It’s tripledemic season, with increased cases of COVID, influenza and RSV, so waking up with a sore throat can be quite alarming. Do you have one of these potentially serious viruses? Strep throat? Just a cold?
“When you first wake up with a sore throat, it’s hard to know if you have a bacterial infection or a virus without being tested directly,” says Dr. Barbara B. Bower, family physician at Wexner Medical. Center at Ohio State University. It’s also possible that something like allergies, acid reflux, or lack of humidity in your bedroom is to blame.
To help you sort it out, ask yourself the following questions.
Does it go away after I shower or drink a hot drink?
A sore throat, on its own, could signal COVID or strep, or it could mean a bad cold is about to set in. But viruses and streptococci are less likely to be the root cause if the discomfort dissipates as you move through your morning, says Dr. Mark Russo, an otolaryngologist at MedStar Health at the Lafayette Center in Washington. , DC
A sore throat in the morning, especially if it happens regularly, can be caused by irritation caused by dry air. In this case, running a humidifier in your bedroom while you sleep, as well as taking a hot shower when you get up, should help. A hot cup of tea is also a good idea, says Bower. “The heat helps soothe the throat by relaxing the muscles, promoting salivation and lubricating the throat,” she says.
Allergies are another common culprit; They can cause postnasal drip, which means extra mucus leaks out and irritates your throat while you sleep. Russo recommends seeing an allergist or trying non-sedating over-the-counter allergy medications to see if it makes a difference.
Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which you stop breathing for several seconds at a time during the night, is also a possibility, Russo says. If your partner complains that you snore loudly or if you often feel tired during the day despite a good eight hours in bed, ask your GP or sleep specialist if you should be checked for this condition.
Another option is acid reflux, which when it occurs chronically is known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Waking up with a sore throat can result from stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. You might also have a burning sensation in your chest (heartburn) or a dry cough, Bower says.
Research has shown that the transition from sleep to wakefulness is associated with an increase in GERD symptoms in some patients and that getting up as soon as possible once you are up can help. Also try to eat lighter in the evening and raise your head while sleeping. If these simple strategies don’t work, talk to your doctor about medication.
Do I have other symptoms?
If your sore throat is accompanied by a fever, runny nose, or congestion, you are almost certainly dealing with some sort of contagious disease. The flu is often accompanied by body aches and fatigue; COVID can be accompanied by coughing and fatigue, as well as loss of taste and smell. RSV mainly affects children, says Bower, but if you catch it, you might find yourself sneezing (along with a fever, sore throat and runny nose).
If it’s strep, which is bacterial rather than viral (like COVID, flu, and RSV), you’re probably won’t have congestion or a cough. Instead, you may have a fever, red or white spots in the back of your throat, and swollen lymph nodes in your neck.
Strep is the only bug mentioned above that requires antibiotics. If it’s COVID (a home test should fix it quickly) or the flu (your doctor can test you), you might be a candidate for antiviral medication. Otherwise, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take pain and fever medication as needed.
Gargling with salt water, sucking on lozenges and popsicles, drinking tea with honey, and using numbing spray can specifically help relieve your sore throat, Bower says. In the meantime, she recommends avoiding potentially irritating foods and drinks like dry toast, acidic foods like orange juice, coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods.
Should I stay home or not?
If you don’t have any other symptoms suggesting something contagious, and your sore throat improves later in the day, you’re probably (but not definitely) safe. To play it safe, “I recommend wearing a mask if you have a sore throat in case you’re contagious,” says Bower, who also advises coughing or sneezing into your elbow and washing your hands frequently.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
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