.
Frequent respiratory infections of the upper respiratory tract also occur in patients with impaired patency of the nasal canals. For example, if there is a curvature of the nasal septum or polyps of the nose. When the patency of the nasal canals is disturbed, we are forced to breathe through the mouth. Air, which when breathed through the nose is cleansed, moistened and warmed, when breathing through the mouth comes cold, dry and dirty. That is, it has various impurities that can lead to diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Most often, the throat suffers, since it has direct contact with the virus.
The period of autumn and winter cold is also a time when we avoid ventilating the premises. With the beginning of the heating season, the problem worsens, as we live in stuffy, virus-infected rooms. These are the conditions that favor the reproduction of the infection and its spread among members of your family. The first victims are, as a rule, people with low immunity, small children, the elderly.
The throat needs to be properly treated
The reasons for which we suffer from sore throat, there are many. But this does not mean that we can not avoid the unpleasant symptoms associated with infections. Treatment of a viral infection of the throat, although sometimes only symptomatic, is precisely aimed at alleviating the symptoms. It is better not to use antiviral drugs in this situation due to numerous undesirable side effects and a high price. They are reserved in the first place for emergency cases, when you need to quickly get yourself in shape. They do not treat, but only drown out the symptoms, delaying the healing process. In the throat, self-limiting illness occurs, which means that after a period of acute symptoms, a short-term improvement will occur. But this is not a cure. There is a common phrase that a cold, if left untreated, lasts seven days, and if treated - a week. There is some truth in this, but if you start to treat it wrong - the illness can last for several weeks.
How to relieve the symptoms?
When we see the first signs of infection, we should immediately give the body the opportunity to relax. It would be better to set aside a day or two to go to bed. We often neglect this rule (or simply do not have such an opportunity), and on this depends the success and speed of recovery. If we do this at the earliest stage of the disease, we can mitigate its consequences.
It is necessary to drink more. But only in no case is it cold water! And it is necessary to exclude carbonated drinks. It is best if it is tea with lemon, raspberry or honey. It is also good to drink a little infusion of chamomile, linden flowers and / or elderberry. In addition to measures that directly soothe the pain in the throat, these herbs can act warming. Drinking should not be too hot or cold.
A certain diet is necessary in case of a sore throat, at least in the acute phase of the disease. In the diet should be meals rich in vitamins - fruits, vegetables, salads. Avoid products that can irritate the mucous membrane of the throat. Recommended consumption of garlic, which has antiviral, antibacterial and disinfectant properties.
When you, in addition to sore throat, suffer from a headache, and the body temperature rises, it is a signal for taking antipyretic, anti-inflammatory drugs. Among them, the most famous is aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid. Unfortunately, this drug adversely affects the gastric mucosa, therefore it is not recommended for people with peptic ulcer. These patients are recommended paracetamol.
To calm down the pain in the throat is possible with the help of proven herbal rinse mixes, which have recently become more popular. They are natural, harmless and effective. They are not contraindicated for children, pregnant women, people with a weakened body. The therapeutic effect of tinctures of the bark of oak, chamomile, muscatine sage is simply amazing. You can also buy a ready-made camomile extract from the pharmacy. When we feel a sudden pain in the throat and we do not have these herbs at hand, we can prepare a rinse based on a saline solution. It is prepared simply - 1 teaspoon of table salt or soda is dissolved in a glass of warm water. You need to know that to achieve the effect, gargle is needed every two hours. And in the future, still need to resort to broths, infusions and extracts of medicinal plants. After all, salt is only a relief of pain, it is not a treatment as such. This must be remembered and taken into account.
Honey is a famous healer. It is used for sore throats. Just add honey in a cup of tea - and a healing drink you are provided. The only drawback of honey - it is very allergic. Therefore, you should use it carefully, especially in the case of children. On its own medical indices, honey is not inferior to patented drugs, but in some ways it exceeds them.
A characteristic feature of a viral infection is that it is replaced about 4-10 days after the onset of the first symptoms. Therefore, the use of antibiotics without the appointment of a doctor in this case is a big mistake. Viral infections are good opportunists. If you use antibiotics without a good reason - over time, the viruses become resistant to their action.
Despite the numerous calls of doctors, it often happens that we "turn around" a cold on our feet. We are not being treated, believing that this is only an easy indisposition that "will pass by itself". But sometimes it comes to bacterial superinfection. The mucous membrane is damaged by a virus more susceptible to bacterial penetration, which leads to an exacerbation. There is a fever, a chill, an outflow of pus begins from the back of the throat, which carries the infection further into the bronchi. You need to visit a doctor and be sure to drink antibiotics. Trivial at first glance infection can be complicated by ear inflammation, sore throat, pneumonia and other dangerous diseases.
How to avoid infection?
This is a common question that doctors often ask. This is a broad topic, which consists mainly of efforts to improve the stability of our body. Everything is important here - and compliance with hygiene rules, and maintaining an appropriate diet, and even refusal from alcohol and cigarettes, which have a direct irritation in the throat.
It takes a lot of rest and sleep so that the body can recover. Take care of your physical condition - daily exercise improves blood circulation and overall well-being. In addition, the body can be gradually adapted to low temperatures. At the same time, hardening helps. Then the body becomes more stable and not so violently reacts to low temperatures.
We must not forget that it is very important, warm and properly dressed. That is, clothes should not cause overheating or excessive cooling of the body. Special attention is paid to elderly people who are more prone to infections due to accompanying other diseases. Some people think that they are "too young" to wear hats. Meanwhile, 40% of the heat from the body goes through the head.
If possible, avoid stuffy, crowded rooms. And we must not forget about the need for regular ventilation of premises.
Other causes of sore throat
Doctors warn that sore throat can begin because of other systemic viral diseases, such as infectious mononucleosis, diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, chicken pox. You should also pay attention to any other characteristic symptoms of these diseases, such as rashes.
Pain in the throat is accompanied by a serious illness, like angina. This is a common name for bacterial inflammation of the tonsils. In case of illness, you need to see a doctor and take antibiotics. The complications of angina pectoris are very serious and affect the heart, kidneys and joints.
Sometimes mechanical injuries and scratches in the throat go to a chronic condition. There is no sign of infection. This is called a chronic inflammation of the throat, which usually occurs in the elderly. Sore throat can accompany other chronic diseases, such as kidney disease, heart failure. Chronic sore throat can also be a reaction to contaminated air, dust, smoking, alcohol abuse, and the use of hot and sharp foods.
A sudden sore throat can also be a symptom of a foreign body that has got into it. Usually it is a piece of bone, toothpicks, sometimes even a denture. Pain in swallowing can be accompanied by increased salivation and vomiting. In this situation, you need to see a doctor.
Although in the autumn-winter period, the sore throat, as a rule, is the result of acute viral pharyngitis, it should be borne in mind that it can also be a symptom of a serious disease. Thus, only the attending physician should tell you how to properly treat - the sore throat can not be neglected.