It’s the classic wintertime dilemma: you need to turn the heater on because it’s freezing, but now the hot, dry air in your home is making your throat sore. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer through a sore throat all winter just to keep warm and cozy.
Use the tips below to soothe your aching throat and add some humidity to the dry air in your home.
1. Take a hot shower.
For fast relief, jump in the shower and crank up the heat. The moisture from the steam will soothe your throat quickly so that you can get on with your day. Just remember to ventilate the room afterward to avoid mold and mildew problems!
2. Drink a “Medicine Ball.”
You might already be familiar with Starbuck’s “cold season” cult favorite: Honey Citrus Mint Tea, a.k.a. the Medicine Ball. This drink is both tart and sweet, soothing and zesty, and it feels and tastes fantastic when your throat has that “icky” sensation.
With the right ingredients, you can make your own medicine ball at home with this copycat recipe.
Ingredients:
- Teavana jade citrus mint tea (can sub: Tazo Tea’s Juniper Mint Honey tea)
- Teavana honey citrus mint tea (can sub: Tazo Tea’s Organic Peachy Green tea)
- water
- lemonade
- honey
- peppermint syrup or peppermint extract (optional)
Directions:
Combine ¾ cup lemonade with ¾ cup water and heat on the stove or in the microwave until hot enough to steep tea bags. Add 1 jade citrus mint tea bag and one peach tranquility tea bag to the water and lemonade. Steep for 2 to 3 minutes, depending on how strong you want the tea flavor. Add 2 teaspoons of honey (or to taste). Optional: Add 1 pump of peppermint syrup or, for less sweetness, ⅛ teaspoon of peppermint extract.
3. Set your thermostat to 67 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
If your heater is giving you a sore throat, you might be running it too often, and that can end up hurting your budget as well. To save energy during heating seasons, the Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat lower than 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re asleep or away from home.
4. Run a humidifier while you sleep.
Our throats tend to dry out the most at night because that’s when our heaters run the most, and a lot of us will unknowingly breathe through our mouths while sleeping. If you find yourself in this boat, you can benefit from running a portable humidifier in your bedroom or by installing a whole-home humidifier that can regulate the humidity throughout your entire home.
The Problem Might Not Be Your Heater…
If running your heater is irritating your throat, allergens in your air ducts might be the real culprit. When you need a solution for your home’s indoor air quality, our experts at Rescue Air and Plumbing are ready to help: (972) 201-3253.