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Does honey work to soothe a sore throat and cough? Yes, says family medicine physician Elizabeth Rainbolt, MD.@ClevelandClinic 🍯

Honey for Your Sore Throat and Cough

The natural at-home remedy can soothe irritation and decrease inflammation

t feels faint at first — there’s a little tickle or scratch at the back of your throat.

Then, it hurts or even burns when you swallow.

Ugh, you’ve got a sore throat, and a cough isn’t far behind.

You’re taking cough syrup and lozenges in an attempt to get some relief. But what about using honey for sore throat symptoms? Does this natural home remedy actually work to soothe a sore throat and cough?

Yes, says family medicine physician Elizabeth Rainbolt, MD.

Dr. Rainbolt explains how honey works and when and how to use it.

Honey for a sore throat

It’s common to get a sore throat every now and then. You may have a sore throat due to the following:

In addition to having other symptoms like nasal congestion, fatigue and fever, you may develop a cough.

Honey has a long history of being used as a natural remedy. And one remedy is to soothe sore throats and help alleviate a cough.

“Research shows that honey has some antimicrobial and anti-inflammation properties. Honey can help by decreasing inflammation and irritation in your throat,” explains Dr. Rainbolt. “Another study shows that honey may reduce mucus secretion. So, you can use honey for cough symptoms as well, whether it’s a wet or dry cough.”

Is it safe for children?

Giving honey to a child under 1-year-old isn’t recommended, warns Dr. Rainbolt.

“There’s concern for an infant botulism, a serious illness that’s caused by Clostridium botulinum,” she continues. “While it’s a rare occurrence, honey can contain spores that cause botulism. It attacks the body’s nervous system and children under one are more vulnerable.”

How to use for a sore throat

Most sore throats tend to get better within a week, but during that time, adults can take a spoonful (about 1 teaspoon) of honey for a cough and sore throat.

You can also dilute half a teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of honey in warm water or tea. This method is also recommended for children older than 1.

“You can use it with any kind of herbal tea or warm water with lemon juice, which can be soothing as well,” says Dr. Rainbolt.

So, how often can you use this home remedy? Dr. Rainbolt recommends using honey no more than four or five times a day.

And part of that reasoning is that honey does contain sugar.

“If you’re concerned about your sugar intake, then I recommend using honey more sparingly,” she says. “I would just use it at night to give you some relief before you go to bed.”

And can you use both honey and traditional cold medicine?

Yes, says Dr. Rainbolt.

“If it seems like the honey isn’t helping on its own, then you can certainly do both honey and medication, if medicine is something that you are able to take,” she notes.

Is honey safe to use?

Honey can be a helpful tool for those who can’t take traditional cold medications — for example, children under 6 years old or individuals with health conditions like high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease.

Overall, honey can be a good way to help soothe your sore throat and cough. It doesn’t come with some of the side effects that over-the-counter medications have like drowsiness.

So, can you just buy any honey you see on the grocery store shelf?

Yes, but you might want to make sure it’s been pasteurized. The pasteurization process removes any crystallization and unwanted yeast. It also improves honey’s texture and color, while extending its shelf life.

Dr. Rainbolt also mentions that some people think using local honey, which tends to be unpasteurized or raw, can come with extra benefits.

“There’s a thought that if you use local honey, you are exposed to some of the area’s natural allergens in a positive way,” she explains. “The idea is that it will help with allergies you have.”

The next time your throat starts to tickle, reach for honey and see if it helps.

“Think of honey as a first line of defense for those over 1 year old,” says Dr. Rainbolt. “Honey is something that pretty much everyone can try. And it’s been shown to work as well as some cough suppressant medications. It’s a nice alternative.”

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Acetaldehyde, a toxic chemical produced when alcohol is metabolized in the body, has been linked to cancer risk…@AlcoholCancerEU

Lauri Beekmann

@lbeekmann

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In every political party, it’s likely that there is a doctor and a scientist. These professionals should take responsibility for explaining the science behind the link between alcohol and cancer.

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AlcoholAndCancer

@AlcoholCancerEU

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9h

To minimize the risk of cancer, it’s recommended to limit alcohol consumption or avoid it altogether. #AlcoholAndCancer

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Exercise snacks for better cardiovascular health by Katie Lawton MEd @ClevelandClinic #physicalactivity

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Take care of yourself …

May 28, 2024/Pregnancy & Childbirth

How Long To Breastfeed: What the Guidelines Say and What To Consider

Recommendations encourage breast milk exclusively for baby’s first six months and continuing to provide human milk until age 2 and beyond

How and what you feed your baby is probably one of the most basic — and yet deeply personal — decisions you’ll face when you become a parent.

You’ll hear things like “breast is best.” As in, breastfeeding (chestfeeding) is the absolute best way to nourish your baby.

And then you’ll hear the retort, “fed is best.” Meaning breast milk (human milk) and formula are both fine. As long as your baby is getting nutrients in their belly, all is well.

Then come the opinions on how long you should breastfeed. (You’re still breastfeeding? You gave up on nursing already? You fed your baby formula?)

It can feel like there’s no right way to do it. And there’s some truth to that.

Because what works for one family may not be feasible for another. But that’s OK.

Breast milk can provide certain benefits that formula can’t mimic. But breastfeeding, especially for long periods of time, might not work for everyone. Or you may have been given the impression that you’ve continued providing human milk long after others think you “should.”

No one should feel guilt, shame or otherwise crummy about how they feed their baby. Let’s face it, mom guilt is tough enough as it is.

So, we talked with board-certified breastfeeding medicine physician Heidi Szugye, DO, about breastfeeding recommendations.

How long to breastfeed

Science shows that if you can give your baby human milk (either your own or a donor’s), it has its benefits. And the longer, the better, experts recommend.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) share these recommendations for breastfeeding duration:

  • Newborn to 6 months: Exclusive human milk.
  • 6 months to 12 months: Mostly human milk while introducing solid foods.
  • 12 months to 24 months (and beyond): Mostly solid foods with some human milk, as mutually desired by parent and child.

Previous recommendations called for providing breast milk until age 1. But these newer guidelines (implemented in 2022) are based on the understanding that human milk has benefits that continue long after baby’s first birthday. And they help to remove stigmas associated with people who choose to extend breastfeeding into toddlerhood.

“These recommendations are a call to action for everyone, and that includes hospitals, pediatricians and all physicians that are taking care of families,” Dr. Szugye states. “We want to make sure our practices and policies are set up to support people who choose to breastfeed beyond the first year of their child’s life.”

Think of the guidelines as the best-case scenario. If it works for you, your family, your child, your body and your life to breastfeed for two years or longer, you’re doing a great thing. And there’s no reason to stop until you and your child are ready.

If it doesn’t work for you, that’s OK, too. Your worth as a parent and your love for your child can’t be measured in ounces of milk.

Benefits of extended breastfeeding

The recommendations are based on research showing that human milk has some big benefits. And those perks continue for as long as you continue to supply it.

“Breastfeeding offers tremendous benefits — from custom-made nutrition and increased immunity to protecting you against some forms of cancer. And those benefits don’t go away as your baby ages,” Dr. Szugye shares. “We have more and more data supporting that there are benefits to breastfeeding for more than one year when possible.”

Breastfeeding can offer both you and your baby some big benefits:

Benefits for lactating parentsBenefits for baby
Lower risk of developing conditions like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.Decreased risk for ear infections, respiratory infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, SIDS, leukemia, diabetes, obesity, asthma and eczema.

“There are a lot of immunologic factors and components to human milk,” Dr. Szugye says. “One big advantage to human milk is that you pass antibodies to the baby. So, if you’re exposed to a respiratory illness or GI illness, those antibodies are passed on to the baby and then that makes them less likely to get sick. And if they do get sick, it’s less severe. It’s almost like a built-in immunity.”

Keeping up milk supply for the long haul

Some people can make enough milk to breastfeed for as long as they and their babies choose. But some don’t. At least not without taking some steps to keep it up.

If you suspect your supply is dwindling as your child gets older, there are ways to help promote more milk production if you want.

“Many people notice their supply drop and mistakenly assume it won’t return,” Dr. Szugye notes. “But if you want to continue to breastfeed, there are options that could help.”

If a supply boost is in order, you can try:

  • Nursing more often — Add sessions as long as your child will nurse. If you’re away from them during the day, try early evenings, mornings or weekends.
  • Pumping strategies — An extra session or several short “power pumping” sessions (think five to 10 minutes throughout the day) for several days in a row can trigger your body to make more milk.
  • Breast massage and compression — Easy-to-learn techniques can improve drainage when nursing or pumping.
  • Take care of yourself — Reduce stress, rest when possible, hydrate and eat a balanced diet with an extra 500 calories a day to support breastfeeding.

Not an ‘all-or-nothing’

If two or more years of breastfeeding seems daunting, remember that you have options.

For starters, giving your child human milk doesn’t always mean latching them to your breast and nursing. That’s just one way to do it. Pumping milk and putting it in a bottle, cup or spoon are also options.

And you may find that a donor bank could be a route to explore if you don’t lactate or if you have concerns about a low milk supply. Donor milk is pasteurized, screened for drugs, medications and infections, and tested for bacterial contamination before it’s stored and made available for purchase.

“Reach out to your pediatrician or women’s healthcare provider if you’re interested in obtaining donor milk. You may need a prescription from a healthcare provider,” Dr. Szugye suggests.

Remember, too, that any amount of human milk can be a benefit. If keeping up with your baby’s breastfeeding demands becomes too high a burden, there are alternatives.

Some parents may find that supplementing with formula (or other foods and milk after baby turns 1) can help give your child some human milk, while keeping up with their nutritional needs — and not burning yourself out in the process.

“It’s not an all-or-nothing thing,” Dr. Szugye reassures. “Any amount of human milk you can give is a benefit. If it doesn’t work for you to constantly supply human milk, that’s OK. We’re all just doing our best.”

If breastfeeding is going well for both you and your child, there’s no reason to give it up until you’re both ready to.

Feeding a baby is tough work, no matter how you do it. And chances are, you’re doing a fantastic job.

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Avulsed Tooth

Overview

What is an avulsed tooth?

An avulsed tooth (knocked-out tooth) is a tooth that’s knocked out of its socket and, often, out of your mouth. Healthcare providers may call this dental avulsion.

Avulsed teeth are a type of dental trauma and require immediate treatment. If this happens to you or someone else, you may be able to save the tooth by putting it back in the socket right away. This is reinsertion or replantation. If you can’t put the tooth back, keep it moist and contact your dentist for an emergency appointment or go to an emergency room.

Are avulsed teeth common?

It’s a common issue. Every year, more than 5 million people in the U.S. have their teeth knocked out (avulsed). Most avulsed teeth involve your incisors. These are the teeth at the front of your mouth in your upper and lower jaw. While anyone can have a tooth knocked from their mouth, this issue mostly occurs in kids ages 7 to 11.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of an avulsed tooth?

Symptoms of a tooth avulsion may include:

  • A gap in your mouth where your tooth used to be.
  • Mouth pain.
  • Bleeding.

What causes avulsed teeth?

It takes a lot of force to knock a tooth out of your mouth. The most common ways tooth avulsion happens are:

  • Falls.
  • Bicycle accidents.
  • Injuries from participating in contact sports like football, hockey, lacrosse, rugby and martial arts.
  • Traffic accidents.
  • Assaults.

Diagnosis and Tests

How are avulsed teeth diagnosed?

That depends on your situation. If you can place your tooth in its socket, a healthcare provider may check the tooth and then begin treatment. If you bring your tooth to the provider, they may examine your mouth for any other injury before replacing your tooth in its socket. They’ll ask what happened. For example, if your tooth was knocked from your mouth in a hard fall, they may check for signs of head injury, like a concussion.

Management and Treatment

What should I do if a tooth is avulsed?

Avulsed teeth are dental emergencies and require immediate treatment. To save your tooth, try reinserting (replanting) your tooth right away. Teeth treated within 30 minutes to one hour have the best chance of success. Here’s how to do that:

  • Pick up your tooth by the crown (white chewing surface).
  • Rinse your tooth with water or milk to remove any dirt. Avoid using soap, and don’t scrub or dry the tooth.
  • Gently place your tooth back into the socket, root first. Hold your tooth by the crown and avoid touching the root.
  • Bite on a napkin, gauze or handkerchief to anchor your tooth in place.
  • Contact a dentist for an emergency appointment so they can check your tooth.

If you can’t reinsert your tooth, store it in milk — not water — until you can see a dentist. Milk is the best protection. But you can also store your tooth in your cheek, tucked against your gum or under your tongue. Saliva pooling in your cheek or under your tongue will keep your tooth wet.

How do dentists treat an avulsed tooth?

If you put your tooth into its socket, your dentist will make sure your tooth is in the right position. They’ll place a splint on your tooth to anchor it to your surrounding teeth.

They’ll follow the same process if they need to reinsert your tooth. They may schedule a root canal if your tooth avulsion leads to an infection in your tooth pulp.

What should I do after my tooth is put back in its socket?

To help protect your tooth after reinsertion, you should:

  • Consume only soft food and liquids for two weeks.
  • Avoid foods that are too cold or too hot.
  • Brush gently with a soft toothbrush after each meal.
  • Rinse with an antibacterial chlorhexidine mouthwash two times a day for two weeks.
  • Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as needed for pain relief.
  • Avoid contact sports.

Complications of tooth replantation

You may develop some of the complications listed below:

  • Ankylosis: Your replanted tooth may fuse to your alveolar bone and sink into your gum tissue. Your alveolar bone is part of your jawbone. It holds your tooth sockets.
  • Apical periodontitis: The tissue around your tooth becomes inflamed and tender.
  • Inflammatory root resorption: If your tooth’s root system breaks down, your tooth will loosen in the socket and may fall out.
  • Pulp canal obliteration (PCO): This is when you have hard tissue deposits along the walls of the root canal space in your tooth. PCO is usually painless but can lead to pulp necrosis.
  • Pulp necrosis: Your tooth pulp may die. When that happens, you’ll need a root canal or your dentist may need to extract (pull) your tooth.

What happens if my tooth can’t be replaced in my socket?

If your dentist can’t replace your tooth, they may recommend one of the following treatments:

  • Partial denture: Dentures are removable oral appliances that replace missing teeth. A partial denture holds artificial teeth. The denture rests on your gums and hooks onto nearby teeth.
  • Dental bridge: Bridges fill the gap left by your avulsed tooth. They consist of dental crowns that fit over your natural teeth on either side of the gap and artificial teeth that bridge the gap between your teeth.
  • Dental implant: Dental implants are replacement teeth. They’re permanent metal screws that secure artificial or fake teeth — like dental crowns, dental bridges or dentures — in place.

Outlook / Prognosis

What can I expect if I have an avulsed tooth?

If you or your dentist reinserts your avulsed tooth, you’ll have regular follow-up appointments with your dentist so they can check on your tooth. You may see your dentist a month after treatment and then every three months after treatment for the first year. You’ll have annual checkups for the next five years.

How long do reinserted avulsed teeth last?

A reinserted tooth may stay in place for 10 to 20 years. But the tooth will come loose or fall out at some point during your lifetime. When that happens, you’ll need replacement treatment, like a partial denture, dental bridge or dental implant.

Prevention

Can I prevent an avulsed tooth?

You may not be able to prevent everything that can knock a tooth from its socket and your mouth, like being hit in the face in an accident or during a fight.

But this issue usually happens when people play contact sports where there’s a chance they’ll be hit in the mouth — like football, basketball or hockey. If you play those sports, wearing a mouth guard may protect your teeth.

Living With

How do I take care of myself?

The most important thing is to protect your replanted tooth while it heals:

  • Leave it be: Your dentist will put a splint on your tooth to keep it in place during healing, so don’t poke at it with your finger or your tongue.
  • Easy does it: Eat soft foods for at least two weeks, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and be gentle as you brush.
  • Follow-up: Your dentist will schedule regular follow-up appointments to confirm your replanted tooth is stable. Your dentist will also check for complications.
  • Protect your teeth: Wear a mouth guard anytime you play contact sports.

When should I see my dentist?

If you have a replanted tooth, you should see your dentist if you experience:

What questions should I ask my dentist?

You may want to ask the following questions about your avulsed tooth:

  • When will I know if the replantation process is successful?
  • Will I need a root canal?

Additional Common Questions

Why do I need to put an avulsed tooth in milk?

Milk has the best combination of proteins and antibacterial protection to protect your tooth until it’s replaced in your socket.

I only found part of my tooth. Can I put it back into its socket?

Never try to only put part of your tooth back into the socket. See a dentist as soon as you can. They may take a dental X-ray to look for root damage before treating your tooth.

Should an avulsed baby tooth be replanted?

No, it’s not a good idea to reinsert a baby tooth. Reinserting the tooth may lead to issues with the permanent tooth that’ll replace the baby tooth.

What should I do if I can’t find my tooth after it’s knocked out?

You may have swallowed or aspirated (breathed in) your tooth. Swallowed teeth are usually harmless. But breathing in a tooth may cause lung infections like aspiration pneumonia. Tell your provider you may have breathed in your tooth. They’ll do a chest X-ray to make sure your tooth hasn’t gone into your lungs.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

An avulsed tooth is a medical emergency. If you move quickly, you can save your knocked-out tooth. If you’re hit in the mouth and your tooth is knocked from its socket, your first step is to put it back into its socket. Your second step is contacting a dentist for an emergency appointment or going to the emergency room. If you or your dentist can reinsert your tooth, it may stay in place for many years to come.

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Dark Chocolate: The Perfect Snack for Stress Relief and Heart Health

cleve chocolate

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Dr. Caoimhe Hartley @blackrock_health Women’s Health Centre

drcaoimhehartley

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  • At my desk in the @blackrock_health Women’s Health Centre – and genuinely loving the incredible set-up.

    A space designed for integrated, evidence-based women’s healthcare.

    Rapid diagnostics. Multidisciplinary collaboration.
    And most importantly – care built around women’s lives, not the other way around.

    Grateful to work alongside such a talented team delivering world-class care every day. 💫21h
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Dr. Caoimhe Hartley @blackrock_health Women’s Health Centre

drcaoimhehartley

•

  • At my desk in the @blackrock_health Women’s Health Centre – and genuinely loving the incredible set-up.

    A space designed for integrated, evidence-based women’s healthcare.

    Rapid diagnostics. Multidisciplinary collaboration.
    And most importantly – care built around women’s lives, not the other way around.

    Grateful to work alongside such a talented team delivering world-class care every day. 💫21h