Having a sore throat can make everyday tasks like eating and swallowing difficult and even painful in some cases. Sore throats are difficult to diagnose, because they can be caused by a wide range of different conditions. If you’re experiencing a sore throat, it is always a good idea to seek medical care for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Learn more about sore throats including what causes them and signs that your sore throat required medical treatment in this article. If you have a sore throat, walk into AFC Urgent Care Arvada for same-day diagnosis and treatment. Available to patients in Regis, Lamar Heights, Westminster & Arvada, CO.
What Causes a Sore Throat
There are a variety of different illnesses and conditions which could lead to you develop a sore throat. Identifying the exact cause of a sore throat can sometimes be difficult. Viral infections are one of the most common reasons for a sore throat. In most cases, you will experience mild illness symptoms like congestion, a cough or a runny nose in addition to a sore throat that is caused by a virus. Bacterial infections such as strep throat can also cause a sore throat. Sore throats caused by a bacterial infection generally are more painful and localized.
Although often less severe and more short-lived, environmental conditions can cause you to develop a sore throat. In the winter, sleeping with too much heat can cause the air to dry out which can irritate your throat and cause you to wake up with a sore throat. Similarly, allergens, dust and smoke can all irritate your airway and cause a sore throat. In these cases, the symptom typically resolves within a day.
When to Seek Treatment for a Sore Throat
Sore throats can be painful. Sometimes they can resolve on their own over time. However, whether your sore throat will resolve on its own depends on what is causing it. In order to determine what is causing your sore throat you must get diagnostic testing done by a medical professional. There are a few instances which suggest that your sore throat will require medical treatment including:
- If there are white spots on your tonsils
- You experience neck pain
- You have swollen lymph nodes
- The roof of your mouth has tiny red dots
- You have trouble eating or drinking because of the pain
At-Home Sore Throat Remedies
If your sore throat is mild, or you’ve been to the doctor and are waiting for your medication to start working, there are a variety of different home remedies for soothing a sore throat. Using home remedies is not a way to cure the illness causing your sore throat, which is why it is important to seek medical care if your sore throat is causing discomfort or is long lasting.
If you are experiencing a sore throat, try these home-remedies to manage your discomfort:
- Drink tea with honey
- Stay hydrated by drinking warm liquids
- Avoid sharp or crunchy foods
- Use a humidifier in your bedroom
- Use over the counter throat sprays
Visit AFC Urgent Care Arvada for Sore Throat Diagnosis & Treatment in Arvada, CO
If you’re experiencing a sore throat, the fastest way to get relief from your symptoms is to seek medical care before your symptoms worsen. Diagnostic testing is the only accurate way to determine the cause of your sore throat, which will ultimately decide what the best course of treatment is for your symptoms. At AFC Urgent Care Arvada, we offer patients in Arvada, CO, and the surrounding communities with fast and accessible health care without long wait times.
Our clinic is state-of-the-art, complete with a full laboratory on-site which allows our board-certified medical staff to perform rapid diagnostic testing at the time of your visit. Using the results, our medical team will create a customized treatment plan to ensure that you recover quickly. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer cost-effective care. For additional information, contact the clinic directly by calling (720) 502-0466.
