Have you ever heard a person speak in a raspy or hoarse voice? Hoarseness of voice is a common condition that affects both men and women. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including vocal strain, allergies, acid reflux, and even certain medications. In this blog post, we’ll explore the causes of hoarseness and what you can do to address it.
What is Hoarseness of Voice?
Hoarseness is defined as an abnormal change in the quality or pitch of the voice. It can range from being simply irritating to affecting everyday life activities such as talking on the phone or giving presentations. It can last for days or weeks at a time and may come and go intermittently.
Causes of Hoarseness
There are many possible causes for hoarseness, some more serious than others. Common causes include:
• Vocal strain – speaking loudly for extended periods of time or straining your vocal chords through singing can cause temporary hoarseness;
• Allergies – airborne allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, etc., can irritate your vocal chords;
• Acid reflux – when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus it can affect your vocal chords; and
• Medications – certain drugs such as ACE inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure can also cause hoarseness.
Other less common but more serious causes include thyroid issues and cancer. If you experience frequent bouts of hoarseness that last longer than two weeks or if you experience any other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or pain when speaking then it’s important to see your doctor for further evaluation and treatment.
Treatment Options
If your hoarseness is caused by vocal strain then rest is typically all that is needed to allow the vocal chords to heal properly. Other treatments may include avoiding irritants such as smoke or perfume, drinking plenty of fluids to keep the throat moistened, using a humidifier in dry climates, using saline nasal drops to reduce sinus congestion, avoiding over-the-counter decongestants (which may aggravate symptoms), and using humidified air therapy (if prescribed by your doctor). For chronic cases, speech therapy may be beneficial in helping retrain weakened muscles in order to restore normal speech patterns.
Hoarseness of voice is a common condition that can be caused by many different things including viral infections, allergies, acid reflux disease, vocal strain from overuse/abuse/misuse, medications, and even cancer in rare cases. Fortunately, there are many effective treatment options available from simple lifestyle changes like resting your voice and drinking plenty of fluids to speech therapy if necessary.
If you suspect that something more serious might be causing your hoarse voice then make sure to consult with your doctor right away for proper diagnosis and treatment.
