The truth about sore throats

Sore throats: the truth | Colds, flu and sore throats

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NHS Direct saw calls about flu, colds and sore throats increase by 300% this year and the majority of us will have at least two or three more cases by the end of 2009.

The common cold often starts with the dreaded sore throat, and this makes people try lots of different remedies to get rid of it. But did you know some of the theories about sore throats aren't quite as scientific as you thought?

To help you stay cold-free in 2009, ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, Professor Janet Wilson, helps sort the fact from the fiction.

1. Feed a cold and starve a fever

FACT Not eating or drinking will generally slow your recovery rate, because supplying the body with drink and food is important for building up your immune system. Try foods like mashed potato or soups which are soft and easy to eat if you have a sore throat.

But be careful to avoid food or drink that is too hot, because this can make your sore throat worse. Cold foods can be soothing, but milk-based products like ice cream may actually make your cold worse as they can thicken mucus.

Research has also suggested that starving a fever works because it kickstarts the body into tackling the bacterial infections that cause most fevers. Just make sure you don't take anything like aspirin or ibuprofen on an empty stomach.

2. Cold weather causes a sore throat

FICTION 90-95% of all sore throats are caused by viral infections. It's true that more people catch colds and flu which cause throat pain during cold-weather months. Experts think this is probably because we spend more time indoors near other people who may be ill, which can increase the likelihood of an infection spreading.

There is also evidence to suggest that changes in temperature can affect the throat. So going from a warm, centrally heated room to the icy outdoors, or even hot weather to a cold air-conditioned building could cause problems.