Hoarseness refers to the change in the texture of sound quality. The sound may become hoarse, whispery and raspy. Many other things are observed along with the change in the quality of sound. You might experience a dry throat and itching sensation in the respiratory tract.
The changes which may accompany this hoarse sound may also include some transposition in the loudness of sound and may also include alterations in the pitch of your sound.
There are many reasons for hoarseness and in many cases, these causes may not require any immediate medical intervention. The hoarseness of sound eventually gets better within a span of mere 5 to 6 days. But if hoarseness persists for more than 3 weeks, seek medical assistance right away.
Let us discuss the major reasons for this phenomenon and we will also try to discover suitable hoarseness treatments that will surely work for you. So let us jump straight into the discussion.
Table of Contents
Overview
Hoarseness or dysphonia is not a severe health concern. So it doesn’t require many high potency antibiotics for its treatment. The ratio of the patients referring to the doctors is also very low. Only 6% of the total affected individuals seek medical assistance. To understand the reasons for hoarseness it is essential to first understand the basic mechanism of voice production.
The voice which we make is due to vocal cords(layers of muscle, nothing special!) present in the neck region just above your windpipe. The air passing through the windpipe sets these vocal cords in motion and as a result, voice is produced.
So the changes in the quality of your voice or hoarseness are all due to changes in these muscles’ layers.
As we are now aware of the basic mechanism let us now discuss the major reasons for hoarseness.
Reasons for Hoarseness
Out of a bunch of reasons, we have sorted out some major reasons for hoarseness.
1- Inflammation of Vocal Cords
The major reason for the hoarseness is the inflammation of the vocal cords. There can be many causes for this inflammation. From the common cold to viral infections, these vocal cords can be easily affected due to enhanced sensitivity associated with them.
The inflammation of the vocal cords is referred to as laryngitis. The inflammation can also be due to upper respiratory tract infections.
The doctors will recommend suitable medicines accordingly to treat the causes of this raspy sound.
However, there is a point that should be considered. If you are facing hoarseness with no other related symptoms of common cold and flu, you should seek medical assistance right away. This may hint at some other underlying disorders that need to be examined by the otolaryngologist or in other words ENT specialist.
2- Acid Reflux in Oesophagus
The other main reason for the deteriorating quality of your voice and sound is the acid reflux from the stomach into the oesophagus. The acidic stomach content might irritate the vocal cords hence leading to perturbed voice texture.
3- Neurological Disorders
There are some neurological aspects related to voice hoarseness. There are many nervous disorders in which the control over skeletal muscles is greatly reduced or diminished. One such nervous disorder is Parkinson’s disease.
The person suffering from this ailment will face a gradual reduction in the control over the skeletal and smooth muscles of the body. So the control over the vocal cords (muscles) will also be lost.
4- Speaking At the Top of Your Lungs
There are certain compulsions when a person has to speak at the top of their lungs. This overuse of voice results in hoarseness. As the vocal cords might get inflamed due to strenuous activity this will result in a raspy sound.
So if you are in any of the professions that are based on continuous speaking then consider taking breaks in between. The list of such professions is by no means exhaustive and includes teachers, singers and public speakers. These individuals have a greater tendency to develop chronic hoarseness.
5- Inhaling Harmful Substances
As we have already mentioned, vocal cords are sensitive and they can be easily irritated. So the immediate vicinity has a great role to play in bringing any substantial change in your voice quality. Smoking or passive smoking both can be counted as significant causes of hoarseness.
Treatment Options
Hoarseness treatment options depend upon the reasons that cause hoarseness in the first place. The available treatment options are as follows:
1- Anti-inflammatory Medicines
As discussed earlier, vocal cords are sensitive and they can get inflammation very easily. So to treat this inflammation, doctors may suggest taking anti-inflammatory substances for a while.
The best home remedy to treat inflammation is salt water. Take warm water and add some salt to it. Rinse the throat with this saline water and you will observe a considerable difference in the quality of sound.
2- Treating GERD
Consider taking less spicy and acidic food. These food items can cause acid reflux in the oesophagus and they can lead to hoarseness of voice. Try to eat less processed food during this period. The other healthy alternatives that can be included in the diet may include vegetables and fruits.
Side Read: If you are experiencing an upset stomach then try these home remedies which can help to settle the disturbed stomach after consuming spicy food.
3- Neurological Treatments
If the reason for hoarseness is some neurological disorder then try to seek medical care right away. The doctors will observe the underlying conditions. Upon carefully observing the condition, the doctors will prescribe the best solution.
4- Giving a Rest to Voice
If you are in a profession where your living depends on your voice then try to give a rest to your voice in between. Keep yourself hydrated and drink plenty of fluids. These fluids will help to keep the abrasion at a minimum.
One can also make use of throat lozenges which will keep the throat moist and protected.
If you still experience hoarseness of voice then try to seek advice from a speech therapist. The speech therapist will suggest different speaking styles which will help to minimise the load on vocal cords.
5- Maintaining a Healthy Schedule
Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Keep yourself away from harmful pollutants. Consider wearing masks while on the roads. One should use mouthwash and warm water to prevent all the pollutants from entering the air passageway.
The other thing that can be done in this regard is to quit smoking. Eliminate allergy-causing agents from your immediate vicinity. This will help in treating hoarseness,
Ways to Prevent Hoarseness
There are some other things that can be done to avoid catching hoarseness. Following are some ways to prevent hoarseness in the first place:
- Quit smoking and try to avoid passive smoking as much as you can.
- Keep yourself hydrated by consuming plenty of water and fluids.
- Use air humidifiers when possible.
- Try breathing exercises which will help in keeping the air passageway strong and healthy.
Side Read: If you have sensitivity issues then try these 7 breathing exercises which will help in a better breathing experience.
The Final Takeaway
Hoarseness can be caused due to many reasons. It is not a health problem but rather a sign is shown by your body to take the much-needed rest. There are plenty of options available from medicines to home remedies to treat hoarseness. If you are experiencing hoarseness and want to get a piece of advice from an ENT specialist. Then make an appointment today with the best ENT specialist in the area. To get yourself updated on more general health care issues, visit our website healthwire.
