What to do if your throat hurts on the eve of a competition? The doctor’s recommendations

What to do if your throat hurts on the eve of a competition? The doctor’s recommendations

We tell you how to perform the workout without serious complications.

doctor, doctor of medicine, medical marketing manager

“Sometimes before the competition athletes are not in the mood for victory, but pain and perspiration in the throat. What to do so that unpleasant symptoms do not prevent them from taking a medal and show themselves? And is it even worth training in this case? We tell you in the article.

How to train

Ideally, when a pronounced sore throat appears, it is worth visiting a doctor. An accurate diagnosis will help to make a plan of treatment, training and rest.

But if time is short or it is difficult to get to the doctor, use the “neck rule”. It says that if all symptoms are “above the neck” (a slight sore throat, runny nose, stuffy nose) and they are moderate enough, and your overall health is not affected, then light exercise is acceptable.

Talk to your mentor and adjust the training program, reduce their intensity and duration. Training at the usual high level is unacceptable. They are likely to be of poor quality, aggravate the disease, lead to a long recovery period, complications or injury.

In addition, consider your recovery and sleep strategy. It is important to get more rest when you are sick. Adjust your exercise and rest programs each day based on your condition.

And remember, if you have a sore throat and other symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, you represent a source of infection to your surroundings.

How not to exercise

Exercise should be interrupted if the symptoms have gone “below the neck”: there is phlegm, a pronounced cough, chest pain, heart rhythm is disrupted. And also if the cold “spread” throughout the body and there are symptoms such as:

• fever and elevated body temperature from 38℃;
• pronounced weakness and muscle pain;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• changes in blood pressure and pulse rate;
• decreased blood oxygen saturation (may signal lung problems).

In these cases, any exercise becomes a health risk and leads to complications. Stop exercising, consult your doctors, and do not resume sports until you have fully recovered.

How to treat a sore throat

For a speedy recovery, keep in mind proper treatment and follow a number of recommendations.

• First, stay in touch with your sports doctor and do not take medications without consulting him or her. Even seemingly “harmless” medications may contain substances prohibited for athletes, antibiotics or elements that negatively affect muscles and ligaments.
• Secondly, drink more warm water throughout the day, preferably alkaline water. This can be natural mineral water with a high pH value.
• Third, in case of severe pain, use topical sprays suitable for athletes. They soothe the sore throat, relieve throat pain, and help fight inflammation and swelling. They’re also easy to use, usually working faster than pills, which take a long time to swallow.

• Fourth, create the conditions for a good night’s sleep, restoring strength and health. In this will help the optimal temperature and humidifier (put near the bed). Heat will increase blood flow and relieve pain, and moist air will soothe an irritated throat.

How not to treat your throat

Inadequate treatment delays the recovery that is so necessary before competition. To avoid wasting time, refuse traditional but ineffective methods:

• Avoid jam, honey, tea with sugar and other sweet things. Settling on the walls of the larynx, glucose creates a favorable environment for the life and reproduction of bacteria. Sugar irritates the inflamed mucosa and in microcracks delays recovery;
• refuse inappropriate drinks: milk (because of its high fat content, it forms a film on the walls of the oropharynx interfering with recovery), hot drinks (they burn, causing more inflammation), juices (the acid they contain irritates the mucosa), coffee and black tea (caffeine dries the throat).

Prevention

Competitions and training before them – the moment of the highest physical and mental stress, reducing immunity. Therefore, preparation for the competition should include not only training “on the wear and tear”, but also care for the body.

To support immunity, two weeks before important starts, limit contacts with fans and team, travel less and rest more, do not communicate with sick people. Dress for the weather and avoid hypothermia, regularly rinse the nasopharynx and take a course of natural tonic drugs recommended by your doctor.

What to do if you have a sore throat on the eve of a competition

1. Keep in touch with your sports doctor and mentor, inform them of changes in your condition.
2. If symptoms are “above the neck,” go to light training and don’t overexert yourself.
3. If symptoms are “below the neck,” stop exercising and seek treatment.
4. Treat yourself properly: use appropriate pain sprays, drink warm water and alkaline drinks, and don’t take medications without consulting your doctor.
5. Avoid sweets, caffeine, milk, hot drinks and juices.
6. Take preventive measures: get plenty of rest, avoid hypothermia, take vitamins.