 |
Mouth and Throat
Cold Sores
Many people eventually become infected with the virus that causes the unsightly and painful lip blisters called cold sores. Using antioxidants, immune boosters, and especially the amino acid lyine, you'll have the tools to inhibit the birus and help heal the inflamed skin.
What is it?
Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that usually appear on the lips, although they can also develop on the gums, the inner cheeks, the roof of the mouth or the area around the nostril.s The cold sore can also spread by touch to the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and genitals, or to abrasions. Typically, cold sores (also called fever blisters) break and then form a scab, disappearing in a weeks to ten days.
Laryngitis
Laryngitis may be short-lived (acute) or long-lasting (chronic). Although acute laryngitis usually is nothing more than an irritation and inflammation from a virus, persistent hoarseness can signal a more serious problem.
What is it?
Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) due to overuse, irritation or infection. The larynx is a framework of cartilage, muscles and mucous membranes that forms the entrance of your windpipe (trachea). Inside the larynx are your vocal cords — two folds of mucous membrane covering muscle and cartilage.
Mouth Ulcers
Given their diminutive size, it's hard to fathom how mouth ulcers can hurt as much as they do. Commonsense self-care measures can assist you in avoiding these painful ulcers, and supplements may help you reduce their frequency and speed their healing.
What is it?
Though not serious, mouth ulcers can be so trouble-some that they can cause intense pain when talking, kissing, drinking and eating. Affecting women more often than men, these shallow, ulcerated areas often appear singly or in small clusters inside the mouth, and range in size from as tiny as a pinhead to as large as a five-cent coin. Mouth ulcers emerge fairly suddenly and usually go away within one to three weeks. Fortunately, it is possible to ease the discomfort they cause.
Tonsillitis
Open your mouth wide in front of a mirror. Do you see your tonsils? They're located on each side of your throat, just behind and above your tongue. Years ago, many young children had their tonsils removed. In fact, surgery was once the standard treatment for recurrent tonsillitis — inflammation of the tonsils caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
What is it?
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils caused by an infection. In tonsillitis, the tonsils are enlarged, red, and often coated (either partly or entirely) by a substance that is yellow, gray, or white. Tonsillitis usually occurs as part of a pharyngitis (throat infection). Tonsilitis usually begins with sudden sore throat and painful swallowing. Sometimes, tonsillitis reoccurs, and may cause difficulty breathing. If this occurs, your doctor may recommend taking them out. This procedure of removing tonsils from the throat is called a tonsillectomy.
