Contents:
- Medical Video: Intermittent Fasting, Low Carbs & Your Thyroid
- When should sore throats be checked by a doctor?
- Tips for undergoing fasting during sore throat
- 1. Breathing through the nose, not through the mouth
- 2. Wear a mask and talk less
- 3. Avoid air or dry rooms
- 4. Gargle with salt water
- 5. Open and sahur with a menu of foods that are easily swallowed
- 6. Inhale hot steam
- 7. Take a break
Medical Video: Intermittent Fasting, Low Carbs & Your Thyroid
When undergoing fasting, your immune system can decrease so you are more susceptible to being attacked by viruses and bacteria. You may also experience sore throat due to a bacterial infection. So what should be done so that fasting remains smooth even though it is sore throat? See below for a variety of healthy tips for fasting when strep throat strikes.
When should sore throats be checked by a doctor?
Basically sore throat is not a serious type of infection. This disease will heal in about a week. However, in some cases sore throat can cause complications that are quite alarming. Especially if you have a disease that attacks the immune system such as HIV / AIDS or cancer.
You should also immediately see a doctor if the inflammation does not heal even after a few weeks, high fever above 38 degrees Celsius, difficulty swallowing or breathing, stooling, or your voice is gone.
Tips for undergoing fasting during sore throat
Depending on the health conditions of each, you can still undergo fasting during sore throat. However, pay close attention to the following guidelines so that fasting remains smooth and sore throat can heal quickly.
1. Breathing through the nose, not through the mouth
As long as you fast, don't breathe through your mouth. Breathing through the mouth will make the throat more dry and painful. But if you also have a cold, you might unconsciously breathe through your mouth because of a blocked nose. So, make sure you always breathe from the nose.
2. Wear a mask and talk less
Like breathing through the mouth, a lot of talking will also make the throat feel dry. This is because when talking air and various foreign particles such as dust will enter the throat through the mouth.
So limit as much as possible speaking during sore throat. To avoid air, dust, dirt, bacteria, or foreign particles that enter the mouth and make the throat more irritated, wear masks throughout the day.
3. Avoid air or dry rooms
The room or dry weather will reduce the production of saliva and mucus in the throat. As a result, inflammation can get worse. So, avoid spaces or open spaces where the air is dry.
If possible, install air moisturizer (air humidifier) and avoid using fans. If you use an air conditioner (AC), arrange so that the temperature is not too cold and the wind does not blow too hard towards you.
4. Gargle with salt water
Salt water is proven to reduce irritation and inflammation in the throat. So, you can rinse with salt that has been dissolved in a glass of warm water at dawn, breaking fast, and before going to bed.
When gargling with salt water, do not swallow the water. Just gargle while looking up for a few seconds. Make sure the fluids touch the throat, then urinate. If the salt water tastes too strong for you, mix it with one teaspoon of honey.
5. Open and sahur with a menu of foods that are easily swallowed
So that the irritation doesn't get worse, choose a menu that is easy to swallow like chicken soup. Avoid fried foods, crackers, or thick coconut milk foods that may make the throat more painful. Make sure you also drink lots of water after breaking the fast until the time for sahur.
6. Inhale hot steam
If the throat feels very dry and uncomfortable, try breathing steam from hot water. Boil enough water and pour in a bowl. Then place the bowl under your face and breathe as usual. Let the steam inhale through your nose.
For the steam to not disappear quickly, you can cover your head and bowl with a towel or cloth. Repeat this method several times a day so the throat is more comfortable.
7. Take a break
In order to be able to stay fast during inflammation of the throat, resting can be the key. An internist Dr. Jeffrey Linder from Boston, United States says that in order for the body to work against infection, you need to get enough rest. Make sure you sleep for seven to nine hours a day. In addition, you should avoid working late or staying up late.
