Dos and Don’t’s to Fight Sore Throat this Winter

Do's and don'ts to fight sore throat this winter

Due to fluctuations in weather especially at night and early morning, most people are experiencing seasonal flu. Many complain about a sore throat. This is more commonly seen among school-going children and infants. To help you deal with a sore throat, the throat specialists at Raheja Hospital - A Fortis Associate Hospital shares a few dos and don'ts to treat a sore throat and prevent other respiratory infections.

Here are the Six Do's & Don't to Fight Sore Throat in Winter

• Avoid morning walks
• Do not take antibiotics
• Follow the dosage
• Ditch the Junk food
• Try home remedies
• Eat right

1. Avoid morning walks

If you start your day with morning walks, then it is better to avoid going in for a walk early in the morning. This is because of the dust and dew in the morning air, especially around 5 am, which increases the risk of cold and seasonal flu including sore throat Instead, one can go a bit late at around for a walk ie; post 6:30 or 7 am.

2. Do not take antibiotics

Most often than not, we tend to pop an antibiotic for every infection without even knowing the cause of it. However, this is not a good idea, especially if you have a sore throat as it is mostly caused by a virus. Also, there is no need for antibiotics unless the temperature is high or if a person experiences breathlessness and high-grade fever. In this regard, it is best to visit your doctor for guided treatment Do not self-medicate.

3. Follow the dosage

Make sure you follow the course of medication, as prescribed by your doctor without fail. Avoid neglecting your course once you start feeling better or the symptoms subside. It is important to complete the entire course to prevent the recurrence of the infection.

4. Ditch the Junk food

One must avoid junk food, fried food, and cold drinks as these not only lower your immunity and make you susceptible to infections but also lead to indigestion. Also, drinking cold drinks in winter can further worsen your sore throat. Stay away from oily food if you have throat pain and stick to eating hot, home-cooked food.

Read More: 10 Harmful Effects of Junk Food

5. Try home remedies

There are no such home remedies that work 1001. However, few at-home natural remedies do provide relief for some time If suffering from a sore throat, you can have Tulsi or Ginger tea, try gargling with salt water, and have sips of hot water frequently during the day to ease the pain and improve your condition.

6. Eat right

Immunity is generally low during winters due to the changing weather and humid climate, so make sure you eat a nutritious diet to boost immunity, drinking water with a tinge of honey will help fight the mucus accumulated in the lungs. One must have small frequent meals which are healthy and rich in nutrients.

Key takeaways:

• Avoid going for morning walks before 6:30 or 7 am due to dust and dew which increase the risk of cold and flu.
• Do not take antibiotics without consulting a doctor. Sore throat is usually caused by a virus, and antibiotics are not necessary unless there is a high temperature, breathlessness or high-grade fever.
• Follow the dosage of medication prescribed by the doctor without fail and complete the entire course to prevent recurrence of infection.
• Avoid junk food, fried food, and cold drinks as they lower immunity and lead to indigestion. Stick to hot, home-cooked food and avoid cold drinks in winter if you have a sore throat.
• Home remedies like Tulsi or Ginger tea, gargling with salt water, and having sips of hot water can provide relief for a sore throat.
• Eat a nutritious diet with small frequent meals to boost immunity during winter. Drinking water with honey helps fight mucus in the lungs.