Surprisingly, the number of colds traditionally increases in the summer. In the heat, and even more so on vacation, it’s a shame to get sick. How to recover faster?
The chief researcher of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "National Center for Otorhinolaryngology of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia", Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Galina Tarasova, tells the story
Lidia Yudina, AiF: Galina Dmitrievna, what do people most often come to ENT doctors with in the summer?
Galina Tarasova : Patients are mainly admitted with sore throats, sinusitis, exacerbations of tonsillitis, acute tonsillitis, pharyngitis. These diseases are caused by drafts, air conditioners, drinking cold drinks, etc.
— It is believed that summer sores are more sticky...
- This is only partly true. Summer colds are caused mainly by atypical bacteria that live inside cells. They do not respond to standard treatment (including some antibacterial therapy). A certain group of drugs is required. If a person is treated independently or the doctor does not immediately determine what infection is causing the disease, it can really drag on. If the correct treatment is prescribed, the person recovers within a standard time frame.
Normally, relief of the condition occurs on the 5th day, and recovery on the 7th–10th. If after 5 days the condition worsens, and on the 10th day the symptoms persist, you should immediately go to the doctor. This may indicate that complications have begun to develop.
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Is it possible to gargle with salt?
Gargling with a saline solution begins with the initial symptoms of colds and oropharyngeal infections.
The sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance of stopping the proliferation of pathogenic microbes and resisting the spread of the pathogen deep into the tissues. The product copes well with discomfort, redness and accumulation of purulent-necrotic plaque in the lacunae of the tonsils during inflammation of viral and bacterial etiology.
It is recommended to use salt for gargling for any inflammatory processes in the mouth, due to its therapeutic properties:
- preventing the spread of infection down the respiratory tract;
- increasing the local resistance of the epithelium to infections;
- reducing inflammation, thinning thick sputum and accelerating its discharge;
- facilitating the processes of breathing and swallowing food;
- deep cleansing of the mucous membrane and lacunae from purulent plugs, desquamated epithelium, and pathological microbial plaque.
Gargling with salt water helps with many inflammatory and infectious diseases. For pharyngitis and laryngitis, treatment allows you to moisturize the mucous membrane, which is extremely important for these diseases, because the oropharynx becomes inflamed, swollen, and diffuse redness covers it.
It is equally effective to rinse the larynx for tonsillitis of any form. This flushes out purulent plugs and accelerates tissue restoration and healing.
Causes of gum inflammation
Gum inflammation can occur for various reasons. Heredity, poor environment, bad habits, hormonal imbalance, etc. But most often, the inflammatory process in the gums occurs due to poor oral hygiene. The more plaque and soft deposits on the teeth, the higher the risk of inflammation. To prevent diseases of teeth and gums, professional hygiene is recommended, which must be done every six months (more often if necessary). The procedure removes deposits that the toothbrush did not reach, freshens breath and makes teeth noticeably whiter.
By the way, scientists conducted an interesting experiment. People who maintained good hygiene and had no dental problems stopped brushing their teeth within three weeks. The result showed that this time is quite enough for primary inflammation to appear on the gums.
Contraindications and possible side effects
It has been established that treatment with throat salt does not pose any danger; it can be used by children, elderly patients and women during pregnancy. This promotes the removal of moisture from the epithelium of the oropharynx due to the difference in osmotic pressure.
Tissue swelling decreases, pain goes away, and the level of inflammation decreases. But in the case when the throat hurts due to a bacterial disease, it will not be possible to recover without the use of antibiotics.
One sip taken by accident is not dangerous and is equal to a small amount of medicinal table mineral water. But it is better not to swallow large amounts of salt water - the body does not need additional sodium.
Overdose is especially dangerous for patients with cardiovascular diseases, kidney pathologies and those taking hormonal medications. Sodium will be absorbed into the blood, disturbing the electrolyte balance and exacerbating the listed diseases, which can lead to dehydration.
List of contraindications:
- pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
- oncological neoplasms;
- pregnancy occurring against the background of severe toxicosis;
- tuberculosis;
- high body temperature.
Possible side effects include irritation and dryness of the mucous membranes - this occurs when the proportions of salt are not observed (when too much is added), or when it is not completely dissolved. Small crystals will scratch the epithelium, aggravating discomfort and swelling.
Nasal rinse Aqualor
On pharmacy shelves we can find several products designed for rinsing the nasal cavity. Even in this variety, the drug Aqualor stands out - completely natural and extremely comfortable to use.
It is available in two forms - drops and spray. The second is especially convenient for preventive rinsing and treatment of a runny nose, since the drug is supplied under slight pressure, the liquid penetrates well into all the passages and folds of the nasal cavity. The benefits of Aqualor Baby drops with sea water for rinsing the nose of children are obvious to parents of babies. In their concentration, they are as close as possible to the human body; they do not irritate or frighten even an infant.
Saline gargle
Before making a saline solution for the throat, it is necessary to prepare high-quality water without chlorine impurities, otherwise this will worsen irritation of the epithelium.
1
Chlorinated water, in the absence of a filter, is left to settle for a day. The liquid is warm and not scalding. Children will have a lower temperature because they have a different tactile perception.
2
It is important to prepare the water-salt composition correctly in compliance with the proportions. For a glass of 200-250 ml, take half a teaspoon of salt; a concentration greater than 8-10% is not recommended. After mixing, it is better for the composition to stand for 5-10 minutes to completely dissolve the crystals.
There are other cooking options:
3
Adding soda - mix 0.5 tablespoons of salt and 0.25 tablespoons of soda in a glass of water. This composition helps with sore throat, powerfully cleanses the mucous membrane, dries it and relieves inflammation. Adult patients are allowed to add soda to the medicine; in children, it will aggravate dryness and irritation of the epithelium.
2
Adding soda and iodine - this combination has an additional antiseptic effect due to iodine. You need 2-3 drops of the ingredient, and the proportions are doubled.
If a salt solution with soda and iodine is used, it should not be ingested. Even in small quantities, if ingested, iodine is a toxic substance. The medicine should not be cold, this will reduce the therapeutic effect, but it should not burn - the ideal temperature is 37-38oC.
Gargling with sea salt
Does sea salt help against inflammatory and infectious processes in the larynx? Of course, doctors recommend using it to prepare rinsing solutions. You should purchase this product in pharmacies and make sure there are no dyes, flavors or chemical additives.
Its composition is unique - it contains magnesium, iodine, aluminum, manganese, fluorine and many other minerals, unlike ordinary table water.
These elements significantly speed up recovery from inflammation of the larynx, heal the mucous membrane, and have an antiseptic, analgesic and immunostimulating effect. It is required to dilute 0.5 teaspoon of pharmaceutical salt in the same volume of water.
It neutralizes harmful acids, restores tissue pH balance, relieves pain, eliminates dryness and burning. Excess mucus that forms in the larynx in response to inflammation also dissolves, the epithelium heals, and the dry cough that often accompanies laryngitis and pharyngitis goes away.
How much salt should you put in? In case of purulent inflammation of the oropharynx, it is worth increasing the volume from 0.5 spoon to a whole one, but in case of irritation of the mucous membrane, the concentration should be reduced to the same.
Short
You should not consider rinsing the nasal passages with a solution of Sea salt as the main method of treatment; existing contraindications should also be taken into account. However, as an auxiliary medical effect, rinsing the nose with sea salt is widely used.
Before using sea salt solutions, you should consult a specialist, as the method has some limitations. In addition, the doctor will explain how to rinse, what drugs are suitable for this purpose and what proportions of the components should be used if the solution is prepared at home.
How to gargle with salt?
Despite the effectiveness and safety of the substance for sore throat, rinsing the oropharynx is carried out in compliance with the rules and precautions, adhering to a certain algorithm:
- Be sure to prepare the solution in compliance with the proportions, especially if iodine is added to it;
- provide rest to the pharynx and ligaments for 30 minutes after completion of the procedure - do not scream, do not whisper, refrain from eating, drinking and smoking;
- in the first days of treating inflammation, carry out the procedure at intervals of 2.5-3 hours, alternating the remedy with the use of others. Suitable decoctions of medicinal anti-inflammatory herbs - chamomile, calendula, sage, mint;
- in the case of bacterial tonsillitis, combine rinsing with taking antibiotics prescribed by a doctor (in the chronic form of the disease, saline solution serves to prevent relapses of tonsillitis);
- do not prepare the solution for future use in large quantities, since the medicinal properties will be lost during long-term storage - it is better to make a new one and use it warm;
- If a gag reflex or excessive dryness of the epithelium occurs, stop therapy.
The correct rinsing technique for colds and diseases of the oropharynx is as follows: the patient takes the product into the mouth and rinses the larynx, tilting the head slightly back.
Doctors recommend holding your breath, and then making a drawn-out vocal sound as you exhale - the medicine will not enter the respiratory tract, and the lacunae of the tonsils will be better treated.
175-200 ml of solution is used at a time, the first procedures are carried out for 20-30 seconds for a total duration of 3-5 minutes. Next, you should learn to hold the medicine in your mouth for up to a minute, this will increase the effectiveness of treatment.
In childhood
Before starting treatment for your baby, you need to make sure that the child knows the rinsing technique. In addition to the fact that swallowing the product, especially with the addition of soda, is undesirable, the child may choke. It is recommended to begin such therapy when the child reaches 4-5 years of age.
The preparation proportions are the same as for adults, but the medicine should be a little cooler - 34-35 ° C. Doctors do not recommend adding iodine, since it is toxic and can cause allergies if swallowed.
If the child rinses the larynx well, the procedure is repeated 4-5 times a day. If the child resists therapy, parents must persuade him to undergo at least three procedures during the day, or use liquid for inhalation.
During pregnancy
Pregnancy is not a contraindication for rinsing if the woman does not suffer from severe toxicosis with a frequent gag reflex.
During the period of gestation, the body of the expectant mother is weakened, which provokes frequent infectious diseases of a viral and bacterial nature. Since the use of medications for pregnant women is contraindicated, in the initial stages of the disease, a saline solution is ideal.
Salt and soda are harmless to a woman and a developing fetus; they will help eliminate pain, soreness, and stop the proliferation of pathogenic microbes and the penetration of infection into the depths of the epithelium.
There is no clear opinion about iodine - some doctors say that during pregnancy there is no need to add it to the product, justifying this by its influence on the formation of the baby’s thyroid gland. Other doctors consider the use of iodine for sore throats safe. If a woman does not want to take risks, she should seek advice from a specialist.
Other methods for treating gums at home
- Oral baths with decoctions and tinctures, which include Kalanchoe, chamomile, St. John's wort, calendula and other anti-inflammatory herbs and extracts.
- Special diet - just increase the number of foods that contain a large amount of calcium (cheese cheese, cottage cheese, beans, almonds, etc.) and vitamin C (orange, kiwi, strawberries, black currants, etc.).
- To give up smoking. Cigarettes worsen the condition of teeth and gums and provoke the development of inflammation.
Home methods for treating gums bring good results, but they can never replace full-fledged dental treatment.
Frequency and duration of rinses
At the initial stage of treatment, the oropharynx is treated 5-6 times a day, and each procedure takes 3-5 minutes.
It is not worth treating the mucous membrane for longer, so as not to aggravate irritation and redness. If the pathology is not accompanied by the formation of purulent plugs in the lacunae, 3-4 times a day is enough.
For purulent tonsillitis, it is necessary to examine the oropharynx daily. If there are visible positive changes (resorption of purulent plugs, relief of redness and pathological plaque), the procedures should be continued until cure. During the recovery stage, you can replace the solution with herbal infusions.
Use for prevention
The use of liquid for preventive purposes is recommended for patients with weakened immune systems and prone to frequent infections of the oropharynx.
Procedures should be started in the off-season, when the activity of viral and bacterial pathogens in the air is high. You need to rinse the oropharynx once a day, preparing the medicine according to the usual recipe: 0.5-1 teaspoon per glass of water.
What salt is best to treat the larynx for preventive purposes? It is better to use a marine remedy from a pharmacy; it contains a higher content of natural components to increase resistance to infections.
Preventive measures help in a number of cases, for example, after severe hypothermia, a long stay next to a sick person, or traveling on public transport.
Upon returning home, you should immediately dilute the product and begin rinsing. You can also rinse your nose with it to wash away pathogenic microbes from the surface of the mucous membrane. [ads-pc-1][ads-mob-1]
More materials: How to gargle with soda? Proportions. Salt and iodine. Full description
Questions
When visiting a doctor, patients ask common questions regarding medical procedures that can be performed at home. Here are the most common of them:
Is it possible to gargle with salt when you have a sore throat?
Yes, but with the bacterial form of the disease, antibiotics are necessary, since one treatment will not be able to destroy the microbial flora. Against the background of purulent tonsillitis, rinsing is combined with the use of Furacilin, Miramistin, calendula tincture or propolis. A contraindication is a high body temperature in the range of 39-40°C.
On the subject: How to gargle with calendula tincture? How to divorce? Instructions
Miramistin spray: instructions for use for the throat.
What to do about bad breath?
Quite often people suffer from bad breath. Many people struggle with this phenomenon. But overcoming the smell can be difficult. After all, disguising it is one thing, but getting rid of it is a completely different matter. In order to get rid of bad breath, you must first discover its cause. Most often, bad breath is caused by microbes that live in the oral cavity. To defeat them, it is not necessary to immediately go to the dentist and undergo complex treatment. Try the tips below.
