# How/Why does a cold make your throat sore?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 18, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215 "2003-10-18T17:44:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215/1 "2003-10-18T17:44:38Z")

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i know that sinus problems (to put it nicely) are a result of your body trying to rid itself of germs (whatever might be making you sick - viruses, bacteria, whatever) through mucus. but what causes sore throat? it’s not a way to get rid of germs is it? or is it an irritation due to substances germs produce?

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**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215/2 "2003-10-18T17:48:28Z")

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Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with this phenomenon at the moment. I think my sore throat is primarily caused by having clogged nasal passages that force me to breathe through my mouth.

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**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215/3 "2003-10-18T17:53:25Z")

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heh. yeah, i used to have so many colds when i was little (and having gigantic tonsils didn’t help any); so whenever i got over a cold for a short time, i’d forget that i didn’t have to breathe thru my mouth.

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**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215/4 "2003-10-18T18:00:26Z")

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You body’s first line of defense consists of the natural killer cells. While your other immune cells are setting to the task of manufacturing antibodies, the natural killer cells start zapping the invaders immediately. Unfortunately, the natural killer cells are not especially discriminate about what they shoot at – sometimes they hit the invaders and sometimes they hit your own cells. The sore throat results from all of your own cells that get killed.

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215/5 "2003-10-18T18:58:27Z")

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[hijack]  
I’m dying and I have no meds. Is gargling with salt water really bad for me?  
[/hijack]

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**Author:** ![MasterChief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@MasterChief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MasterChief)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215/6 "2003-10-18T19:22:45Z")

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I think that it’s also due to toxins that bacteria liberates in ur thoat.

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**Author:** ![DaisyFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@DaisyFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaisyFace)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215/7 "2003-10-18T23:47:02Z")

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Don’t forget post-nasal drip! (yuck)

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**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-why-does-a-cold-make-your-throat-sore/208215/8 "2003-10-18T23:56:01Z")

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Gargling with salt water really helps me when I get a sore throat. Not a doctor, TV or otherwise.