India, July 10 -- you swallow, and suddenly, there is an unexpected, uncomfortable scratchiness in the back of your throat. While a sudden sore throat can instantly spark anxiety about a brewing illness, Dr Kunal Sood, a US-based physician in anesthesiology and interventional pain medicine, explained in a July 10 Instagram post that the culprit is usually far less alarming than it seems.

He said in the video he posted: "When a sore throat hits out of nowhere, most people assume something serious is starting. But it usually comes from a very few common triggers."

Instead of panicking, understanding the physiology behind that sudden irritation can help you handle it effectively. Here is a breakdown of what is actually happening to your bo...