Hoarse and Hungover: Sore Throat After Drinking
If you’re experiencing a sore throat, you may need a head and neck doctor in Los Angeles. While there are biological reasons for sore throats, environmental reasons should not be ruled out. A head and neck doctor in Los Angeles can suggest lifestyle changes that may alleviate your symptoms.
What Causes A Sore Throat?
Sore throats can happen for many reasons. The commonly associated issues associated with sore throat include the common cold, strep throat, and other bacterial or viral infections. While these medical issues are usually treated with antibiotics or a healthy diet, environmental issues can cause a sore throat as well.
Drinking alcohol has the potential to dry out the mouth. While many people know that alcohol can dehydrate the body, the mouth and throat are also susceptible to dryness. Alcohol plays a major role when causing a hoarse or scratchy throat after a night of drinking.
Is Alcohol To Blame?
A hangover from drinking too much is often called alcohol-induced dehydration. Since alcohol is a natural diuretic, this can increase the frequency of urination, which in turn dehydrates the body. When an individual is dehydrated, they may experience symptoms such as a headache or dry mouth.
In addition to dehydration, alcohol can actually weaken the immune system. This can leave an individual vulnerable to bacterial and viral infection. It’s recommended that those who may feel an illness coming on should avoid alcohol until they are feeling healthy.
Loud and crowded bars or concerts force many people to yell. When alcohol is added to the equation, the volume of voices may already be louder than normal. Yelling over people for an extended period of time can wear out the throat, causing a raspy, coarse, voice in the morning.
A sore throat doctor Los Angeles can decipher what the issue is. By visiting a chronic sore throat specialist Los Angeles, a patient can be correctly diagnosed with whichever health issue is causing the problem. By understanding the underlying condition, a throat infection specialist Los Angeles can help treat patients effectively by giving them lifestyle advice and prescribing them medication.
How To Treat A Sore Throat From Drinking
If a sore throat is caused by infection, antibiotics are often prescribed. But when a sore throat is caused by drinking alcohol, the treatment is different.
One effective holistic treatment is to use a saltwater rinse. Mix together warm water with table salt and gargle it in the back of your throat for 30-second intervals. People have been using this method to treat sore throats for years.
Rest can do wonders for your body. Taking it easy for a few days without drinking, while also avoiding excessive talking, can help your throat heal.
Another method that people use when they want to relieve a sore throat is to drink warm tea with honey. Ginger tea and green tea have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce irritation.
A throat infection specialist Los Angeles can help provide the necessary treatment to feel better. A sore throat from drinking may be relieved by over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or other pain relievers. By using anti-inflammatory medicine, the throat can heal at a faster rate.
Sore Throat Doctor Los Angeles
A chronic throat infection specialist Los Angeles has seen a variety of conditions, so diagnosing the problem should not be difficult once they have all the necessary information.
A chronic sore throat specialist Los Angeles can test the immune system, prescribe medication, or suggest specific diets. They may also recommend that you cut back on alcohol to avoid your painful sore throat. Afterall, alcohol can be very damaging to the throat, as it can lead to chronic laryngitis later in life.
Visiting Westside Head & Neck will be the first step toward recovery. One of our doctors can meet with you and create a sore throat treatment tailored specifically to your symptoms and lifestyle.