What causes a sore throat?
Sep 22, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lu Cheng
Introduction
Sore throat may be caused by factors such as vocal strain, consumption of irritating foods, the common cold, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis. In daily life, it is important to protect your voice, avoid overusing your vocal cords, maintain a balanced diet, reduce intake of irritating foods, and strengthen the body's immune system to prevent sore throats. Additionally, engaging in regular physical exercise can help boost immunity.
In general, a sore throat may be caused by excessive voice use, dietary irritation, the common cold, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis. If any of the above conditions occur, it is recommended to seek medical treatment promptly. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Excessive Voice Use
Speaking for prolonged periods, shouting, or singing can lead to overuse of the vocal cords and throat muscles, resulting in vocal cord congestion, swelling, and pain. In daily life, one should stop using the voice and allow sufficient rest time for the vocal cords.
2. Dietary Irritation
Consuming spicy, fried, or strongly flavored foods, or drinking beverages that are too hot or too cold, can directly irritate the mucous membranes of the throat, potentially causing congestion, swelling, and pain. It is advisable to avoid irritating foods and instead consume light, easily digestible meals.
3. Common Cold
The common cold is typically caused by viral or bacterial invasion of the respiratory tract. It leads to congestion, swelling, and inflammation of the throat's mucous membranes, resulting in the aforementioned symptoms, possibly accompanied by nasal congestion and runny nose. Treatment should be conducted under a doctor’s guidance using medications such as antiviral oral liquid, acetaminophen tablets, or compound licorice oral solution.
4. Pharyngitis
Pharyngitis is caused by bacterial invasion of the throat. It results in congestion and swelling of the pharynx, leading to throat pain, along with possible symptoms such as dryness, a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, and increased pain during swallowing. Patients should follow medical advice and take medications such as azithromycin dispersible tablets, Pudilan anti-inflammatory oral liquid, or dexamethasone injection.
5. Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is primarily caused by bacterial or viral infections. This condition causes the tonsils to swell, become congested, and sometimes develop pus, leading to throat pain, possibly accompanied by fever and headache. Treatment should follow medical guidance and may include medications such as monkey ear-ring anti-inflammatory granules, ibuprofen sustained-release tablets, or amoxicillin capsules.
In daily life, individuals should pay attention to protecting their voices, avoid excessive voice use, maintain a balanced diet, reduce intake of irritating foods, and strengthen overall immunity to help prevent the occurrence of sore throats.
