Hoarse Voice, What To Do?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Hoarse voice, what to do?

The reasons for hoarseness in the voice can be very diverse. A similar symptom often occurs in both an adult and a child. Before starting treatment, you need to find out why the voice has become hoarse.

Content:

• Hoarseness in voice
• Symptoms of a hoarse voice
• Causes of a hoarse voice
• Diagnostics
• What to do if the throat is hoarse?
• What shouldn't be done?
• When to see a doctor?
• Prevention

Hoarseness in voice

Hoarseness is not a disease, but a symptom of certain disorders in the body. Moreover, they can be very diverse. If viruses, fungi or bacteria get on the ligaments, they change their shape, become uneven, and lengthen. The more the vocal cord is deformed, the more noticeable the hoarseness. To find out the cause of the violation, you need to contact a specialist.

It is impossible to control the resulting hoarseness in the voice. The normal vibrations of the vocal cords are disturbed, therefore, in addition to hoarseness, hoarseness and muffled tone may be observed. The ligaments of a wheezing person are subjected to intense stress, the patient can only speak in a whisper. In severe cases, the voice may disappear altogether. In this case, the doctor indicates aphonia.

Symptoms of a hoarse voice

In addition to hoarseness, a person may experience sensations such as:

• A sore throat.
• Dyspnea.
• Dry mouth.
• Discomfort while eating.

You should not wait until these symptoms go away on their own. You need to see a doctor and start treatment. This will prevent the development of serious complications.

Causes of a hoarse voice

Hoarseness in the voice can be triggered by both pathological and physiological reasons. Physiological factors include loud screaming or singing, prolonged conversation and other circumstances that force a person to overstrain the ligaments. Therefore, it is not surprising that singers, announcers, teachers often suffer from hoarseness. The use of alcoholic beverages, as well as smoking, negatively affects the condition of the ligaments.

Pathological causes of hoarseness in the voice include:

• Infectious diseases. Ligaments can be damaged by inflammation of the airways. A similar symptom is observed with tracheitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, influenza, tonsillitis, fungal infections and ARVI. In addition to hoarseness in the voice, the patient has a sore throat and cough. The chronic course of the disease threatens the development of complications. Sometimes they lead to a complete loss of voice, or to its change. An example of irreversible changes is the coarseness of the voice, lowering its tone.
• Poisoning by chemicals. Pain and burning in the throat, hoarseness in the voice and other accompanying symptoms develop with ammonia poisoning. In addition, such violations are observed when chlorine or fluorine enters the body in large quantities.

• Endocrine system diseases. Voice changes in hypothyroid patients. With this disease, the thyroid gland is not able to perform its functions to the full.
• Taking hormones and iodine-containing drugs can cause hoarseness in the voice.
• Dehydration of the body. In this case, hoarseness develops against the background of dry ligaments.
• Allergy. With an allergic reaction, the throat swells, the respiratory function suffers, and hoarseness appears. In severe cases, shortness of breath may develop, the skin becomes pale, and physical weakness increases. If you do not provide help to the patient in time, he may lose consciousness, fall into a coma and even die.
• Damage to the nervous system. A person's voice becomes hoarse due to the fact that the nerve patency of the vocal cords suffers. In addition to hoarseness in the voice, a person may complain of a feeling of numbness in the throat. Such symptoms cannot be ignored, as they can indicate such serious diseases as: syphilis, thyroid cancer, botulism and even rabies.
• Vocal cord neoplasms. They can be represented by both benign and malignant cells. Any tumor is foreign, so it will negatively affect the state of the vocal cords, preventing them from relaxing normally. In addition to hoarseness in the voice, a person may experience pain of varying intensity, he is haunted by a cough, and there are problems with the respiratory system. Cancer tumors often cause complete loss of voice.
• Burn. Aggressive substances injure the vocal cords and lead to hoarseness. This reaction can be caused by tobacco smoke, strong alcohol, vinegar, and household chemicals. Chronic damage to the vocal cords occurs with reflux esophagitis. Their tissues are exposed to hydrochloric acid from the stomach, which is thrown into the esophagus.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures that are prescribed for patients with a hoarse voice:

• Laryngoscopy. The doctor examines the throat and identifies the affected areas.
• CT. With the help of tomography, it is possible to detect tumor neoplasms that press on the ligaments. Tomography is not performed on pregnant women and children.
• Ultrasound. The research is aimed at detecting tumors located in the throat.

What to do if the throat is hoarse?

If, in addition to hoarseness, a person has other pathological symptoms, then you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will identify the cause of the disorder and prescribe treatment. It is often done with prescription drugs.

A specialist who treats aphonia or dysphonia is called an otolaryngologist. You can also contact a phoniatrist.

Drug treatment

You can get rid of hoarseness in your voice only after the cause that caused this pathological symptom is eliminated.

For therapy, drugs are prescribed such as:

• Lozenges.
• Sprays with anti-inflammatory effect.
• Expectorant drugs.
• Antihistamines.

If hoarseness is a consequence of a cold, or excessive tension in the ligaments, then you can get rid of it with the help of special pills. They need to be absorbed. Taking such drugs can soften a sore throat, make your voice softer. The most popular remedies for hoarseness are: Falimint, Faringosept, Strepsils, Anti-Angin, Septolete.

Sprays are convenient because the medicine is delivered directly to the area of inflammation. This allows you to quickly get rid of hoarseness and other symptoms of the disease. Sprays are prescribed for angina and laryngitis.

Trade names of drugs:

• Tantum Verde
• Strepsils
• Ingalipt
• Teraflu Lar
• Chlorophyllipt
• Aquamaris
• Miramistin
• Camenton

Each of these drugs has a specific effect: it fights bacteria and viruses, destroys pathogenic flora, moisturizes a sore throat, eliminates perspiration, relieves pain, relieves inflammation, and relieves cough.

Hoarseness is a common symptom of laryngitis. With this disease, a person suffers from a severe barking cough. It irritates the larynx and vocal cords, causing voice changes. If the treatment is chosen correctly, then it will be possible to cope with the problem as soon as possible. The doctor necessarily prescribes medicines that thin the phlegm and promote its discharge from the respiratory tract.

To cope with hoarseness, you need to not only take medications, but also drink as much water as possible.

The following drugs have mucolytic properties:

• Bromhexine.
• Codelac.
• Acetylcysteine.
• Amtersol.
• Pertussin.

Colds are not always the cause of hoarseness. Sometimes this symptom appears against the background of an allergic reaction of the body.

In this case, you need to take antihistamines, including:

• Loratadin.
• Zyrtec.
• Zodak.
• Claritin.
• Cetrin.

These drugs belong to the latest generation of drugs, so they do not give pronounced side effects, do not cause drowsiness and lethargy. Thanks to their use, swelling from the throat is removed, the voice is restored, the hoarseness disappears.

To get rid of hoarseness of the voice, it is recommended to supplement the treatment with inhalation. They are performed using a special device - a nebulizer. The substances that pass through it do not heat up, do not irritate the mucous membrane of the throat and tissue of the ligaments. Preparations that can be used for inhalation: Lazolvan, Ambrobene, Acetylcysteine, Dioxidin.

Effects of inhalation with a nebulizer:

• Moisturizing the mucous membranes.
• Dilution and removal of phlegm from the respiratory system.
• Improving the condition of the vocal cords.
• Reducing the intensity of the cough reflex.

If your voice is hoarse, you need to gargle. This procedure helps to relieve puffiness and restore its mucous membranes. You need to treat a sore throat at least 5 times a day. Preparations that have an anti-inflammatory and disinfecting effect: Stopangin, Rotokan, Miramistin, Hexoral, Tantum Verde.

Video: Life is great: why am I hoarse? What makes your voice disappear?

What shouldn't be done?

If a person has a hoarse voice, the following actions are prohibited to him:

• You can't sing loudly, shout and talk. Ligaments must be protected.
• Vasoconstrictor drugs should not be taken. They help dry out the mucous membranes.
• Do not drink drinks that are a source of caffeine. They refuse coffee at all, one should not get carried away with strong tea and energy drinks. However, clean water should be drunk as much as possible.
• It is forbidden to smoke, as well as to be in smoky areas.
• Sour foods should be avoided. It is allowed to eat only lemons, but in combination with honey.
• You can not take alcoholic beverages, Alcohol not only negatively affects the condition of the ligaments, but also removes fluid from the body.
• Do not stay in dusty rooms. Small particles are able to settle on the vocal cords, increasing their inflammation.
• You should not be in the cold, as well as damp.

When to see a doctor?

In some cases, hoarseness in the voice cannot be tolerated.

You should immediately consult a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:

• Increased body temperature.
• Heavy sweating.
• Cough.
• Discharge of thick mucus when coughing.
• Dyspnea.
• Great weakness in the legs and body.
• Weight loss.
• Chest pain.
• Loss of appetite, nausea.

Self-treatment without knowing the cause of hoarseness is unacceptable. Taking inappropriate drugs can provoke a deterioration in well-being, or contribute to the transition of the disease into a chronic form.

Prevention

To keep your voice from getting hoarse, you need to follow these guidelines:

• Quit smoking.
• Temper your throat, do not drink ice water.
• Correct deviated nasal septa, provided that they negatively affect breathing. If this is not done, then the larynx and ligaments will experience significant stress.
• Regularly carry out wet cleaning in the house, to prevent dust accumulation.

It is easier to prevent any disease than to cure for a long time.

Author of the article: Alekseeva Maria Yurievna | Therapist

Education: From 2010 to 2016 Practitioner of the therapeutic hospital of the central medical-sanitary unit No. 21, city of elektrostal. Since 2016 she has been working in the diagnostic center No. 3.