You have lymph nodes throughout your body—they’re in your neck, armpits, chest, belly and groin area. Sometimes they get swollen. You might notice a lump when they do, and the site might feel sore or tender. Show
Most of the time, a swollen lymph node means your lymphatic system is doing its job. It’s trapping viruses, bacteria and pathogens and signaling your body to make white blood cells that can help you fight infections. “Rather than being something scary, most enlarged lymph nodes are a sign of a healthy immune system,” said Rebecca Moran, MD, a family medicine specialist at Banner Health Clinic in Phoenix. When you have swollen lymph nodes, you’ll probably notice other symptoms from whatever is causing them, such as fatigue, fever, sore throat, runny nose or other signs of infection. What causes swollen lymph nodes?It’s typically things like cold viruses, strep throat, mononucleosis or skin infections that cause swollen lymph nodes. But there can be other causes, too:
How can you prevent swollen lymph nodes?You can’t stop a lymph node from swelling as it fights off infections and other things that don’t belong in the body. “That is what they are designed to do, and we want them to do it,” Dr. Moran said. You can try to prevent the infections that lead to swollen lymph nodes by washing your hands, disinfecting surfaces, avoiding touching your nose and eyes and staying away from people with contagious infections. You can also help keep yourself healthy by getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding tobacco products. How can you treat tender lymph nodes?Tender lymph nodes will feel better when the underlying infection clears. If you have a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. A viral infection needs to run its course. In the meantime, you can apply warm compresses to your tender lymph nodes and take pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If an autoimmune disorder or cancer is causing your tender lymph nodes, your health care provider can provide treatments for those conditions. When should you be concerned about swollen lymph nodes?You don’t need to worry about your swollen lymph nodes most of the time. But you should talk to your health care provider if your swollen glands:
The bottom lineSwollen lymph nodes are a sign your body is fighting off infection, like it is supposed to do. But sometimes, they can signal a more serious problem. If you would like to talk to a health care provider who can help evaluate your lymph nodes, reach out to Banner Health. Swollen glands are a sign the body is fighting an infection. They usually get better by themselves within 2 weeks. Check if your glands are swollenSwollen glands feel like tender, painful lumps:
Glands (known as lymph glands or lymph nodes) swell near an infection to help your body fight it. Sometimes a gland on just one side of the body swells. You might also have other symptoms, such as a sore throat, cough or high temperature. Things you can do yourselfSwollen glands should go down within 2 weeks. You can help to ease the symptoms by:
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
Urgent advice: Get advice from 111 now if:
111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one. Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111. Other ways to get helpGet an urgent GP appointment A GP may be able to treat you. Ask your GP surgery for an urgent appointment. Causes of swollen glandsDo not self-diagnose – see a GP if you're worried. Swollen glands are:
A GP will be able to recommend treatment depending on the cause, which might include antibiotics (antibiotics do not work on viral infections). Should I be concerned if my lymph nodes are sore?See your doctor if you're concerned or if your swollen lymph nodes: Have appeared for no apparent reason. Continue to enlarge or have been present for two to four weeks. Feel hard or rubbery, or don't move when you push on them.
Is a painful lymph node serious?Swollen lymph glands are usually a sign of infection and tend to go down when you recover. However, they can sometimes have a more serious cause and may need to be seen by a doctor.
How can I stop my lymph nodes from hurting?If your swollen lymph nodes are tender or painful, you might get some relief by doing the following:. Apply a warm compress. Apply a warm, wet compress, such as a washcloth dipped in hot water and wrung out, to the affected area.. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. ... . Get adequate rest.. What does lymph node pain feel like?Swollen lymph nodes will feel like soft, round bumps, and they may be the size of a pea or a grape. They might be tender to the touch, which indicates inflammation. In some cases, the lymph nodes will also look larger than usual. Lymph nodes appear in parallel on both sides of the body.
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