INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Choose anti-inflammatory medications such as acetaminophen. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and let your doctor know that you're taking OTC pain relievers so they don't interfere with your other medications. OTC pain relievers can help you manage the pain of early ulcers. To ease the pain and discomfort of a throat ulcer, make a saltwater solution of 1 teaspoon (6 g) of baking soda mixed with 1 teaspoon (5 g) of salt and 4 cups (950 ml) of warm water. Gargle with the mixture for at least 30 seconds and then spit it out. You can gargle with saltwater as often as you like. For example, if you have severe ulcers, gargle every 1 to 2 hours. This helps prevent further irritation and worsening of the throat ulcer. Instead of eating crunchy foods that could scratch your throat or spicy foods that can cause irritation, eat smooth foods that are easy to swallow. Try soups, milkshakes, smoothies, or soft eggs. If the ulcer makes you more sensitive to heat, eat warm or cold foods instead of hot foods. Hot beverages can irritate the ulcer, causing your pain to worsen. Hot beverages can also prolong the healing process, since they aggravate the ulcer. Instead, opt for warm beverages, which will help soothe the ulcer. For example, you could start your morning with warm tea rather than coffee. Unfortunately, caffeine, chocolate, mint, citrus, and hot spices can all aggravate your throat ulcer. Luckily, this is easy to avoid by cutting out these foods until your ulcer heals. Wait until your throat is completely healed before reintroducing them to your diet, as they could cause the ulcer to worsen. If the throat ulcer is causing bad breath or your ulcer was caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, spend a little more time brushing your teeth. Remember to brush your tongue to remove bacteria that linger between your taste buds. You can brush your teeth more than 2 times a day, if you're concerned about bad breath. To prevent inflammation and irritation in your throat, try to cut back or stop smoking or chewing tobacco. Alcohol has also been shown to irritate sensitive throats. If you don't want to quit smoking, consider temporarily stopping until your throat ulcer heals. Since throat ulcers can be caused by several things, you may experience a variety of symptoms. If you have a throat ulcer or symptoms of other conditions, you might feel like there's a lump in your throat or that you need to cough in order to clear your throat. You may also experience:  An open wound or wounds on your soft or hard palate A sore throat Discomfort while eating or drinking Fever and chills Joint pain Trouble swallowing or difficulty eating Heartburn or chest pain Bad breath Nausea or vomiting If you think you have a throat ulcer and it doesn't start feeling better within 1 to 2 days, call your doctor. The doctor will do a physical exam and look at your throat. They'll probably do a throat swab to check for bacteria and run blood or urine tests. The doctor can also order imaging tests to identify ulcers in your throat. It's important to get medical treatment because your throat ulcer may be caused by an underlying medical condition that also needs treatment. Go over your medical history with the doctor so they can accurately diagnose the cause of the throat ulcer. With a proper diagnosis, the doctor can make an effective treatment plan. Throat ulcers can be caused by:  Gastrointestinal reflux (GERD) Injury Ingestion of corrosive agents Excessive vomiting Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy Bacterial infections Fungal infections such as thrush Viral infections Herpes simplex virus (HSV) HIV Inflammatory diseases Excessive coughing or use of voice Your treatment plan will depend on the cause of the ulcer. For example, if a viral infection is causing the ulcer, the doctor will prescribe antiviral medications. For bacterial or fungal infections, you'll get antibiotics or antifungals. If your throat ulcer is caused by cancer treatments, the doctor may recommend changing your diet and they'll talk with you about proper oral care. For example, you may need to brush your teeth and tongue 3 to 4 times a day and avoid eating spicy foods. Ask your doctor for a prescription mouthwash that has a local anesthetic such as lidocaine. This can numb your throat and temporarily relieve pain. Some prescription mouthwashes can reduce inflammation which may speed the healing process. Be sure to follow the directions for use because some lidocaine mouthwashes are meant to be swished and then swallowed.

SUMMARY: Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Gargle with a warm saltwater solution. Adjust your diet to include smooth, mild foods. Avoid drinking hot beverages. Stay away from caffeine and irritating foods. Brush your teeth and tongue at least 2 times a day. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Recognize signs of a throat ulcer. Get a medical exam. Talk with your doctor about possible causes of the ulcer. Take prescription medications. Rinse your mouth with a pain-relieving mouthwash.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Establishing goals for yourself is an important part of using your time wisely. Though you are likely working towards more comprehensive accomplishments, specific goals are more helpful for study sessions. Avoid vague, immeasurable goals such as “Read for philosophy class.” Instead, give yourself the goal of reading 15 pages of Sartre and writing a few paragraphs about the test.  Similarly, instead of “study for biology exam,” establish the goal to “complete 2 of chapter three’s worksheets.” In order to be achievable, your goals should take a short, realistic amount of time to reach. Establishing the goal of studying for 28 hours next week doesn’t actually help you study for 30 hours next. However, deciding to study 4 hours every day next week can help compel you to reach 28 hours of studying! You’re already planning on starting a paper tomorrow and it’s already late. However, an idea occurs to you. Take advantage of moments such as these by sitting down to record your thoughts. You don’t necessarily need to start writing, but you can get a head start on tomorrow’s tasks by reading the paper’s prompt and nailing down your specific topic. Carry around a small notebook and pen at all times or use the Notes app on your phone. Break up any study session longer than 90 minutes. In fact, plan to study for only 45-90 minutes at a time, with 10-15 minutes breaks in between focused sessions.  Try to establish a schedule that incorporates 3 total hours of studying each day, broken into multiple study sessions. If possible, study during the day, as opposed to the evening, as your mind will be able to focus better and your memory will retain more. Once a month, spend a few minutes reflecting on your long-term goals. Are the ways you’re spending your time contributing to the achievement of those goals? If not, look for ways to tweak your schedule and behavior to ensure you’re on track to meet your goals both short and long term.

SUMMARY:
Assign yourself specific, measurable tasks. Work towards attainable, realistic goals. Work when thoughts arise. Take study breaks. Reflect on long terms goals periodically.