We’ve all dealt with sore throats at some point. They usually start mild like having an itch at the back of your throat. However, in some cases, sore throats can continue to progressively intensify and lead to severe discomfort. Whether your sore throat progresses and worsens over time will depend on what is causing you to have a sore throat. Keep reading to learn more about common causes of a sore throat and when to seek medical care for sore throat treatment.
If you’re suffering from a sore throat, AFC Urgent Care Centennial has got you covered. Our team of dedicated medical providers are available 7 days a week to provide prompt symptom diagnosis and treatment services for patients in Centennial, CO. Simply walk into the clinic or schedule an appointment online.
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Common Causes of Sore Throats
Sore throats can vary in intensity. How severe your sore throat is will depend on what the underlying cause is. There are various factors which can lead to a sore throat, including infections and environmental factors. During the spring time, seasonal allergies are a common cause of sore throats. However, there are also a variety of illnesses which can lead to a sore throat that you should be aware of.
Common causes of a sore throat include:
- Viral infections (colds)
- Bacterial infections (strep throat)
- Allergies
- Overuse (yelling or screaming)
- Environmental irritants (smoke, dry air)
How to Determine What is Causing Your Sore Throat
In order to treat your sore throat effectively, you must first identify what is causing you to experience a sore throat. Diagnosing a sore throat on your own can be difficult because there are a wide variety of factors that can lead to a sore throat. Generally speaking, it is always a good idea to get your throat checked if you’re experiencing a sore throat. Your medical provider will be able to take a look at your throat and perform the necessary diagnostic testing to rule out any kind of infection.
If your sore throat is mild, it likely will resolve on its own over time. If it continues to worsen, you likely have an infection like strep throat, which requires a medical diagnosis and treatment. There are cases where your environment can lead to a sore throat. This is common in the winter, because over using indoor heating can lead to the air drying out which can irritate your throat. If you wake up with a sore throat often, but then it goes away during the day, you should consider sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom to ensure that the air in your home has enough moisture in it.
How To Manage a Sore Throat
There are several ways to manage your sore throat if it is mild. However, you should not delay medical care if your sore throat is severe. At home remedies will not help clear a bacterial infection, but instead, can allow your symptoms to continue to worsen over time. If you have determined that your sore throat is not caused by an infection, there are some home remedies that you can try to help manage your discomfort as your throat heals.
Try the following tips to relieve your sore throat:
- Stay hydrated
- Drink warm liquids
- Add honey into your diet
- Use over-the-counter pain medications
- Gargle salt water
- Avoid straining your voice
- Sleep with a humidifier in your bedroom
Visit AFC Urgent Care Centennial for Same-Day Sore Throat Care
Sore throats can occur due to a variety of different conditions. If you are suffering from a sore throat, it is important to seek medical care in order to rule out the presence of an infection. At AFC Urgent Care Centennial, our medical providers are board-certified and available 7 days a week to provide rapid symptom diagnosis and treatment for sore throats. We never require that you schedule an appointment in advance, simply walk into the clinic if you live in the Centennial, CO community!
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At AFC Urgent Care Centennial, we understand that your time is valuable. That is why we maintain short wait times and accept walk-in patients. Our clinic is equipped with a full laboratory on-site, allowing us to quickly and accurately diagnose the cause of your sore throat and treat it accordingly. We accept most health insurance plans, and offer affordable care. If you’re experiencing a sore throat, walk into AFC Urgent Care Centennial today!
