How to Overcome and Prevent Throat Pain during Pregnancy

The immune system will generally experience a decrease during pregnancy to support the development of the baby in the womb. However, it can make you vulnerable to various diseases, including experiencing a sore throat during pregnancy. The causes of sore throats during pregnancy are fairly diverse. It is important to know the causes, ways to deal with and prevent sore throats to avoid and overcome the discomfort caused.

Causes of Sore Throat Pregnant pain

Sore throat can be caused by several different things, namely:

• Infection

Bacterial, viral or fungal infections in the throat are the main causes of sore throat during pregnancy. Generally this infection causes strep throat which triggers a sore throat.

• Increased gastric acid

High levels of the hormone progesterone during pregnancy can trigger an increase in stomach acid. Rising stomach acid can trigger a sore throat in pregnant women.

• Gag

Vomiting during pregnancy can be influenced by increased levels of hormones that trigger morning sickness, and in more severe conditions excessive vomiting can occur during pregnancy known as hyperemesis gravidarum. Vomiting can cause a sore throat, causing sore throat.

In addition, often loud voices, screams, and sore throat due to food (such as fish bones), can also cause a sore throat during pregnancy. Asthma attacks in pregnant women may also trigger a sore throat.

Symptoms of a Sore Throat

Symptoms of a sore throat are various, including the following:

• Discomfort in the throat in the form of pain or itching
• The neck hurts when pressed or held
• Colds, coughing and sneezing
• Headache
• Aches
• Loss of appetite
• Bad breath
• Fever

Pain in sore throat sufferers can increase when swallowing or talking. The throat or tonsils appear reddish. Occasionally, pus appears around the tonsils. This condition is more commonly found in strep throat due to bacteria.

How to deal with a sore throat when pregnant

To deal with a sore throat during pregnancy, you can do simple treatments at home:

• Gargling salt water

You can use salt water as a mouthwash to treat a sore throat. Gargling with salt water can relieve the itching of the throat, but can also kill bacteria, reduce swelling while thinning phlegm in the throat. To make it, simply mix half a teaspoon of salt with a glass of warm water. Gargle regularly every three hours or more.

• Drink lemon water with honey

Using honey as a sore throat medicine during pregnancy can be an option. It's easy enough, add enough lemon and honey to the warm tea you consume. A study states that honey is an effective ingredient in healing wounds, so that it can help speed the healing of sore throats.

• Eat warm soup

Hot soup can be a natural remedy for sore throats. Because, the liquid contained in warm soup can reduce irritation in the throat.

• Drink plenty of water

Ensuring a well hydrated body is one way to deal with a sore throat. Consumption of water to thin the phlegm and relieve the throat.

If this method has been done and sore throat has lasted more than three days, accompanied by fever, difficulty swallowing and breathing, consult a doctor immediately. The doctor will recommend a sore throat medication that is safe for pregnant women to consume.

How to Prevent a Sore Throat During Pregnancy

Prevention is better than cure. For this reason, so that sore throat during pregnancy is not experienced, you can do prevention by:

• Get enough rest and avoid stress

Not only can trigger a sore throat, stress during pregnancy will also affect the growth and development of the fetus in the womb and after birth, and can cause premature babies born.

• Eat healthy foods, especially fruits and vegetables.

It aims to improve the immune system so that the body is able to fight infections properly.

• Consumption of vitamins for pregnancy

It is recommended to take prenatal vitamins especially in the first trimester. Consult your doctor about prenatal vitamins consumed.

• Familiarize hand washing

Familiarize yourself to wash your hands, both before eating, after from the toilet or after sneezing and coughing.

• Avoid direct contact with sufferers of sore throat

This includes sharing cutlery and glasses with others who suffer from sore throats.

Sore throat during pregnancy, including common. But it's good for pregnant women to maintain good health, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Because, in the first three months of pregnancy, the development of the fetus and baby's organs begin to form so it is necessary to maintain the best possible health. If complaints continue and are increasingly disturbing, do not hesitate to consult with an obstetrician, to get the best treatment.