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One of the commonest causes of illness, a sore throat often clears up on its own, but knowing what's causing it is important to treat it properly. Viral, bacterial, or caused by allergic elements - these kinds of sore throats have different characteristics that need different responses.
Sore throats have several origins, including infection and environmental factors. Some common causes include:
Viral infections: Viruses cause 90% of sore throat cases. Sore throats may result due to flu or common cold as well as those from chickenpox and measles that can all cause irritation.
Bacterial Infections: Streptococcus bacteria, the most common cause of strep throat, is the most common bacterial source. Strep throat is contagious and can lead to complications if untreated.
Allergies: Pollen, pet dander, and mold can trigger throat irritation, often accompanied by postnasal drip, sneezing, and watery eyes.
Environmental Factors: Dry air, pollution, and smoke can dry out or irritate the throat, creating a scratchy sensation.
Other Causes: GERD, vocal strain, even tumors may be responsible for chronic sore throats.
Determining your cause of sore throat requires analysis of symptoms that accompany it, how long the sore throat lasts, and how bad the sore throat is.
The viruses that cause a sore throat are usually similar to a cold in their symptoms and tend to be milder than bacterial infections.
- Red, swollen throat without white patches
- Persistent cough
- Runny nose and nasal congestion
- Fever, usually mild
Duration: Viral infections last for 7–10 days without antibiotics.
Treatment: Home remedies, such as warm fluids, saltwater gargling, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help alleviate it.
Also Read: Flu Season Grips 40 States In US, CDC Reports Alarming Numbers
Bacterial sore throats, mainly strep throat, are more severe and require prompt medical attention to prevent complications.
- Red and swollen tonsils with white patches or streaks of pus
- High fever
- Absence of a cough
- Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain (especially in children)
- Small red spots on the roof of the mouth
Diagnosis: Rapid strep tests or throat cultures confirm the presence of bacteria.
Treatment: Antibiotics are necessary to eliminate the infection. Without treatment, complications like rheumatic fever or abscesses can develop.
Throat irritation is caused by postnasal drip. Allergies create a buildup and drip of mucus down the back of the throat.
- Irritation of the throat and ears
- Runny eyes, sneezing, and nasal congestion
- These symptoms are usually relieved by antihistamines or removal from the source of the allergen
Duration: Allergic sore throats are sustained for as long as the allergens are exposed.
A sore throat should be taken to a doctor if:
- The condition lasts more than a week.
- There is shortness of breath or swallowing becomes painful.
- Swelling is too pronounced or the pain in the throat is extreme.
- High fever, rash, or joint pain occur along with the sore throat.
- A child shows signs of dehydration or refuses fluids due to throat pain.
Early diagnosis can prevent complications and speed recovery.
Viral infections and allergies often respond well to non-invasive treatments:
Let your body rest sufficiently. Humidifying dry air will help keep the throat moist, especially when winter is on its way.
Bacterial infections require antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin. Finish the treatment completely to avoid reoccurrence or resistance.
Prevention is better than cure, and simple lifestyle changes can reduce your risk:
Understanding the cause of your sore throat—whether viral, bacterial, or allergic—is key to effective treatment and recovery. While many sore throats resolve on their own, seeking timely medical advice for persistent or severe symptoms can prevent complications. Prioritize self-care, and don’t hesitate to consult a doctor when needed. Remember, your throat’s health is a vital part of your overall well-being.
Royal.uk/
William, the Prince of Wales, has yet again voiced out concerns about mental health in males, which is often a neglected topic. He also opened up about his emotional struggles and urged men to speak out to normalize the issue.
Speaking to BBC Radio 1, William said it has taken a " long time” for him to understand his “emotions”.
"Learn to love yourself and understand yourself. I take a long time trying to understand my emotions and why I feel like I do, and I feel like that's a really important process to do every now and again, to check in with yourself and work out why you're feeling like you do," said the Prince of Wales.
He emphasized the "need for more male role models" who can speak about their mental health publicly.
"We need more male role models out there, talking about it and normalizing it, so that it becomes second nature to all of us."
"It's OK to ask for support, ask a mate, reach out," said William.
It is not the first time that the Prince has spoken about mental health. Earlier, he stated that people must "relax a little bit and be able to talk about our emotions because we're not robots".
Compared to women, men are known to be less likely to seek help for mental health issues. Driven by stigma, reluctance to seek help, and societal pressures regarding masculinity, men are also more likely to die by suicide.
As per a recent study by The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, US, males die from suicide at twice the rate of females. Their attempts also result in death three times more often than female attempts.
A 2020 paper by the World Health Organization (WHO) identified self-reliance, difficulty in expressing emotions, and self-control as the key sociocultural barriers to men’s help-seeking about masculinity norms.
The National Institute of Mental Health attributed genes, a family history of depression, environmental stress, including financial problems, the loss of a loved one, work problems, a difficult relationship, a major life change, or a stressful situation as major reasons for a decline in mental health in men. Medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer are also known to raise the risk of depression in men.
Further, substance use, loneliness, and shame are also contributing factors to the elevated suicide rates among men.
While men and women develop most of the same mental disorders, their symptoms may be different. Some common symptoms among men include:
Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness
Prominent changes in mood, energy level, or appetite
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge
Misuse of alcohol, drugs, or both
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Many packaged baby foods marketed as healthy may contain hidden sugars and ultra-processed ingredients that can shape a child’s taste preferences and long-term health.
Brightly packaged baby cereals, fruit pouches, snack puffs and flavored yoghurts use “natural”, “organic” and “doctor recommended” labels to advertise their nutritional value and reassure parents.
“What shocked me was the top ingredient in 71% of these baby foods wasn’t a fruit or vegetable, it was one or more additives,” said Dunford, who is also a consultant at The George Institute for Global Health.
However, packaged baby food is instead packed with artificial additives and highly processed components such as carrageenan, xanthan and guar gum.
The majority of packaged baby foods are classified as ultraprocessed because they undergo extensive industrial manufacturing and contain ingredients rarely found in a home kitchen.
Rather than using whole, simple foods, many manufacturers rely on heavy processing steps that strip away natural nutrients.
Key Indicators of Ultra Processed Food
Refined Bases: Many ready-to-eat snacks, like puffs, use refined starches and flours as their primary ingredients instead of whole grains.
Not Real Whole Fruit: Many brands often claim whole fruit however; they only provide taste and sweetness without the beneficial fiber and nutrients of the original fruit.
Hidden Sugars and Fillers: Products like flavored cereals frequently contain maltodextrin, added sugars and flavor enhancers to improve palatability.
Industrial Additives: To ensure shelf stability and consistent texture, these foods are often loaded with stabilizers, preservatives, and emulsifiers.
Even when a product claims to have "no added sugar," it can still be packed with sweeteners. Manufacturers frequently use fruit juice concentrates, corn syrup solids and glucose-based ingredients to enhance flavor.
These concentrated sugars train a baby’s developing palate. Early exposure to intense sweetness can create a lifelong preference for sugary foods, increasing the risk of poor dietary habits in adulthood.
2. "Natural Flavors"
The term "natural flavor" is often misunderstood. While the origin of the flavor must be a natural source, the final additive is often heavily modified in a laboratory.
These substances are engineered to make processed food taste more appealing than it naturally would, which can distort a child's appreciation for the taste of whole, fresh foods.
3. Stabilizers and Gums
To ensure a product looks perfect after sitting on a shelf for months, companies add stabilizers and industrial gums.
These additives create a permanent, uniform texture that prevents the food from separating or changing consistency during storage.
Hidden sweeteners: Sweeteners like dextrose, glucose syrup, malt extract, and corn solids are just fancy names for Sugar.
Go For Shorter lists: Avoid long lists of chemical sounding names.
Nutritious food: Babies require high nourished foods high in vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and proteins rather than just calories.
Freshness: Fresh consistently provide higher levels of essential nutrients compared to any packaged or processed product.
Palate Programming: This stage establishes a child’s lifelong food habits. Processed baby foods can systematically eliminate whole food choices by training the child to prefer artificial textures and flavors.
Adulthood: Early nutrition is a key pillar of foundational health; the quality of food a baby eats now sets the biological template for their health in adulthood.
Natural Choices: Simple combinations such as mashed fruits, steamed vegetables, dal, khichdi, and curd provide essential nutrients without artificial components.
Minimal Processing: If buying packaged, choose single-ingredient products, plain vegetable purees or unsweetened cereals to avoid hidden flavors.
NOTE: A shorter ingredient list is always the safest and healthiest choice for your child.
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Endometriosis is traditionally defined by the presence of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, the endometrium growing in locations where it doesn't belong, such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic cavity.
Since this tissue is hormonally responsive, it bleeds and causes inflammation during a menstrual cycle.
While experts have long categorized this as a condition solely affecting women, rare clinical cases have shattered this assumption and revealed that the biological blueprint for endometriosis exists in the male body
as well.
They help in the formation of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and upper vagina. However, men develop the Anti Mullerian Hormone, also known as AMH which regresses the formation of these ducts.
Men can develop the ducts when exposed to estrogen. Typically, those who are undergoing prostate cancer treatment, hormone replacement therapy or suffering from obesity take estrogen.
Consistent exposure to estrogen can actually transform those inactive cells or remnants of Mullerian Ducts into endometriosis tissues and pave the way for the development of the disease.
While the disease is almost diagnosed in women, documented cases in men confirm that they hold the biological potential to develop endometriosis.
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