by Diamond Channing

Created on: October 31, 2010   Last Updated: May 25, 2012

Does it hurts to swallow? Is your throat scratchy? Most adults will have at least three sore throats every year. When sore throat pain continues for longer than three days there is usually a hidden culprit that must be addressed in order to eliminate it. Look at the symptoms below to pinpoint the possible cause of your sore throat.

The culprit might be allergies if your throat is scratchy and raw. Up to 90% of those with allergies to dust, dander and/or mold have increased difficulty with sore throats, especially during the winter months. The throat is irritated by the acidic mucus that drips down the throats tissues due to the allergy.

To help heal a sore throat that is specifically caused by allergies, mix a half teaspoon of table salt with six ounces of warm water and gargle with this for one minute, three times per day. This allows the inflamed tissues to be soothed and stops pain triggered by the allergy within a twenty-four hour period. You can also try opening a window for fifteen minutes, three times a day to air out any dust, mold spores and airborne dander.

The culprit could also be indoor air pollution if your throat is inflamed and you are having a difficult time swallowing. Studies over the past years suggest that up to 40 percent of people who are regularly exposed to pollutants such as cigarette smoke, ammonia, and aerosols develop sore throats.

To help heal a sore throat caused by indoor pollutants, stop using aerosol products and cleaners like ammonia. Also do not permit smoking inside your home. The symptoms should improve within a week. Add spider plants, palms and Boston ferns to the inside of your home since their leaves absorb up to 75% of airborne chemicals.

If your vocal cords are strained and your throat is sore when you talk, then you likely have strained vocal cords. A good method for making this determination is if your sore throat pain only happens when you speak.

To help heal a sore throat caused by over-using your voice, suck on a couple slippery elm throat lozenger's or sip on two cups of slippery elm tea each day until symptoms improve. The best remedy is to give your voice a rest.

It could be an acid re-flux problem if your throat is tender and gets worse after meals. As many as 60 million people regularly have stomach acids that back splash onto the tissues of the esophagus and cause burning throat pain.

To help heal a sore throat caused by acid reflux, take 5,000 IU of vitamin A on

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