Itchy watery eyes in medical terms is known as Epiphora. It simply means that there is an increase in tears formation by the tear glands. There are many reasons for itchy watery eyes, but it is mostly caused by irritation in the eye.

Tears are very important for our eye. They help in cleansing of the eye and protect it from harmful infections. Tears are also responsible for maintaining the moisture content of the eye, which is essential for it to function properly. There can be times when the eye starts itching by itself or when pain in the eyes cause tears to form by themselves.

Signs and Symptoms of Itchy Watery Eyes

Itchy watery eyes can have the following symptoms associated with them:

Irritation

Itchy watery eyes is usually accompanied by irritation of the eye, which can lead to inflammation. In most cases the irritation is caused by rubbing the eye. Sometimes when the eye is injured tearing happens and there is intense pain in the eye along with itching. Tears are formed whenever any external particle enters the eye, so any allergen or irritant getting into the eye leads to watery eyes.

Redness and swollen eyelids

Due to itching the blood vessels in the eye become excessively visible, giving it a vivid, red color. The red color can also be caused by the irritation and inflammation of the veins of the eye. The eyelids also swell, get reddish and are inflamed if the eye is injured. This causes increased blood flow in order to hasten the healing process.

Blurred Vision

Due to the accumulation of tears in the eye, a person might be unable to see properly. The tears form a coating in front of the eye and hinder the light from falling on the lens. And thereby cause blurred vision.

Headaches

Headaches can either cause or lead to itchy watery eyes. If a person’s eyes are itchy, it might lead to a temporary headache. Diseases like eye flu are also responsible for headaches and watery, itchy eyes.

What Causes Itchy Watery Eyes?

Itchy watery eyes might be a problem in itself or a symptom of various underlying diseases. These include:

Cold

Cold, cough and fever are the most common reasons for itchy and watery eyes. Sneezing accompanied by a cold cause irritation in the eye. This leads to tears. Cold usually happens due to viruses that cause irritation in the nasal cavity. The irritation can spread to the eyes and throat, leading to watery eyes, sore throat and general body malaise.

Allergies

Allergies due to external particles like dust, pet dander, pollen or molds lead to nose and eye irritation. The symptoms of allergies usually start with itching and burning in the eye, followed by sneezing and a stuffy nose. Usually, the eyes get teary and clear mucus comes out of the nose. The allergies cause irritation in the inner layer of the mucosal cavity. Some allergens are also responsible for causing irritation and redness in the eye.

Eye Flu

Eye Flu also known as conjunctivitis is a case of pinkeye caused by some bacteria or viruses. It shows symptoms like redness and pain, with the eye becoming watery and extremely itchy. Conjunctivitis spreads easily and any brave soul that comes in contact with the sufferer contracts the disease. A yellow mucus accumulates around or on the corners of the eye, usually overnight while sleeping.

Injury

Eye injury or abrasion is another cause of itchy watery eyes. Eye injuries like lesions or small bruises in the eye cause irritation in the outer lining. The body responds to it by producing lots of tears. The tears have antibiotic properties that aid in the healing process of the eye injury. Sometimes after cataract surgery, during recovery the eye gets watery and itch a little till it is completely healed. This is completely normal.

Clogging of the tear duct

Ironically, clogging of the tear duct makes the eye even more watery and itchy. The tear duct is responsible for draining the tears. Its blockage leads to the swelling and irritation of the eye. The tears keep accumulating and the eyes always appear wet.

Foreign particles

Foreign particles like dirt or makeup can cause the eye to get watery and itchy. Some makeup products have harmful chemicals that irritate the eye when they come in contact. Also, sometimes dirt or sand particles get into the eye, causing it to become teary and itchy. The dirt particles might cause little bruises that lead to eye injury.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Ironically, dry eye syndrome is responsible for watery and itchy eyes. The dry eye syndrome as the name suggests is a condition in which there is a lack of enough moisturization to keep the eyes wet. As a result of this, the brain might trigger the tear glands to start producing lots of tears to lubricate the eyes. This however does not permanently solve the dry eye issue as other treatment s are required.

Use of Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are also responsible for watery and itchy eyes in many people. Sometimes, contact lenses move from their site and cause bruising in the eye. This bruising leads to extra tear production and irritation of the eye. Hence, the eye always appears watery.

Treatment

There are many ways of treating watery and itchy eyes. They are chosen according to the underlying cause of the condition. The treatments comprise:

Know the Cause

The most important step in the treatment of any condition is finding the cause of it. In many cases itchy watery eyes is not a disease, but can be the symptom of a disease. A doctor will therefore evaluate all the other symptoms the person has been experiencing in addition to itchy watery eyes and then reach a decision as to what to do.

Medication and Eye drops

Depending on the cause of itchy watery eyes, medicines are prescribed by the doctor. The prescribed medicines and the eye drops can be in the form of:

• Anti-Histamines – Histamines are released by the body as a response to allergens. Histamines are responsible for the dilation of the blood vessels and this leads to an increase in the permeability of the walls of the organs. The production of histamines leads to watery eyes and runny nose. In the case of allergies, antihistamines are prescribed by the doctor in order to reduce the production of histamines in the body.
• Mast cell Stabilizers – This is given to stop the production of histamines. Mast cells are responsible for controlling the release of histamines and other allergic reactions.
• Anti-inflammatory medicines – These are given in the form of eye drops in order to reduce swelling and inflammation in the eye. It can also reduce itchy sensations in the eye. They are usually prescribed in case of hay fever or conjunctivitis.
• Decongestants – These are mainly used in treating the swollen nasal passage to make breathing easier. In addition to this, they help in the treatment of red eyes and swollen blood vessels.

Immunotherapy

This is a novel therapy in which the body is exposed to allergens in small amounts, so that it can build up immunity to them. This is a very long-term treatment and is usually done to end allergies once and for all time. Whereas other medical treatments are done to treat the allergy symptoms immediately. Only for it to recur later on.

Natural Home Remedies

Home remedies to treat itchy and watery eyes include:

• Avoiding allergens – If you are allergic to some substance, try to stay away from it as much as possible. If you do not know what substance you are actually allergic to get a checkup done. If you have an allergy from dust or pollen do not go out during a very windy day. If you must go out wrap a cloth around your nose in order to protect yourself from it. To protect your eyes from allergies wear sunglasses that properly fit on your face and permits nothing harmful to your to eyes get in.
• Clean the eye properly – Every night before going to bed clean your eyes of any residual makeup or dust particles. Make cleaning your eyelids with fresh cold water a habit before sleeping. This not only protects you from possible allergies and infections but also helps relax the eyes.
• Do not rub – If the eye is itching, avoid rubbing it. The more you rub an itchy eye the more harmful the consequences can be. The itching might be because of the presence of some foreign particle and your rubbing can cause abrasions to the eyeballs.
• Get a good Air purifier – Invest in a good air purifier if you are allergic to dust and other harmful air particles. Air purifiers cleanse the air of harmful bacteria, viruses, dust and bring much relief.
• Rest – Itchy watery eyes can be caused by lack of sleep or stress. So, resting can bring a lot of relief from the condition.

Relief

To provide relief from itchy watery eyes there a few things you can do:

• Cold compress – Apply a cold compress to the eye two to three times a day to help them relax. The cold compress will reduce the itch and inflammation in the eye. You can also wash the eye with cool water to get the same effect.
• Cleansing – Cleansing the eye regularly even before the actual symptoms of itchy watery eyes can be very helpful in totally avoiding problems. Also, daily clean off all the makeup from the face so that it does not get inside the eyes when sleeping.
• Remove Contact lenses – Contact lenses are responsible for a lot of irritation to the eye. If you wear them make a habit of removing contact lenses before you sleep. The contact lenses should also be removed before engaging in any activity that can possibly cause its displacement. Otherwise it can injury to the eyes.

Coughing when lying down can be a source of distress and make it impossible for one to enjoy a peaceful night rest after a hectic day job. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, coughing is one of the top reasons for visiting a doctor. The need to see a doctor is even heightened when the cough is made worse by lying down.

Orthopnea as the case is referred to, is a medical condition whereby an individual experiences coughing as he/she lies down. This problem can happen to you for different reasons. We shall talk about the causes of the problem in the course of this write-up.
This post shall attempt to answer a few questions regarding the cause of coughing when lying down, the treatment, when you should be concerned, and the relief. If you have the condition or you know of someone who has, we would advise you to pay adequate attention to every part of this article and make sure you understand and follow the tips highlighted in the post.

What Causes Coughing when lying down?

Orthopnea is caused by different factors. The commonest causes of coughing when lying down include but are not limited to the following:

Gravity

One of the infectious disease specialists with Georgia Infectious Diseases, PC, and who is also a staff physician at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, Dr. Mitchell Blass, MD, makes it clear that the main reason for coughing when lying down is as a result of gravity. Lying down leads to pooling of mucus, and eventually brings about gastroesophageal reflux. This makes mucus to collect in the throat and trigger off coughing.

Congestive Heart Failure

The inability of the heart to pump and distribute blood effectively leads to a backflow of blood to the superior vena cava and the pulmonary veins. This manifests with swelling of the lower legs/ankles, weight gain, sense of fullness in the abdomen, coughing when lying down, shortness of breath when you lie or on exertion, etc. These symptoms usually come from the congestion of blood vessels and poor venous return, which are the major challenges in congestive heart failure.

Dry Air

When the surrounding air is dry, it can irritate the nose and the throat thereby leading to cough especially when you lie down.

Sinusitis

Infection of the sinus, or other chronic diseases or allergies that lead to long-term stuffiness of the nose can as well cause coughing when lying down. With clogged sinuses, the only escape route for mucus is to trickle along the back part of your throat. This can trigger cough and make you uncomfortable at night.

Asthma

A lot of people with asthma suffer from dry cough. The dry cough coupled with wheezing, can make it really difficult to observe adequate sleep at night.

Pneumonia

This is the inflammation of the lungs. Apart from the inflammation, the infecting organisms can as well irritate the walls of the lungs, leading to cough. The cough is made worse when lying down. The extent of the cough can also be determined by the severity of the condition.

Acid Reflux (GERD)

For people who are prone to GERD, eating late at night can cause a reflux of the stomach acid which may seep into the throat and lungs, leading to heartburn and cough when lying down. Acid reflux into the lungs can even cause choking in some cases.

Bronchitis

The inflammation of the bronchi of the lungs brings about irritation of the lungs with subsequent production of cough, which can sometimes be made worse with other respiratory infections. Symptoms of bronchitis include cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, mucus production (with white, green or yellowish-gray phlegm), fatigue, and chills and slight fever.

Croup

This is a viral infection that is responsible for inflammation of the larynx (voice box) as well as the trachea (windpipe). The disease is commoner among toddlers and is characterized by coughs that are milder during the day but return at night. Croup can be accompanied by Stridor (high pitched sound) when the sufferer inhales, and can sometimes come when there is cold in some children.

Pregnancy

Dry cough is common in any stage of pregnancy. But when there is cold in a pregnant woman, the virus can make the symptoms worse especially when lying down at night.

Certain Medications

Some medications that are taken for the management of high blood pressure can give rise to a dry cough which eventually makes sleeping a big challenge. Some of those drugs are the ACE inhibitors.

Smoking

One of the side effects of smoking is that it irritates the lungs and leads to production of mucus. In an attempt to get the mucus out of the lungs, the individual may cough unintentionally. This can also be problematic as the cough becomes a nuisance at night.

Treatment for Coughing when lying down

Different treatments are available for this condition. Some of the treatments include:

• Cough medicines: Some of the medicines you can use for the treatment of cough are readily available over the counter. Their modes of action include acting as an expectorant for productive cough and suppressing dry cough. They are usually not suitable for children below six years. Consult your doctor before giving them to a toddler or any infant.
• Bronchodilators: These groups of medication assist in keeping the airways open in order to improve airflow. When the airways are open, breathing becomes effortless. They are highly suitable for asthmatic patients and for people suffering from bronchitis.
• Decongestants: They are quite helpful in maintaining patent nasal passages, thereby easing passage of air through the nose to the lungs.
• Nasal Corticosteroids: They come in the form of sprays, which are highly useful in reducing nasal inflammation, and relieving itching, sneezing and runny noses.
• Antihistamines: Mainly assist in drying up nasal secretions and also lessen the cough that is triggered by allergies.
• Corticosteroids: While the nasal corticosteroids are employed in the management of nasal inflammation, corticosteroids are used for relieving inflammation associated with COPD or asthma.

When should you be concerned?

Coughing when lying down may not give you a cause for alarm. But there are conditions under which you should be concerned. These conditions include:

• Sudden onset of violent cough
• Unexplainable weight loss
• When inhalation comes with Stridor (a high pitched sound)
• Swelling in the abdomen
• Fever
• Cough in children that are below the age of three months
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sputum missed with blood or coughing up blood
• Green phlegm with bad odor or extra thickness

Relief

Apart from using over-the-counter drugs or medications prescribed by the doctor, there are several things you can do at home to help provide relief for your cough. Some of the things to do include:

Sleep on an incline

Since coughing when lying down usually comes from the mucus and post nasal drainage that you swallow during the day, which is made worse by the pull of gravity, you should attempt to overcome gravity by not lying down. Instead, you should pop yourself on several pillows to counter the force of gravity.

Another way to get relief is to raise the head of your bed on wooden blocks to make it at least 4 inches high. This will make the pull of gravity much less and allow you to have some uninterrupted night sleep.

Control humidity

Since coughing when lying is known to be provoked by dry air, it would be wise to control the humidity in your room. Get an inexpensive hygrometer for measuring the humidity of your room and aim to maintain a humidity level of between 40% and 50%. Avoid excessive moisture as this can help mould and other allergens like dust mites to flourish and cause coughing too. For humidity control, make use of sterile water in order to prevent microorganisms from taking advantage.

Use steam with caution

As coughing is provoked by dry air, one primary thing one might like to do is to take a bath, shower, or sit in a steamy bathroom before going to bed as they help in relieving dry cough. However, you must avoid steamy bath if you are asthmatic as steam can aggravate the cough in asthma.

Take herbal tea with honey

Dr. Norman H. Edelman, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the American Lung Association advises sufferers to take warm liquids as they are quite helpful in breaking up phlegm in your airways. So, taking a cup of non-caffeinated tea with honey before bed can go a long way in relieving the symptoms.

Keep bedding clean and tidy

Dust mites easily hide in your bedding. Having them in your bedding can easily trigger cough if you are allergic to dust mites. To alleviate your night cough, wash your bedding regularly and iron them, making sure you don’t use chemicals that would further irritate the airways.

Prepare your bedside

It is advisable to get everything you might need at night by your bedside before going to sleep. They include cough medicine, cup of water, or whatever you know of that can help reduce the cough. The earlier you can lay hands on them during a coughing fit the better for you.

Take honey lozenges or menthol

They are good at soothing the throat and the airways. So, before going to bed, you can take any of them that is available.

Avoid late foods

Eating late into the night can be a major challenge for those with GERD. Therefore, to keep this problem under control you must learn to eat your dinner earlier.

Conclusion

Coughing when lying down is such a medical nuisance nobody prays to have. But no matter the situation, you can always find a way out of the distress. Following our tips here can really help you out. However, if after applying our suggestions there still seems to be no relief, you need to see your doctor for further management.

Are you looking to get rid of ingrown hair on your thighs? In this post, we shall talk about what an ingrown hair looks like, its causes, treatment, removal, and how to prevent it.The problem can be a tough one to handle and you may even want to give up trying especially when your efforts seem not to yield the desired result. But should you just give up like that? No matter the level of the discomfort and the embarrassment it has brought to you, rest assured that Ingrown hair on thigh is curable if you take the right steps.

What does an ingrown hair on thigh looks like?

Picture of ingrown hair on thigh

An ingrown hair on thigh is a condition that occurs when hairs on the thigh curl or grow back into the skin after shaving or tweezing the hair. It brings about a red, little bump that is painful, which can then trigger inflammation of the surrounding area. The different methods employed in removing hairs eventually give rise to this problem. Some of these methods include shaving, waxing and plucking.

People with curly and coarse hairs are mostly prone to the condition, especially if they apply any of the hair removal methods earlier mentioned. Though commoner in teenagers who are still in their puberty stage, anybody can be affected by the condition. Ingrown hair is not only found in the pubic region, any part of the body where there are hairs that you can shave can be affected. These include the legs, face, pubic region, etc.

In women, ingrown hair is mostly found around the bikini areas and also in areas that have the tendency to fold naturally. Ingrown hair does not usually cause any troubles but they can become problematic when there is an infection of the hair. This easily brings about discoloration of the skin, scarring and damage. The severity usually depends on how serious the infection is.

Ingrown hair on thigh can become infected especially if they are not given enough time to heal before the shaving or hair removal is done. When infected, the ingrown hair can form a cyst which is deep into the skin and can progress into boils around the hair follicle or even become abscess, which can be quite painful, red and bumpy.

Causes of Ingrown hair on thighs

Ingrown hair on thigh results from multiple causes amongst which are:

• Coarse and Curly hair: The problem is commoner in people with coarse and curly hair. In such people, it is easy for hair stumps to grow back into the skin after you have shaved, waxed or removed the unwanted hairs. The condition is usually known as razor bump because they result from shaving with razor blades.
• Not exfoliating after hair removal: Your skin will have the opportunity to soak and soften if you exfoliate after shaving. Make use of wash cloth that is resistant to mold and antiseptic body wash which contains ingredients such as tea tree oil and green tea, which are known to soothe the skin. Apply a bikini balm to the bikini area as well as in your underarms to bring about relaxation and closing of the pores.
• Wearing tight clothing: The use of tight clothing can make one prone to ingrown hair on thigh. Whereby there are ingrown hairs already, wearing tight clothing like skinny jeans, polyester underwear, and nylon leggings can make them worse. The continual friction and irritation between the skin and the cloth will cause the hair follicles to be inflamed and eventually get damaged. This subsequently leads to blockade of the follicles.
• Dead skin cells: When dead skin cells clog the hair follicles, this can force the hair to grow sideways. This is commonly seen in coarse and curly hairs which have only recently been shaved.
• Poor shaving technique: It is important to lather in the direction that is assumed by the hair growth when you are shaving the hairs with a pre-shaving cream or gel. This makes softening the stubble easier and minimizes irritation of the skin and then prevents the hair from growing inwards. If you want to wax, it is advisable to employ the services of a professional.
• Chemicals that irritate the skin: Some detergents that are used in washing clothes have irritating chemical substances. If you wear the clothes washed with such detergents after recently shaving your hair, it increases the possibility of getting ingrown hair on thigh.
• Soft layer of skin around the thigh: When the skin around your thighs is soft, it is easy for the sharp edges of the cut hair to pierce them back into the skin. The hairs usually get trapped under the skin and may even be visible in fair complexioned individuals.
• Accumulated sex hormones: Some individuals produce more sex hormones which make them to grow more hairs. In such persons, it is easier to develop ingrown hairs especially when they shave.
• Comedogenic skin products: Some skin care products have allergy-triggering substances that may make your skin to be irritated and lead to itching after shaving. The irritation and itching can also bring about ingrown hair.
• Tugging at the skin with the shaving razor: Holding the razor too close to the skin during shaving can scrape the skin and lead to irritation of the skin. The irritation eventually leads to ingrown hair on thigh.

Treatment

Ingrown hair on thigh can be treated in diverse ways. Some of the treatment methods include:

Treatment for ingrown hair on thigh using home remedies

Aspirin

Aspirin is quite helpful in alleviating inflammation and redness which characterize the condition. Aspirin contains salicylic acid which helps in scrubbing away dead skin and making the offending hair to be loosened. In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory property that helps to minimize inflammation, swelling, and combat unserious infections.

Dissolve two tablets of aspirin in a teaspoon of warm water and allow it to form a paste-like consistency. Include a teaspoon of honey and then add the paste to the skin area that is affected by the inflammation. Let it stay on the skin for up to 10 minutes, and wash off with warm water. Pat the skin gently until it is dry. Try this once or twice weekly until the condition is put under control.

Aloe Vera gel

Aloe Vera gel works very well on razor bumps through its cooling and soothing effects on itching and inflammation. Besides, Aloe Vera moisturizes the skin and hastens the process of healing.

Extract Aloe Vera gel from the leaf and apply it on the irritated skin. Leave it for about half an hour until it dries on its own. Wash it off with the aid of lukewarm water. Repeat the treatment two to three times every day for a few days or until you notice a positive result.

Cucumber

Cucumber has anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties that help to take care of the irritation associated with ingrown hair on thigh. It also has vitamin C which helps to speed up healing and reduce itching.

Cut fresh cucumber into slices and put them in the refrigerator. Allow them to stay for half an hour before gently rubbing them unto the area affected by the inflammation. Repeat it several times a day for several days.

Another way is to make half a cucumber into a puree and add it to one-third cup of milk. Put the mixture in a refrigerator for a few minutes and allow it to get cold. Apply the mixture to the area of irritation with a piece of cloth and let it stay for a few minutes.

Salt

Salt plays a role in helping to exfoliate the skin, improving circulation, hastening healing and minimizing swelling.

Add a half teaspoon of table salt into a cup of lukewarm water. Apply it over the affected skin with the aid of a cotton ball and allow it to stay for a few minutes before rinsing it off with water. Repeat it twice a day until there is healing of the ingrown hair.

Sugar Scrub

Sugar scrub is potent in removing ingrown hair on thigh. It does so by exfoliating the skin and removing cells that are dead. In addition, it assists the ingrown hair to come out of the skin. It also keeps the skin smooth and silky.

Add a cup of white sugar into a half cup of jojoba oil or extra-virgin olive oil. Add 10 drops each of lavender essential oil and tea tree oil and apply a little amount to the skin. Scrub the skin gently for a few minutes, using circular motions. Rinse off with lukewarm water. Do this once or twice weekly until there is positive result.

Honey

It helps to moisturize the skin thereby lessening inflammation and swelling. Besides, honey has antibacterial properties which help to prevent the skin around the place from being infected.

Add a layer of honey to the irritated skin and allow it to dry for about 10 minutes. Rinse it with cold water. Do this three to four times daily until there is an improvement.

Removal

Ingrown hair on thigh can be removed in different ways. Some of the ways include:

Use Needle and Tweezers

• First, apply warm compress to make the hair come to the surface. Avoid digging for the hair if it not close to the surface. If possible, avoid plucking out the hair completely, only try and bring the ingrown end out of the skin.
• You may see a hair loop near the skin surface. It’s an indication that the hair is growing inwards. Tug the loop lightly with a needle to help the end come loose.
• You could also use any of pointy or flat-tipped tweezers to bring out the hair. A pointy-tipped pair of tweezers does not cause much skin damage as the flat-tipped ones. They must always be used with care.

Egg Membrane

This is another way to remove ingrown hair on thigh. Pull out the egg membrane from an egg shell and use the membrane to cover the affected area. Allow it to dry and shrink around the area, and then pull it off. This will pull out the ingrown hair.

Exfoliate the area

Gently scrub the ingrown hair twice daily. Regular scrubbing will assist in removing dirt, oils and dead skin cells that are trapped in the ingrown hair. You can try hitting the ingrown hair from different directions and the tip may eventually be nudged out of the skin

Use acne medication

Since ingrown hairs are akin to pimples, mostly when filled with pus, it is okay to apply salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide several times daily for a few days. If you add daily exfoliation to this, it will remove the ingrown hair faster. The combination will help to reduce swelling and give more room to the hair to grow out. You can also dab it with toothpaste.

Pictures of Ingrown Hair on Thigh

Collection of pictures, photos, images of ingrown hair on thigh:

How to Prevent it

To prevent ingrown hair on thigh, you can do the following:

• Scrub your skin to get rid of dead skin cells. It minimizes the chances of ingrown hair
• Regular exfoliation
• Remove hair in the direction of hair growth
• Use non-irritating hair lotion on your skin each time you remove hair. This helps to prevent getting ingrown hair from shaving
• Always wet skin with water and lubricating gel before you shave
• Use a cooling after-shave lotion each time you shave
• Remember to rinse the blade following every stroke
• Minimize the number of strokes
• Shave with a sharp single blade each time
• Follow the direction of hair growth while shaving

Conclusion

Ingrown hair on thigh can be difficult to manage sometimes. But with the tips we have given you here, that shouldn’t be a problem anymore. Just follow our recommendations and everything would be alright. However, if after you have tried our tips things still fail to change for the better, you should see your doctor for advice and further management.

Have you been finding it difficult to get a precision grip around objects as a result of pain in palm of hands? This problem can make life pretty unbearable – you are unable to lift objects with ease, unable to assist your family with the domestic chores, and even finding it difficult to take personal care of yourself. Well, you are not the only one who suffers from this challenge, a lot of people do. But the good news is that your condition is treatable. You can still lead a normal life after undergoing treatment.

This post shall attempt to define what pain in palm of hands is, the signs and symptoms, causes, treatment, and pain relief. It is imperative that you pay proper attention and grab as much information you can from this post, because they are really going to assist you in handling your condition.

What Exactly is Pain in Palm of Hands?

Like the name rightly suggests, pain in palm of hands are pains that are in the palm resulting from injury to the joints, bones, nerves, tendons, skin, muscles, connective tissues or blood vessels.

Pain in Palm of Hands may occur due to a variety of reasons

The individual may suffer from variable or constant symptoms, which either get worse or improve with movements. The course and duration of the pain are highly determined by the cause and its severity. If the pain is caused by injury or trauma, the symptoms are sudden but if it is due to wear-and-tear, the symptoms develop slowly but may get worse as time goes by.

Pain in palm of hands is hardly serious but if it is accompanied by other symptoms it could be a pointer to the fact that something more serious could be happening. It could be a sign of stroke if the pain is sudden in onset, accompanied with numbness and weakness of the hand or arms and if only one side of the body is involved.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain in palm of hands comes with few to several signs and symptoms. Some of the commonest ones include:

• Mild to severe pain in the palm
• Unilateral (involving a palm) or bilateral (involving both palms) pain
• Aching, throbbing, piercing or burning pain
• Bruises in the palm or wrist
• Discoloration such as blue, pale or red hands
• Difficulty performing fine movement of the hand such as writing
• Signs of injury, e.g. laceration, burns, etc
• Hand deformity
• Difficulty in moving the hands
• Reduced grip strength or inability to form a grip
• Signs of inflammation like hotness, redness and swelling
• Stiffness of the joint
• Signs of muscle wasting
• Systemic diseases like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis
• Infection signs
• Localized swellings or lupus
• Numbness or tingling sensation
• Flu-like symptoms, like sore throat and fever

What Causes Pain in Palm of Hands

Pain in palm of hands is caused by different factors, some of which we shall consider below:

Pain in palm of hands because of keyboard overuse

Trauma and strain

Some of the points to consider here include:

• Injury: Injuries that affect the structures of the hand like the muscle, tendon, bone, ligament, skin, blood vessels or nerve can lead to pain in the palm.
• Tendinitis: This is the inflammation of the tendon or the tendon sheath, which is accompanied by swelling and pain.
• Overuse: Using the hand too frequently or repetitive movement of the hands like wringing repeatedly at the wrist, sewing, regular typing on a computer keyboard, or playing of basketball can result in medical conditions like tendinosis, writer’s cramp, or carpal tunnel syndrome
• Surgery: During surgery, there could be unintentional damage to the structures of the hand which may result in pain post-operatively.

Problems of the joint

Pain in palm of the hands does not only come from injury which directly affects the palms, it could also come from the joints. Some of the problems of the joints that can cause such pains include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis: This is an inflammatory disease which causes systemic changes to various organs of the body, including the joints and palms.
• Osteoarthritis: It is a degenerative disease of the joint capsule and the underlying bones. The disease may gradually affect the palms as well.
• Septic arthritis: This is a form of arthritis caused by bacteria or other infective organisms. They are capable of leading to pain in palm of hands.

Infection

Another thing that is capable of causing such pain is infection. This could be:

• Paronychia: Usually results from infection around the fingernail. It is characterized by severe pain, warmness of the affected finger, swelling, burning sensation, and the pain can even spread into the palm.
• Cellulitis: This is a bacterial infection that usually starts as a small area of pain in the skin and then spreads gradually to the surrounding tissues including the palm. It is characterized by redness, pain and swelling.
• Felon: Felons are caused by bacteria or by the herpes virus known as herpetic whitlow. It is an abscess that is formed on the palm surface of the finger, and it causes severe pains in the palm.

Nerve problems

Problems of the nerve can also be a cause of pain in palm of hands.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome: When there is compression of the median nerve at the wrist, there could be severe pain in the palm. Conditions that easily give rise to carpal tunnel syndrome include obesity, pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and hypothyroidism.
• Cervical Spondylosis: This is arthritis of the neck otherwise known as cervical osteoarthritis, which causes pain along the arm, palm and fingers.

Other causes

These include the following:

• Myocardial infarction: In heart attack, there could be pain in palm of hands. This may start as arm pain that eventually spreads to the palm.
• Dupuytren’s Contracture: This is a condition that occurs when the fascia or the tissue under the skin of the palm becomes abnormally thickened thereby resulting in pains.
• Raynaud’s phenomenon: Emotional stress or extreme cold can trigger the constriction of blood vessels of the toes and fingers, characterized by numbness, tingling, pallor and pain in the palm.

Treatment

Various treatments are available and they include:

• Hand splint: Applying splints to the hand would help to minimize unnecessary movement and provide rest for the affected palm thereby putting the pain under control. This is particularly helpful if the pain is worsened by movements.
• Heat and cold: If the pain is due to stiffness, using heat or hot shower would take care of it. But if it is as a result of other activities like sports, applying cold in the form of flexible gel from the freezer would usually be of great help.
• Exercises and stretches: An occupational therapist or a physical therapist can help you out by engaging you in exercises and stretches that help to strengthen the muscles.
• Surgery: Surgery can also be used in solving the problem depending on the actual cause of the pain.

Pain Relief

Some drugs would usually provide relief that can last for several weeks or months.

• Injections: Injecting corticosteroid into the joint can lessen inflammation and provide relief that can sustain you for up to a year. Unfortunately, the relief may not be as effective when subsequent injections are administered on some people.
• NSAIDs: Pain-producing enzymes can be blocked with the administration of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs like Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). This reduces the swelling and pain associated with the problem. Application of topical NSAIDs like Voltaren (Diclofenac) can also bring great relief.

Conclusion

Pain in palm of hands is manageable. If you follow the tips we have highlighted in this post, it’s likely your pain would go away without having to see a doctor. However, if the pain persists after trying our tips, you need to see the doctor for better management.

It is important to first understand that the liver is the body largest gland. It supports almost every other organ in the body and without a healthy and functional liver, the survival rate of a person will drastically reduce. Note that the liver is known to weigh around 3 pounds and this means that only the skin is heavier and larger than it. Note that the liver is considered a gland because it produces the bile which is needed to digest fat by breaking them into smaller pieces to enable them get digested in the small intestine.

Where is Your Liver Located?

Location of Liver

The liver is located in the upper right side of the abdominal cavity which is found beneath the diaphragm and at the top of the stomach, intestines and right kidney. Note that the liver overlies the gallbladder. The liver itself is a triangular organ and made of very soft pinky brown tissues that is then encapsulated by a connective tissue capsule. The liver is protected and held into place in the abdomen by the coverage of the capsule and the reinforcement with the help of the peritoneum of the abdominal cavity.

It is important to note that the peritoneum mentioned above is connected to the liver in four locations and these locations include; the coronary ligament, the triangular ligaments from both the left and right side as well as the falciform ligament. One important thing to note here is that the connections in this location cannot be regarded as true ligaments for the actual sense, however, they can be regarded as a region of condensed peritoneal membrane aimed at supporting the liver. The location and function of the liver is the same in every person and this include young, old, babies, man or woman.

What Does the Liver Do?

The liver does a whole lot of things. The main thing it does is to regulate most chemical levels in the blood as well as the excretion of bile. It is important to note that what bile actually does is to break down fat and then help further digestion and absorption. It is also worthy to mention that all the blood that leaves the intestine and stomach is known to pass through the liver and in this case the liver then processes it while it creates nutrients for the body to use. For drugs to be useable and effective, the liver helps the metabolism so that it is converted into forms that makes it easier to be absorbed by the body.

The liver is known to be involved in a whole lot of other functions in the body and they include:

• Producing a kind of protein for blood plasma
• The liver is also involved in the storage and release of glucose as needed by the body
• Regulation of blood clotting
• The liver is also responsible for clearing the blood of harmful substances including drugs
• Involved in producing special proteins and cholesterol which helps in carrying fats through the body
• There is also an issue of bilirubin which is dangerous when in the body. Having it build up inside the body could cause the eyes and skin to start turning yellow. The liver is responsible for clearing this bilirubin in the body.
• They help in producing immune factors which helps the body fight off infection as well as clear the bloodstream of bacteria.
• The liver also does a good job in converting ammonia which is harmful into urea. It is important to note that urea is simply an end product of protein metabolism which is excreted in the urine.
• The liver also serves as a storage for iron as it processes hemoglobin for the use of its iron content.

Functions of Liver

In fact, as the liver breaks down this harmful substances, it ends up excreting them into the blood or bile. For example, the blood by products are known to get filtered out by the kidney after which they now leave the body through urine. On the other hand, the bile by products are ferried into the intestine where they get out of the body in the form of feces. In all, the liver does a whole lot of work in the body and a failure will be catastrophic for the body.

Common Liver Problems

The liver is one of the most important organs of the body due to the role it plays in keeping the body functioning appropriately. However, there could be some liver problems as a result of disorders, conditions and infections that most likely tend to affect the tissues, structure and cells of the liver which end up causing some serious damage to the liver. When the liver becomes damage, the probability of the liver not functioning appropriately or stop function altogether become high. The following are some of the common liver problems

Alcoholic Liver Disease

It is important to note that excessive alcohol intake is considered dangerous for the liver. Alcoholic liver disease is a common liver problem and it usually shows up after consuming alcohol in excess over a period of time mostly in years. Note that the higher the volume of alcohol consumed and the number of years of consumption, the higher the possibility of liver problems. Liver problems associated with alcohol often comes with loss of appetite, dry mouth, abdominal pains and tenderness among other symptoms.

Liver Cysts

Liver cysts are common liver problems affecting a lot of people. It may not pose any problem in the beginning but can cause a lot of pain when the cyst start growing large enough. When it grows large, it can cause pain in the abdomen, obstruction to bile ducts and infection of the cyst itself. The problem with liver cyst issues is that they hardly present any symptoms and can only be detected by mere stroke of luck during testing in most cases.

Liver Fibrosis

Another common problem of the liver is fibrosis and it is considered to be a later stage of the alcoholic liver disease. It is a problem characterized by the quick formation of fibrous tissue, liver scarring and regenerative noodles and all these do impede the flow of blood and ensures that the liver does not function properly. This type of liver problem is most commonly caused by hepatitis C and comes with a lot of signs and symptoms. The symptoms include weakness, lack of appetite, exhaustion, dark urine, abdominal pains, jaundice, nausea, itchy hands and feet and enlargement of the liver. In addition, a sizeable number of people that suffered swelling of legs and feet due to retained fluids have been attributed to this liver problem.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is simply the inflammation of the liver. When the liver becomes inflamed, the cells get damaged due to the chemical being released in the liver. Abdominal pains is one of the most noticeable symptoms as the liver becomes enlarged due to viral infections. Other signs for this kind of liver problem include headache, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dark urine among many others. It is important to note that some types of hepatitis may only show little symptoms and will only become obvious when it has already led to cirrhosis.

Foods that are Good for the Liver

The liver is an important organ of the body and one of the ways to take care of it is by eating liver friendly foods. Eating the right foods can help reset the body’s most important organ and ensure that it functions properly at all times. The following are foods that can help the liver

Darky Leafy Green

When you are looking for food that helps the liver in its detoxification process, then darky leafy green is one of such foods. Examples of these include Brussel sprouts, kale and cabbage. They are known to contain Sulphur in very high levels that are helpful for the liver during detoxification process where free radicals as well as any other toxic chemicals get removed from the system. Another important Darky Leafy Green is Dandelion because it contains taraxacin which pushes the liver to release bile.

Garlic

Garlic is one of the most common medicinal foods that is useful in a lot of body problems. Garlic is good for the liver because it contains a compound known as allicin which is Sulphur based which supports the liver detoxification. This compound is known to help the liver get rid of unwanted compounds in the body.

Eggs

It is important to note that amino acids are important especially for the liver in detoxification process. Eggs are known to contain the amino acid considered to be essential to the detoxification process. There is also Choline coenzyme which is found in the egg yolk protects the liver from substances considered toxic to the body

Berries

All kinds of berries whether blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries are natural foods that play a very important role in helping the liver function properly in the body. Berries contain Phytochemicals which is what the liver normally uses to get the body protected from free radicals. In addition, berries contain polyphenols and Anthocyanin and this helps prevent the cancer cells in the liver.

Coconut Oil

The liver can work more efficiently when there is less strain on it and this is what the coconut oil does. This is because they are simply easy to digest and easily broken down. This gives the liver less work or strain thereby allowing it to work better and more efficiently.

Ginger

This is another food that support detoxification of the liver. It contains antimicrobial, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger helps to lower the cholesterol on the blood, promote circulation and nourish the liver.

What Does Nitrate in Urine Mean?

For people who have started experiencing certain symptoms like foul smelling urine, burning sensation during urination and any problem associated with urinary tract, then it is important to understand that there may be nitrate in your urine. The doctor will recommend some tests and this is known as urinalysis where your urine samples is analyzed. However, in the case of pregnant women, the symptoms may not even appear and that is why it is recommended that they do the tests even if they are not seeing these symptoms especially in the initial stages.

Urinalysis covers a whole lot of issues and can be used to diagnose the kidney health as well as the general health of an individual. For example, an analysis of a person’s urine can throw light on kidney problems as well as diabetes which will prompt health care officials to probe further on the issues.

It is important to note that nitrates in urine could mean the presence of bacterial infection. However, note that these kind of infection cannot be confirmed just on visual inspection due to the fact that the urine has color. The only way to be certain of the presence of nitrates is through diagnostic tests even though there could be false results where the test proves positive or negative which isn’t the case. In reality, false results hardly occur nut more tests are normally needed to confirm the presence of UTI if it was suspected. When results appear positive which and if this is not the case, it could mean that there is a vaginal contamination of urine.

E.coli is known to be the most common cause of urinary tract infection. However, there are many other bacteria that could be responsible like proteus and klebsiella. This bacteria contain urease which is an enzyme that acidifies the urine thus creating nitrates

Is there any Difference Between Nitrates and Nitrites?

There are some differences between nitrates and nitrates. In the first instance, nitrates are basically in many food that are consumed by a lot of people in the form of salt. For example, a lot of the nitrates intake come from vegetable. However, nitrates are then converted to nitrites in the digestive process. Nitrites have a whole lot of roles to play in the entire system and that is why eating vegetables is one good way to keep the body healthy.

Some studies have shown that nitrates and nitrites can kill off bacteria in the body and for this reason they tend to be used in processed foods in form of a preservative. However, there is also a study that says nitrates can be turned to nitrosamines and this could increase the risk of cancer.

What do Nitrates in Urine Indicate?

Nitrates in urine is an indication of a bacterial infection in the system. The color of the urine may be confusing especially when it looks a lot darker than the usual color but it may not be a good indicator of an infection. Whatever the case, a high level of diagnostic tests is required to spot nitrates in urine.

Nitrates in urine may indicate urinary tract infection which often comes like a burning sensation when a person is urinating. During urination, a kind of urine smell may be discovered and this should call for concern. It is important to note that not handling this properly, there is a possibility that it could escalate to more serious issues. For example, the kidney, bladder and other body organs may be at risk if nitrates in urine is not properly handled

Possible Causes for High Nitrates in Urine

There are a lot of things that can cause high nitrates in urine as seen below

Diet

The number one possible cause for high nitrates in urine is the food we eat. It is important to note that nitrates are present in most foods we consume especially vegetables and fruits. For example, meat products, lettuce and spinach are some of the most common sources of nitrates. Note that the body converts nitrates to nitrites and even to nitric oxide during digestion. Both nitric oxide, nitrates and nitrates are valuable to the body, however, nitrates when in large quantities causes more harm than good because they can cause toxicity which is very dangerous especially to infants. But note that there is a possibility of having a positive result during urinary test especially if you have consumed diet rich in nitrates.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

This normally happens in a situation where there is swelling in a part of the digestive system. This can be as a result of ulcerative colitis or even crohn disease. It is important to note that people who suffer from this kind of disease normally produce more nitric oxide and this will lead to more nitrates in urine

Urinary Tract Infection

One of the ways to determine urinary tract infection is actually the presence of nitrates in urine. It is important to note that some of the microorganism that is responsible for this can actually convert nitrates to nitrites. Proper diagnosis is needed in this case as your doctor will want to determine if there is leucocytes in your urine because it is an indication of bacterial infection. Other symptoms can also be looked for in this case and this include vomiting, muscle pain, urine odor and probably urine bubbles.

Medication

There is also a high chance that medications could be responsible for high nitrates in urine. There are some medications that have nitrates like isosorbide dinitrate, nitroglycerin. These types of nitrates are normally found in the medications that are used in the treatment of certain issues like angina. In addition, there are some malaria medications that may contain nitrates. For example, quinone derivative are known to have nitrates. Therefore, there could be a possibility of a false positive result during urinary tests for people who have taken this medication.

How to Treat it Naturally?

There are various ways to treat it naturally. However, if the high nitrate is as a result of an underlying medical condition, then prescription drugs can be used to treat the problem. The option of exploring natural treatment through home remedies is available in so many different forms as we shall see below.

Vitamin C

The importance of vitamin C in this situation cannot be overemphasized. What vitamin C does is to strengthen the immune system in such a way that helps in preventing or treating of urinary tract infection. Note also that vitamins has the capability of fighting bacteria in the urine. To get good result, it is recommended that about 1000mg of vitamin C on daily basis. This will go a long way to support the immune system and fight this disease.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is an excellent food which is a source for good bacteria. The implication of having good bacteria in the system is that it competes with the bad bacteria and overpowers the bad bacteria to prevent infection. However, it is important to note that the best way of having good bacteria in the system is by taking yoghurt from time to time. This will help fight against the bad bacteria in your urinary tract and digestive system. In addition, eating probiotics food especially after taking in some antibiotics as this will help in restoring the microflora of the digestive tracts.

Cranberry Juice

This is one of the best known natural treatments of urinary tract infection especially when Escherichia coli is the causative agent. In most cases, the symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection are known to clear after about 2 days of taking the cranberry juice. It is a very healthy beverage for people in this condition and a natural way to treat nitrates in urine. However, you can always support it with an antibiotics if it becomes necessary to do so.

Apple Cider Vinegar

If there is one thing Apple Cider Vinegar is very good at, it has to be the ability to fight infections in the system. To overcome these kinds of problem, the body is expected to attack and fight infections. Apple Cider Vinegar is a good source to fight off these stubborn infection and they also help in fighting urinary tract infection as well. To get result with Apple Cider vinegar, it is advisable to mix it with water preferable about 3 spoons. Drink the mixture for about 3 days and this will go a long way to kill off these infections.

Remain Hydrated

It is important to keep staying hydrated all the time. Staying hydrated means drinking a lot of water every day. The importance of drinking water is that it helps in flushing out those stubborn bacteria that are present in the urinary system. You can drink just water or you could also add a little baking soda to the water. However, whatever the case, drinking enough water on daily basis and staying hydrated remains one way to treat the effect of nitrates in urine naturally.

What are the Tonsils?

First of all, let me explain about the tonsils to understand about the swollen tonsils or tonsillitis. The tonsils are present at the end of the throat (pharynx), one on either side of throat. The tonsils (palatine tonsils) are made by soft tissue masses. These tissues are similar to lymph nodes (the “glands” you can feel at the front of your neck) and tansies are part of the immune system. They act as filters and trap the germs. Otherwise, they will pass through the throat into our body. Tonsils also manufacture antibodies to fight against the germs and infection. These act as the first line of defense in throat and fight against the infections. They are different in size from person to person and get swelled in response to infection.

When you get a sore throat, at that time, your tonsils are doing their job of fighting against the infection. However, removal of the tonsils does not seem to increase susceptibility to infection.

What are Swollen tonsils or Tonsillitis?

When the tonsils get infected during the defense, such a condition is called swollen tonsils or tonsillitis. It is a common infection in kids; however, swollen tonsils can occur in any age. In fact, they become inflamed due to the presence of bacteria or virus. When you examine the swollen tonsils or tonsillitis, they seem to be coated with yellowish-white pus.

Picture of swollen tonsils

It is possible to suffer from multiple episodes of swollen tonsils through the life. It is quite interesting that some people have enlarged tonsils naturally but it doesn’t mean that they’d have been associated with infection symptoms and disease. Swollen tonsils or tonsillitis are associated with other symptoms such as fever, chills, sore throat, sneezing, hoarseness, headache, enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue or muscle aches.

Swollen Tonsil on One Side

Sometimes, swelling of tonsils occurs only on one side. It means you have only one swollen tonsil. It is most common in the children between ages 2-15. It might be a condition of tonsillitis or it might be due to a couple of other reasons. However, it is usually due to tonsillitis, with same symptoms, causes and it needs same medical care.

Causes of Swollen tonsils

During executing their job, tonsils get infected by the virus and bacteria. They can get these infections through various sources including pollution, STD, air etc. Common causes of swollen tonsils are:

Bacteria that cause tonsillitis

• Streptococcus (strep) bacteria causing strep throat
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Mycoplasma pneumonia
• Bordetella pertussis
• Chlamydia pneumonia
• Fusobacterium sp

Virus that cause tonsillitis

• Parainfluenza viruses
• Enteroviruses
• Cytomegalovirus
• Measles virus
• Herpes simplex virus
• Influenza virus
• Adenovirus
• Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis)

Swollen tonsils in toddlers

To identify swollen tonsils in toddlers, you’ll have to observe certain things like their decreased appetite and drooling; at times, the baby drools more than usual because the swollen tonsils hurts her. Other symptoms include bad breath, fever, and change in voice, headache, ear pain and overall malaise.

Doctors can easily feel the tonsillitis in toddlers by examining their neck. Swollen tonsils are very common in toddlers and almost all the kids have multiple episodes of swollen tonsils throughout childhood.

Symptoms of Swollen tonsils

Undoubtedly, the biggest and visible symptom of the swollen tonsils is sore throat and it needs medical care. Other symptoms are:

Severe symptoms

• Tenderness or throat pain
• Swollen tonsils with white spots
• Odynophagia (painful swallowing)
• Redness on the tonsils
• High fever
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• Enlargement of lymph node
• Severe pain in neck or ear
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Headache
• Chills
• Coughing
• Petechiae, or small red or purple spots on the roof of your mouth

Less common symptoms

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Pain in stomach
• Vomiting
• Difficulty in opening the mouth
• Voice changes
• Smelly breath
• Furry tongue

Critical condition

It is a condition in which you must take the medication as soon as possible. These conditions include:

• Stiff neck
• Fever over 103 ˚F
• Severe weakness in muscles
• Sore throat for more than two days

If you have any of the above mentioned symptoms, you must ask your doctor what to take for swollen tonsils.

Swollen Tonsils but No Fever

Sometimes, people observe swollen tonsils without having fever and you’ll feel no pain. It may be because some people have enlarged tonsils than others. Another aspect is that you might have an infection that is at the early or first stage where the symptoms might not have appeared completely. But you must be vigilant and contact to your doctor immediately.

How to diagnose swollen tonsils or tonsillitis?

Generally, it is done through a physical examination. Let me tell you about different methods carried out by the doctor.

Throat (pharynx) swab

This process is carried out in your doctor’s office. The doctor takes a throat culture by swabbing the throat. After that, test is carried out in the laboratory to identify the presence of bacteria. Usually this is done to check for bacteria such as Streptococcus.

Monospot test

It is a blood test done to identify the presence of a type of antibody (heterophile antibody). It is used to verify the symptoms of infection due to mononucleosis.

Epstein-Barr virus antibodies

If the result of Monospot test is negative, presence of antibodies in the patient’s blood that fight against EBV, help to identify the mononucleosis.

Treatment

Treatment of swollen tonsils heavily depends upon the cause. For instance, it will have to first be diagnosed whether you’re suffering from bacterial or viral disease.

In most cases, when the infection is due to the virus, doctors don’t recommend antibiotics because the antibiotics don’t affect the virus. In such a situation, the infection will fade away in a few days and the patients will be recovered.

But if you’re suffering from bacterial infection, doctor will recommend antibiotics. In this respect, you must take all the medicines prescribed by the doctor. Generally, doctor prescribes antibiotics for 7 to 10 days, however, you’ll see improvement within 3 to 4 days. You must take the medicines for full 10 days so that the infection may not emerge again. The doctor may also advice a follow up check up.

The penicillin antibiotic category is prescribed in bacterial infection. It can be taken through injection (a shot) or mouth (pills taken orally). In a case when the patient is allergic to penicillin, he can take alternative antibiotics.

Home remedies

Home remedies are very popular to deal with the issue of swollen tonsils or tonsillitis. In addition to the antibiotics, patient can use these remedies. These help in pain relief and quick recovery. The following are some home remedies you can try as a means of treating swollen tonsils:

Gargling

Gargling of Luke salty water can help to reduce pain.

Avoid dehydration and stay hydrated

Drink plenty of water. Apparently, it will be difficult to drink plenty of water due to sore throat but if you’ll not do this, there are great chances of dehydration. If you have high fever, you must drink fluid or liquids to avoid dehydration. Otherwise, it can lead to fatigue and severe headache.

Avoid dry air and use steam

Sitting in a steamy bathroom or using air humidifier can alleviate the problem.

Avoid smoke

Avoid tobacco smoking and smoky places

Rest

Take lots of rest. It helps the body to regain energy and fight against infection.

How long does Swollen tonsils last?

9 out of 10 patients recover from swollen tonsils or tonsillitis within 7 days. The symptoms last up to 3 days. The patients start recovering within 4 days after the infection. The interesting thing is that if you don’t take any medicine, even then, you’ll get recovered, according to the medical standards. The reason is that our immune system fights against infections naturally. However, medication increases the speed and chances of recovery.

Complications

Swollen tonsils disappear within 3 to 4 days and the fever associated also disappears within 7 to 10 days, however, in chronic swollen tonsils, the condition of the patient becomes worse. Remember, complications only occur if the reason of swollen tonsils or tonsillitis is bacterial infection.

Possible complications

Middle ear infection (otitis media)

In this condition, the fluid between the eardrum and the inner ear gets infected due to bacteria.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)

In this situation, the walls of the throat relax during the sleep and it causes difficulty in breathing thus leading to disruptive sleep at night.

Abscess (collection of pus) or quinsy (peritonsillar abscess)

It is the accumulation of pus between the throat wall and tonsils.

Rare complications

Rheumatic fever

It is a severe condition in which the infection spreads throughout the body of the patient. It causes jerky body movements, joint pain and rashes.

Glomerulonephritis

In this situation, the kidney filters get swelled and it causes vomiting and loss of appetite.

Scarlet fever

In this condition, a distinctive pink-red skin rash can be observed on patient’s body.

Pictures of Swollen tonsils

Pictures of swollen, red and enlarged tonsils…

Picture of enlarged swollen tonsils

Swollen tonsils on both sides

Photo of red Swollen tonsils

Surgery

Tonsils are removed through surgery when they become enlarged and stop the passage of the upper airway. This condition results in breathing difficulty. The process is called tonsillectomy. They may also be removed if strep throat or recurrence of tonsil infections cannot be treated properly through antibiotics. This surgery is common in kids than adults. However, it can be performed at any time of age.

When you need tonsillectomy?

• Severe breathing issue due to swollen tonsils
• If you’ve had at least seven cases of tonsillitis
• Sleep apnea or stop breathing intervals during the sleep
• Tonsils bleeding
• Trouble in swallowing food, particularly meat
• Tonsil cancer
• Loud and frequent snoring

Procedure of tonsillectomy

Two weeks before the surgery, stop taking antibiotics you’re taking for the inflamed tonsils. The reason is that these drugs can increase the risk of bleeding during and after tonsillectomy, for instance medicines such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. You must stop eating and drinking at least 12 hours before going for the surgery. The entire process of tonsillectomy takes about half an hour.

There are several different ways to remove the tonsils’, however, the most common procedure is known as cold knife (steel) dissection. In this procedure, the doctor uses a scalpel to remove the tonsils of patient.

Another procedure is known as cauterization. In this process, the tissues are burned away. In this method, Ultrasonic vibration (using sound waves) is used.

Whatever the method your doctor will prefer, he will use general anesthesia. So you’ll not feel any pain during the surgery. You can leave the hospital same day.

Recovery process

The recovery time is 7 to 10 days. The following guidelines are recommended:

Eating

There are no specific restrictions, however soft diet is preferred. In fact, chewing and swallowing help the speedy recovery. However, you can feel pain while swallowing food.

Drinking

Drink plenty of water because it is really important for the recovery. Start drinking fluid or liquid immediately after the surgery. If you feel nausea or vomiting, it is due to the anesthesia. It will fade away in 24 hours. If you feel severe nausea or dehydration, immediately contact to your doctor.

Fever

You can feel mild fever after one to two days of the surgery. If the temperature is greater than 102 ºF , contact your doctor immediately.

Physical activity

After two weeks of surgery, you can return to normal activities like travelling, joining office or school. There is no need of medication after two weeks.

Breathing issues

Mouth breathing and snoring can be observed due to the swelling of throat. These things should return to normal within 7 to 10 days after the surgery.

Bleeding issue

You can expect small specks of blood in saliva or from your nose. However, there should be no bright red blood. If such thing happens, immediately contact to your doctor.

Scabs

Thick and white scab would be formed on the place of removed tonsils. It is quite normal. These will fall away into tiny pieces within 4 to 6 days after the surgery.

Pain

You may observe mild to severe pain in the throat after surgery. You can feel pain in your neck, jaw or ear. Your doctor will recommend pain relief medication.

How to relieve the pain

You have to use it for a few days after the surgery. Immediately contact your doctor if side effects are suspected or if pain is not well-controlled.