Hoarseness is one of the most annoying complaints we may suffer. It is not pleasant to have a “frog in the throat” or a proven voice or to cough every time we need to speak.
Cause of hoarseness
Scratching or pain in the throat are usually caused by bacterial inflammation. Another cause may be an allergy, smoking or drying of the mouth and throat mucous membranes.
Symptoms
Hoarseness refers to a pathological change in the voice. Some of the symptoms are choppy speech, rough voice and changes in pitch or volume of the voice.
A change in the voice is accompanied by disorders of the vocal cords, which are responsible for our voice. When breathing the vocal cords are open, that is they are right and left on the laryngeal wall. When speaking or singing, they lie close together and the airflow from the lungs causes them to vibrate, creating a sound. Swelling or bulges in the vocal cords block this vibration, which results in an alteration in the quality of voice, tone and volume.
Treatment
The treatment of hoarseness, of course, depends on the cause. Most of the time, some protection is enough. Often we use our vocal cords wrong, have a “pressed” voice. Here comes the speech therapist, who shows a gentler approach and use of the vocal cords.
Sometimes there is nothing left to do to remove the swelling or the knot of the vocal cords with general anesthesia.
TIPS
- Do not smoke
- Avoid passive smoking
- Enough hydration
- Take a mucus remover
- Avoid dehydrating factors such as alcohol and caffeine
- Do not have too dry air in the apartment
- Eat something spicy (this stimulates saliva production)
- Do not try to overstrain the voice
- Use a microphone in the appropriate situation
- Not talking or singing, if the voice is already hoarse an