Hoarseness is often very annoying and hinders daily activities. Recognizing the various causes of hoarseness, can help you to prevent and treat various problems associated with hoarseness.
Basically sound is produced by the vibration of the two vocal cords in the throat, precisely in the larynx. If the function of the throat is disturbed, the sound that comes out of the mouth can become hoarse. Before your activities are interrupted, you should find out the cause of hoarseness and how to overcome it.
Various Conditions That Can Cause Hoarseness
The sound produced by each person is different, depending on the shape and size of the vocal cords, throat, nose, and mouth. Generally the voice becomes hoarse because the function of the throat and its organs is disturbed. There are several conditions that can cause hoarseness, including:
- Too much noiseYelling, screaming, cheering, crying, talking very loudly or quickly, singing loudly, and talking for too long can temporarily cause your voice to become hoarse. This hoarse voice can be relieved by resting, reducing the use of voice and drinking lots of water. But sometimes, the hoarse voice of singers, teachers, publicc speaker, or those whose work depends on sound, are difficult to cure so sound therapy is needed to overcome this.
- Sore throatSore throat is sometimes accompanied by hoarseness. Sore throat is very common in children aged 5-15 years. However, adults of all ages can also experience it. Strep throat can be passed from one person to another and interfere with the function of the throat. To treat this condition, doctors can give antibiotics and throat lozenges. In addition, people with strep throat are also advised to drink lots of water and gargle with salt water.
- LaryngitisLaryngitis is one of the most common causes of hoarseness. Laryngitis can cause the vocal cords to swell due to allergies, respiratory infections, or the flu. There are different ways to treat laryngitis, depending on the cause. If this condition occurs due to an upper respiratory infection or flu, you just need to get enough rest, drink plenty of water and take over-the-counter painkillers. However, if the laryngitis is caused by allergies, anti-allergic drugs or antihistamines are needed.
To avoid hoarseness, always try to maintain general health and throat function. You can take several ways to maintain a healthy throat, for example by drinking more water, reducing alcohol and caffeine, not smoking, and eating nutritious foods. Visit the doctor if the complaint feels more disturbing, to get the needed treatment.
