Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHot vs. ColdWhat to AvoidSore Throat Causes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hot vs. Cold
What to Avoid
Sore Throat Causes
The best remedies for a sore throat usually include simple home treatments such as rest, gargling with salt water, and steam or humidity. Drinking plenty of liquids is also advised. But are hot or cold liquids (or foods) better? There are pros and cons to consider for each.
There are many causes of a sore throat, includingstrep throat(a specific bacterial infection). If you have a certain kind of infection, you may need medications from your healthcare provider to get better. But most viral illnesses that cause your throat to be sore won’t require prescription medications.
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Hot vs. Cold Sore Throat Treatments
Some of the most common recommendations for asore throatare to drink plenty of fluids and increase the humidity in the air. Both of these help themucous membranesof your throat stay moist—which can reduce feelings of soreness.
Most of the time, treatments for a sore throat focus on managing the symptoms and relieving the pain. Over-the-counter medications may help if your healthcare provider has approved them for you.
Warm or cool drinks may also soothe a sore throat. If your sore throat makes it hard to swallow, you may consider trying either hot or cold as a way to soothe the soreness and reduce your symptoms. Consider the pros and cons of hot and cold sore throat treatments.
Using Cold Remedies for a Sore Throat
Any cool or cold food or beverage can help relieve a sore throat. Many people find cool foods and drinks to be soothing and pleasurable. You can try experimenting with different flavors and temperatures to determine the most helpful. You may want to try:
Cool mist humidifiersare another option for applying cool, moist air to the throat.
For some people, cold beverages are perceived as pleasurable.It is easy to apply cold internally—you can add ice to a favorite beverage or freeze juice into an ice pop.
Also, you may notice that your sore throat is worse when you first wake up in the morning. This is because your mouth and throat tend to dry out as you sleep. Some people find that a vaporizer or a cool-mist humidifier helps reduce how dry and sore your throat becomes overnight.
Cold: Cons:There are no reliable published research papers about the dangers of using cold to treat a sore throat. However, there are some reasons to be cautious or avoid choosing cold.
Cold tends to decrease blood flow to areas where ice or cold has been applied. Keeping body tissues cold for a long period of time can slow healing and increase the time needed for recovery.Overall, this problem would not normally be expected with cold drinks, but more research is needed to determine how cold drinks affect sore throats.
Using Heat Remedies for a Sore Throat
While some people advocate for certain kinds of tea like elderberry, ginseng, or green tea, there is currently no reliable scientific evidence to show these are helpful.Talk to a healthcare provider about options that might work for you.
Most of the time, a gentle warmth is an optimal temperature for heat therapy. Like cold treatments, heat is easy to use.
There is limited evidence regarding hot treatments for sore throat, but a small 2008 study compared a hot beverage to a room-temperature beverage for treating cold symptoms, including a sore throat. The hot drink helped relieve sore throat symptoms, whereas the same drink at room temperature did not.
Some research has inferred that the heat in warm beverages may kill bacteria, easing a sore throat. However, this has not been proven. A 2017 review study showed that breathing in warm steam has no benefits or harm; however, the data reviewed was not of high quality, and further studies are needed.
Lastly, if you add honey to your warm beverage (such as tea or hot water), you may experience additional sore throat relief. Some studies suggest that honey helps to relieve symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, such as cough or sore throat. Honey may even slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Heat: Cons:As with cold drinks, warm drinks have not been well studied in treating sore throats.
When choosing a warm treatment for your sore throat, be sure the temperature is not too hot. Avoid burning your lips, tongue, and the sensitive tissue in your throat. Scald injuries (being burned with hot liquid) have been documented during attempts to breathe in steam.
CautionIf you have open sores in your mouth or throat, be sure to check with your healthcare team prior to using any hot or cold treatments for a sore throat.Mouth sores, or mucositis, can be a common side effect of cancer treatments and may require special care.
Caution
If you have open sores in your mouth or throat, be sure to check with your healthcare team prior to using any hot or cold treatments for a sore throat.Mouth sores, or mucositis, can be a common side effect of cancer treatments and may require special care.
Things to Avoid With a Sore Throat
Antibiotics for Sore ThroatUnless your healthcare provider has diagnosed you with a bacterial infection, antibiotics are not recommended and may even have some harmful side effects.
Antibiotics for Sore Throat
Unless your healthcare provider has diagnosed you with a bacterial infection, antibiotics are not recommended and may even have some harmful side effects.
Generally, fluids and humidity help moisturize a sore throat and soothe the dry, painful feeling.Avoid beverages with caffeine, like certain teas and coffee. Also, avoid drinking alcohol while you have a sore throat. Both of these substances can cause your body to become dehydrated.
You may also want to avoid acidic beverages like citrus juice or tomato juice. These can be harsh and hurt or sting an already irritated throat.
Avoid things that make your sore throat worse. For example, rough or scratchy foods may further irritate an already sore throat. Air that is dry or polluted may also make your sore throat worse and should be avoided. Avoid smoking or quit smoking altogether.
Common Causes
A sore throat can make it hard to talk, swallow, drink, or eat. Sore throats are a common reason for people to see their primary care provider. They make up about 10% of primary care visits.
In the United States, the common cold, a frequent cause of sore throats, is believed to account for 110 million healthcare provider visits every year.
A sore throat is often a symptom of an infection. When abacteriumorvirusenters your body, yourimmune systemfights against the germs causing your throat to become inflamed, swollen, or irritated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),common causes of a sore throatinclude:
Summary
However, sometimes a sore throat is a sign of something more serious and may need medications or treatment to prevent additional medical problems. Be sure to see a healthcare provider right away if you have concerns or your symptoms get worse.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Allan R, Malone J, Alexander J, et al.Cold for centuries: a brief history of cryotherapies to improve health, injury and post-exercise recovery.Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022;122(5):1153-1162. doi:10.1007/s00421-022-04915-5Eccles R, Du-Plessis L, Dommels Y, Wilkinson JE.Cold pleasure. Why we like ice drinks, ice-lollies and ice cream.Appetite. 2013;71:357-360. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2013.09.011Wang ZR, Ni GX.Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?WJCC. 2021;9(17):4116-4122. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i17.4116National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Flu and colds: In depth.Sanu A, Eccles R.The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu.Rhinology. 2008;46(4):271-275.Singh M, Singh M, Jaiswal N, Chauhan A.Heated, humidified air for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;8(8):CD001728. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001728.pub6Abuelgasim H, Albury C, Lee J.Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ EBM. 2021;26(2):57-64. doi:10.1136/bmjebm-2020-111336Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: more harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns. 2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010Kenealy T.Acute infective sore throat.Am Fam Physician.2015;91(10):689-690.National Institutes of Health.Soothing a sore throat.American Lung Association.Facts about the common cold.Kenealy T.Sore throat.BMJ Clin Evid. 2011;2011:1509.Turner RB.The common cold. In:Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Elsevier; 2015:748-752.e2. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4557-4801-3.00058-8Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Allan R, Malone J, Alexander J, et al.Cold for centuries: a brief history of cryotherapies to improve health, injury and post-exercise recovery.Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022;122(5):1153-1162. doi:10.1007/s00421-022-04915-5Eccles R, Du-Plessis L, Dommels Y, Wilkinson JE.Cold pleasure. Why we like ice drinks, ice-lollies and ice cream.Appetite. 2013;71:357-360. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2013.09.011Wang ZR, Ni GX.Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?WJCC. 2021;9(17):4116-4122. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i17.4116National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Flu and colds: In depth.Sanu A, Eccles R.The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu.Rhinology. 2008;46(4):271-275.Singh M, Singh M, Jaiswal N, Chauhan A.Heated, humidified air for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;8(8):CD001728. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001728.pub6Abuelgasim H, Albury C, Lee J.Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ EBM. 2021;26(2):57-64. doi:10.1136/bmjebm-2020-111336Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: more harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns. 2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010Kenealy T.Acute infective sore throat.Am Fam Physician.2015;91(10):689-690.National Institutes of Health.Soothing a sore throat.American Lung Association.Facts about the common cold.Kenealy T.Sore throat.BMJ Clin Evid. 2011;2011:1509.Turner RB.The common cold. In:Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Elsevier; 2015:748-752.e2. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4557-4801-3.00058-8Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Allan R, Malone J, Alexander J, et al.Cold for centuries: a brief history of cryotherapies to improve health, injury and post-exercise recovery.Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022;122(5):1153-1162. doi:10.1007/s00421-022-04915-5Eccles R, Du-Plessis L, Dommels Y, Wilkinson JE.Cold pleasure. Why we like ice drinks, ice-lollies and ice cream.Appetite. 2013;71:357-360. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2013.09.011Wang ZR, Ni GX.Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?WJCC. 2021;9(17):4116-4122. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i17.4116National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Flu and colds: In depth.Sanu A, Eccles R.The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu.Rhinology. 2008;46(4):271-275.Singh M, Singh M, Jaiswal N, Chauhan A.Heated, humidified air for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;8(8):CD001728. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001728.pub6Abuelgasim H, Albury C, Lee J.Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ EBM. 2021;26(2):57-64. doi:10.1136/bmjebm-2020-111336Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: more harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns. 2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010Kenealy T.Acute infective sore throat.Am Fam Physician.2015;91(10):689-690.National Institutes of Health.Soothing a sore throat.American Lung Association.Facts about the common cold.Kenealy T.Sore throat.BMJ Clin Evid. 2011;2011:1509.Turner RB.The common cold. In:Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Elsevier; 2015:748-752.e2. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4557-4801-3.00058-8Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
Allan R, Malone J, Alexander J, et al.Cold for centuries: a brief history of cryotherapies to improve health, injury and post-exercise recovery.Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022;122(5):1153-1162. doi:10.1007/s00421-022-04915-5
Eccles R, Du-Plessis L, Dommels Y, Wilkinson JE.Cold pleasure. Why we like ice drinks, ice-lollies and ice cream.Appetite. 2013;71:357-360. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2013.09.011
Wang ZR, Ni GX.Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?WJCC. 2021;9(17):4116-4122. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i17.4116
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Flu and colds: In depth.
Sanu A, Eccles R.The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu.Rhinology. 2008;46(4):271-275.
Singh M, Singh M, Jaiswal N, Chauhan A.Heated, humidified air for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;8(8):CD001728. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001728.pub6
Abuelgasim H, Albury C, Lee J.Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ EBM. 2021;26(2):57-64. doi:10.1136/bmjebm-2020-111336
Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: more harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns. 2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010
Kenealy T.Acute infective sore throat.Am Fam Physician.2015;91(10):689-690.
National Institutes of Health.Soothing a sore throat.
American Lung Association.Facts about the common cold.
Kenealy T.Sore throat.BMJ Clin Evid. 2011;2011:1509.
Turner RB.The common cold. In:Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Elsevier; 2015:748-752.e2. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4557-4801-3.00058-8
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
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