The average person swallows about once every two minutes; something you will become painfully aware of if you have a sore throat! The average adult gets 2-3 sore throats a year. Older people tend to have them less frequently, as over time they build up immunity against many of the causative viruses. Throat symptoms are one of the most common reasons people go see their doctor, ranking above high blood pressure, back problems, and rashes. Most sore throats don’t need the care of a doctor, but which ones do? And how can we best care for the people coming to the pharmacy to see us for help? Remember, most people are busy, have jobs to go to and families to look after; they need to be at their best every day, so let’s help them feel as good as possible!