When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn't know what I was going to do. After the devastation subsided, I decided to take a very standard, western approach to my healing. Although initial efforts were successful, my cancer recurred a few months later. I endured many additional months of treatment before I started focusing on myself. I decided it was time to incorporate complimentary alternative treatments into my healing regimen, including massage therapy. I can't even begin to tell you how much it changed my life. My healing became a process, instead of something I simply had to endure. I hope that the articles on my website can inspire you to stay open-minded about your own healthcare.
Sore throats are a common complaint among the young and old alike. While you may think you become less susceptible to certain infections as you age, the three infections listed below are just as common in adults and may be the cause of your sore throat.
1. Common Cold
If it started with a nagging tickle and lasted only a few days, the likeliest cause of your sore throat is the common cold.
The common cold is caused by a viral infection, and along with the sore throat, you'll experience other cold-like symptoms, such as runny/stuffy nose, cough, and head congestion. While it's not common, a fever can also develop, though it'll likely be low-grade and may only require over-the-counter fever reducers, such as acetaminophen. If you're experiencing cold-like symptoms but the sore throat persists past the first few days, you may want to consider the next common cause of sore throats in adults, and that's strep throat.
2. Strep Throat
You may have thought this infection was just a distant memory from your childhood days, but adults are just as susceptible to strep throat as children.
How can you distinguish between the common cold and strep throat, especially when both have similar cold-like symptoms? Strep throat, unlike the common cold, is a bacterial infection. When left untreated, bacteria can spread and symptoms usually worsen. In the case of strep throat, you'll likely notice that your sore throat is persistent and maybe even worsening as the days wear on. It's not uncommon for the sore throat to be accompanied by a fever, and you may even notice white or yellow spots on the tongue or tonsils.
3. Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, and this infection can be either viral or bacterial. Fortunately for you, there are a number of unique symptoms that can help you to distinguish tonsillitis from the common cold and strep throat.
Tonsillitis leads to the swelling of your tonsils, and this can lead to changes in your voice or even loss of voice for a few days. What distinguishes tonsillitis from the common cold and strep throat is the location of the infection, but the causes can be similar (cold virus or bacteria that causes strep). Tonsillitis is more common in adults who had frequent tonsil infections as children, though it's possible for such infections to begin in adulthood.
If you're suffering from a sore throat that persists longer than two or three days, or if the pain is severe, seek a consultation with a medical professional. Visit a website like http://www.MLPrimaryCare.com for more information.
Share27 June 2016
