It’s that time of year again – no, not the countdown to Christmas, but the season of sore throats. The symptoms are all too familiar: painful swallowing, swollen glands, a scratchy cough and unquenchable thirst, and you know as the day goes on they’re only going to get worse.“Sore throats are particularly common in the UK during winter months,” explains Dr Deepali Misra-Sharp, GP Partner at Lordswood Medical Group in Birmingham. “As temperatures drop, people tend to spend more time indoors in close proximity, increasing the spread of viruses.
“Research indicates our immune systems may not be as robust in colder weather, partly due to reduced vitamin D levels from less sunlight exposure. This reduced immune efficiency can make it easier for pathogens to establish infections, including those causing sore throats.”Though typically not severe, sore throats can be incredibly painful – this, Dr Misra-Sharp says, is because the throat is packed with nerve endings, making it highly sensitive.“When inflamed due to infection or irritation, even simple activities like talking, swallowing, and yawning can trigger intense discomfort,” she adds.
