Definition – What is meant by sore throat and difficulty swallowing?
Sore throats affect every German several times a year on average, often accompanied by difficulty swallowing: Swallowing is made more difficult by an unpleasant scratching or even real pain. While a mild course can heal within a few days without greatly impairing the quality of life, a more severe infection can cause tangible difficulties in swallowing. This can even lead to the affected persons being able to eat or drink less or nothing at all. How long such sore throats with swallowing difficulties last and how they are treated correctly depends very much on the cause.
Causes of sore throat and difficulty swallowing
When a sore throat occurs, it is usually actually a throat pain. The throat extends from the height of the nose to the larynx. Thus, the symptoms can vary in their localization or severity.
The pain is usually caused by an inflammation in the throat area. There is a whole range of causes for this inflammation, the most common being by far the inflammation caused by viruses. The “cold viruses“, for example so-called rhinoviruses, enter through the mouth or nose and then nestle in the mucous membrane.
In order for the body to be able to fight the viruses sufficiently, the throat is, among other things, better supplied with blood, so that the cells of the immune system can better reach and destroy the viruses. Unfortunately, this inflammatory reaction and the accompanying increase in blood circulation causes the affected areas to swell and become more sensitive to pain. When all the muscles of the so-called pharyngeal muscles contract one after the other during the swallowing process, the mucous membranes rub against each other and pain is felt. At this point it is recommended that you also get an overview of the cold viruses:
- What are the so-called cold viruses?
Treatment of sore throat and difficulty in swallowing
The treatment of sore throat with difficulty swallowing depends on what the trigger is. Most frequently these are viral infections, against which there are still no effective medicines – one can fall back however to natural, vegetable, active substances. These can be used as tea or as a solution for gargling.
Also to a large extent admits sucking of Sutschpastillen is – these can contain likewise vegetable antibacterial or viral active substances. Menthol or Icelandic moss are also frequently added substances in throat pastilles and can alleviate the symptoms. In the case of more severe swallowing difficulties and sore throat, special lozenges with the active ingredient lidocaine can also be used.
This active ingredient is used in regional anesthesia (so-called local anesthesia). In the lozenge, the active ingredient is slowly released and thus slightly numbs the most superficial layer of the pharyngeal mucosa. In this way, especially pain when swallowing can be specifically combated.
Medication can also be taken to combat the pain. Paracetamol or ibuprofen, for example, are suitable here. In rare cases, so-called chronic pharyngitis (permanent inflammation of the throat) is also present, which can also lead to sore throat with difficulty swallowing.
This is usually caused by environmental influences such as smoking or occupational inhalation of harmful substances. In the case of this illness, a doctor should always be consulted on a permanent basis and an individual treatment plan should be provided. Sore throat and difficulty swallowing can also be a chronic illness, such as chronic pharyngitis.
For this reason, dealing with this topic also plays an important role: Chronic pharyngitis – You should keep this in mind Duration of pharyngitis Rarely, there is also the so-called chronic pharyngitis (permanent pharyngitis), which can also lead to sore throat with difficulty swallowing. This is usually caused by environmental influences such as smoking or occupational inhalation of harmful substances. In the case of this illness, a doctor should always be consulted on a permanent basis and an individual treatment plan should be provided.
Sore throat and difficulty swallowing can also be a chronic illness, such as chronic pharyngitis.For this reason, dealing with this topic also plays an important role:
- Chronic pharyngitis – What you should consider
- Duration of pharyngitis
In the case of bacterial infections, the bacteria can usually be quickly and specifically combated with an antibiotic. In the case of viral infections, however, there are still no drugs that can kill the pathogens – all the more important are home remedies that can alleviate the symptoms and possibly even shorten the duration of the illness. Probably the most effective “home remedy” is drinking warm tea.
This not only promotes fluid intake, which is otherwise reduced in sore throats with difficulty swallowing, but also allows substances with antiviral or antibacterial effects to be prepared as tea. No fancy plants are needed for this: ginger, lemon balm or garlic, for example, contain strong antiviral substances. As a positive side effect, drinking warm drinks also temporarily relieves swallowing difficulties.
Another way to promote germicidal substances into the inflamed throat is gargling. Here, the substances can also be applied in larger concentrations. In addition, slightly salty water or tinctures such as camomile or myrrh tincture can also be used.
Another household remedy that is often used is warm or cold compresses. These are applied to the neck from the outside. Whether warm or cold compresses are more soothing must be determined by the patient himself.
However, the temperature extremes should be avoided with both warm and cold compresses – too warm compresses quickly lead to burns, too cold compresses can also hypothermia the neck. The above-mentioned measures against sore throat and swallowing difficulties with the help of home remedies can be read in detail with the most important information also on the following main texts:
- Home remedy for sore throat
- Gargling with sore throat
If antibiotics are not necessary, homeopathic remedies can also be used to accelerate the healing process. If the disease starts suddenly, aconitum (wolfsbane) is recommended.
If the pain is felt to be very sharp or stabbing, preparations with Hepar sulfuris (sulfur liver) are often prescribed. For pain that occurs primarily on the right side but can also radiate to the left side, lycopodium (bear’s flap) should be used.
- Homeopathic medicines
- Homeopathy for sore throats
