A situation in which a person has a throat is considered quite common. Most often, this reaction occurs on the spread of an infectious disease. The abnormal process originates in the back of the throat, then flows smoothly into other parts of the body. This is an unpleasant symptom, which is manifested primarily by perspiration. Then new signs appear, which include difficulty in eating, talking, etc. If you have a sore throat, do not postpone a visit to a specialist. The longer the inactivity lasts, the higher the likelihood of a serious deterioration in the general condition of the body.
The mechanism of the onset and development of a symptom
Before talking about the causes of the appearance and methods of treating the disease, you need to understand the anatomical aspect. Why is there a situation when the throat is stuffed up? In the nasopharynx there are mucous membranes, which, in turn, are composed of goblet cells. Their main function is to prevent the development of adverse flora in the respiratory system. The mucosa contains immunoglobulins that eliminate harmful microorganisms.
When the body for some reason reduces the level of resistance, tissue infection occurs, and the ENT organs are also affected. Viral reactions in the respiratory tract provoke goblet cells to action, resulting in too much sputum flowing down the throat. If assistance is not provided in a timely manner, a situation arises in which it is customary to say that it has laid a deep throat. In the back wall there is an inflammatory process that depletes the ciliary epithelium.
In order to quickly and effectively cope with an ailment, it is necessary to determine the cause of its occurrence and throw all the efforts to eliminate it. It is worth noting that self-medication will only harm, it is better to give specialists the opportunity to do their job.
Causes of an infectious nature
The factors that provoke the disease can be very different. It depends on a person’s predisposition to certain diseases. Parasitic microorganisms pass through the throat, and then penetrate the body. After that, the patient may feel signs of fever, breathing problems and pain in the neck.
Consider the most common causes of a symptom:
- Viral infections. If the patient has strong immunity, then the disease goes away without the use of therapy. In the case when the throat is stuffed up and the temperature rises, it is necessary to take antiviral drugs, but only after consultation with the doctor.
- Bacterial infections. There is also a fever in most cases. The most effective treatment is taking antibiotics. It must be said that the pathology can develop into a chronic one if it is not timely begun to eliminate it.
- Stomach problems. If the throat is stuffed up, but the temperature is not observed, a high probability of disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. Often the symptom is due to heartburn. During sleep, the acid that is in the esophagus penetrates the mouth and further affects the throat.
- Nasal congestion. When a patient can only breathe through his mouth, then his nose is stuffy. The throat in this case becomes the focus of the inflammatory process, but the situation is corrected from the moment of restoration of nasal breathing.
- Slime in the throat. Quite rarely, discomfort in the throat occurs due to drainage of mucus from the nose.
Non-infectious bases
I must say that viruses and bacteria are not always the causes of a symptom. Dysfunction of other internal organs and exogenous factors often contribute to an increase in the amount of sputum in the respiratory system.
Why did the patient have a sore throat if no infections were detected? The reasons often lie in the presence of an allergic reaction, neurological disorders, inhalation of tobacco smoke, improper structure of the nasal septum. Sometimes doctors come to doctors who have discomfort after eating certain foods or very hot foods. According to statistics, in about three percent of cases of throat congestion, a malignant or benign tumor is detected.
It is worth noting that most smokers suffer from the problem, since resins contribute to the bonding of the cilia of the epithelium. This situation interferes with the normal release of mucus. Bad habits, plus everything, reduce the reactivity of the body, as a result, the likelihood of developing acute inflammation increases.
At what point should I seek help from a doctor?
Most people believe that if a situation periodically occurs when the throat is stuffed up against a background of normal temperature, there is no reason for concern. However, this is a fallacy. As already noted, assistance not provided in a timely manner can lead to the development of serious complications.
Doctor consultation is necessary in the following situations:
- Despite the applied treatment, the pain does not stop, but, on the contrary, is more and more disturbing;
- discomfort in the throat is accompanied by rashes on the body of an incomprehensible nature;
- unpleasant sensations are pronounced, the patient becomes not only difficult to swallow, but also difficult to talk;
- sore throat does not stop, the patient is constantly tormented.
The above symptoms directly indicate the presence of diseases. Sometimes they develop into chronic pathologies, to combat which they use complex therapy. It is better to contact a trusted doctor, a high-level specialist, so that he can quickly identify the causes and offer treatment.
Diagnostics
First of all, the doctor conducts an oral interview with the patient, in medicine this is called a medical history. A kind of survey, collecting information about existing symptoms from the words of the patient. Then, depending on what he heard, the doctor begins to conduct laboratory tests. If the patient complains that his red throat is blocking and sore, specialists use instrumental methods. One of the most effective is laryngoscopy. Using a special device, the doctor examines the mucous membrane of the larynx and reveals a violation.
Comprehensive diagnostics will more accurately determine the cause and choose an effective course of treatment. Radiography and magnetic resonance therapy are often used to identify the overall picture.
Stuffy throat - what to do?
The main thing - no need to panic. In adults, this condition is quite easily treated. First you need to contact a highly qualified specialist and pass all the necessary tests. According to their results, the attending physician identifies the cause of the symptom and prescribes a course of therapy. In most cases, it contains the following steps:
- taking weak analgesics to restore the general condition;
- necessarily gargling with various medicines or herbal decoctions, this method is effective in relieving puffiness;
- Doctors recommend taking as much fluid as possible, tea with lemon is a priority;
- dry throat should not be allowed, a certain level of humidity should be maintained in order to avoid irritation in the throat;
- if the patient has bad habits, it is necessary to abandon them.
If you follow these recommendations, it is very likely that the pain will disappear, and it will become easier to breathe. If this does not happen, you should seek a second consultation with the doctor, and he will schedule additional events.
There are cases when the throat is blocked by snot. In such situations, the doctor prescribes an expectorant. Their main purpose is to remove mucus from the respiratory tract.
If the patient lays his throat and torments a cough, prescribe medications containing plant extracts. Of the most effective in this group, St. John's wort and thyme can be distinguished. Mukaltin, Gelomirtol, Thermopsol, Mukofar, etc. are excellent medications to combat this symptom. It is worth noting that taking medications without consulting a doctor is prohibited, because side effects can occur.
Throat problems in children
In the case when the child has a throat, you need to use a slightly different approach. Symptom in children usually manifests itself differently and proceeds in a different form. Painful sensations appear at the slightest, even slight damage to the mucous membrane. Children are often diagnosed with laryngitis or pharyngitis. A distinctive feature of pathologies are the characteristic lesion zones. In the first variant, the larynx is attacked by bacteria, and in the second, the throat.
In children, a situation often occurs when the throat is stuffy and perspiration. Plus, pronounced pain and tingling are added. Kids suffer pathologies more difficult, since the body has not yet fully formed.
With regard to treatment, it can be noted that the main recommendation of doctors is the use of more fluid. Water leaches toxic substances that are formed during the parasitization of microorganisms. It is necessary to adjust the diet, abandon spicy and acidic foods, drink more milk with honey or tea. The liquid must be consumed in a warm form so as not to damage the oral cavity.
In a situation in which a child has a throat, specific medications are prescribed by the attending physician. Here you do not need to experiment and buy antibiotics or other medicines on your own. The child’s body reacts differently, so you need to be especially careful when solving this sensitive issue.
Alternative treatment methods
Together with drugs, alternative methods can be used, which are also quite effective. The patient feels discomfort when his throat is stuffy. How to treat an ailment without using medication?
Consider the most common folk methods that are often used in practice:
- Tea with lemon and honey. This drink has a lot of useful properties, including antiseptic, which are aimed at eliminating infectious diseases. This method is most effective when the pathology is at the initial stage of development. It is recommended to prepare a weak tea, add a little lemon, two tablespoons of honey and leave for twenty minutes. Ready liquid to take during the day.
- Hot milk. The action of the drink extends to the removal of puffiness of the mucous membranes. As a result, breathing becomes easier and the voice is restored. To prepare this liquid, you need to boil milk, add a little butter and a spoonful of honey. Then you need to remove from heat, mix thoroughly and take in small sips.
- Infusion of herbs. For the best effect, you need to take thyme, sage, calendula and mint in the same proportions - about one teaspoon each. All ingredients should be mixed, add a liter of water and boil. The remedy is infused for an hour, after which you can use it.
Rinse and inhalation
If your throat is blocked, what should I do? You can use the safest method of treating ENT diseases for adults and children, namely inhalation with a nebulizer. To prevent the accumulation and runoff of mucus, it is recommended to use herbal remedies, they have anti-inflammatory and liquefying effects. Patients feel relief twenty minutes after using inhalation. The most effective solutions are Ambrobene, Rotokan, Malavit and Sinupret. Inhalation must be carried out strictly according to the algorithm so that there are no complications. First, bronchodilators are used, then mucolytics and antiseptics, and the session ends with anti-inflammatory drugs and immunostimulants.
As for rinses, they are effective if they are used once an hour for ten minutes. With infectious pathologies, rinsing is best. Among the most effective recipes are:
- Chamomile broth. It is very simple to prepare: take a glass of boiling water and one spoon of chamomile. Cover the container and let it brew for half an hour, then the solution should be filtered, and you can take it.
- Salt mixture. To get the liquid, you need two hundred and fifty milliliters of boiling water and one tablespoon of salt. Every forty minutes with this tool you need to gargle, and the result will not be long in coming.
- "Furacilin" and soda. The drug is sold in any pharmacy in tablet form. The patient only needs to mix the product with water, and the solution is ready. Frequent rinsing will help get rid of infectious pathologies.
Prevention
It is impossible to completely protect ourselves from the occurrence of any disease, however, to reduce the risk to a minimum is completely within the power of each of us.
Doctors recommend:
- to refuse from bad habits. Smoking makes the mucous membranes of the nose and throat weak and vulnerable, the infection easily penetrates the body;
- the right diet. You need to eat as many different foods as possible, then the risk of vitamin deficiency is minimized;
- humidification of air. The air dries heavily during the heating season. It is no secret that at this time the chance of mucosal injuries increases, which opens the way for bacteria. A wet towel or a special device for humidifying the air will improve the home microclimate;
- hand washing. Scientists have long discovered that most bacteria enter the body through dirty hands.
Adhering to the above rules, you can protect yourself as much as possible from the appearance of the pathologies in question.