Hoarseness and Allergies

Vocal Cord Dysfunction

Some people with VCD may find their voice is hoarse but hoarseness by itself does not necessarily mean you have vocal cord dysfunction. The hoarseness may be caused by allergies or for some other reason, such as smoking or irritants in the air. Some singers have suffered from hoarseness by straining their vocal cords, overworking them and even rupturing them! Some of these require urgent medical attention.

Singing

Hoarseness can occur for many reasons. Sometimes, the cause is as simple as singing in the shower. Your voice box is the opening in your throat where air travels and hits two bands called vocal cords, which vibrate to produce sound. If your throat is irritated, you will notice your voice becoming croaky. If you have trouble speaking, consider consulting a physician.

While many causes of hoarseness are not serious, if you notice that your hoarseness is persistent or has worsened, you should see a doctor. The definition of “persistent” may vary depending on your healthcare provider, but it generally means that your symptoms have lasted at least two weeks and have been accompanied by other symptoms. If you suspect a serious condition, your doctor will perform a physical examination of your mouth and vocal cords, including a visual inspection with a mirror or camera attached to a thin tube.

If your hoarseness is severe, it’s best to consult an otolaryngologist. An otolaryngologist specializes in the health of the ears and throat. An otolaryngologist will examine your voice with a lighted, flexible tube called an endoscope. Your ENT will likely recommend special tests and prescribe treatment to alleviate your hoarseness.

Home Remedies For Hoarseness

If the cause is not obvious, you can try a few home remedies. Using a humidifier or chewing lozenges can relieve the symptoms. Taking a hot shower can also be beneficial. For chronic cases of hoarseness, you may need to visit a doctor. Home remedies for hoarseness include avoiding smoking and drinking lots of water, keeping hydrated, and using a humidifier. A few of these changes can relieve symptoms and even cure the condition.

Treatment for chronic hoarseness is dependent on the underlying cause. A physical examination and a detailed medical history help your doctor identify the underlying cause. Your physician will also ask questions about the cause of your hoarseness and may conduct a fiberoptic scope test to see if there is an infection. Early treatment is important, as it can reduce damage to your throat and avoid complications. If you don’t seek treatment immediately, you may be unable to overcome your condition.

Smoking

Smoking raises the risk of throat cancer. In addition to making you voice sound drier, smoking can damage your vocal cords, lowering the pitch and blocking your airway. If your hoarseness persists for more than a few weeks, it is time to visit an ENT. Smokers also tend to experience hoarseness. You can reduce your risk by cutting down on your intake of tobacco and alcohol.

Allergies

Common causes of hoarseness include cold, allergies, and inhaled irritants. You may find that your hoarseness appears only at certain times of the year or in certain environments. Take note of this to check if you may be allergic to something. Seek healthcare help if you have persistent hoarseness. It can be very disruptive to your quality of life and affect your ability to communicate. Hoarseness can also affect your ability to speak, making it difficult to communicate with others and even impossible to understand what you are saying. Symptoms of hoarseness include a raspy or weak voice and difficulty in making smooth, clear vocal sounds. Sometimes, these symptoms are produced because of nodules on the vocal cords or a burst blood vessel. These require surgery and a period of total silence to recover, which may mean not speaking or using the voice at all for some weeks or even months.

Some of the symptoms of hoarseness are self-limiting, and they may go away on their own after a few days. However, the hoarseness may persist for a week, so it is important to get treatment if you experience these symptoms. It’s also important to get your voice checked regularly to avoid getting worse in the meantime. Hoarseness may also occur as a side effect of recent neck surgery. Regardless of its cause, however, the main objective of treatment is a quick and effective return to your normal voice.

Causes Of Hoarseness

When you have a hoarse voice, your health care provider will want to find out exactly what’s causing the condition. A comprehensive examination will rule out any other cause of hoarseness, including VCD and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. A physician will perform a comprehensive examination to determine the cause of your hoarseness, and they will also look for underlying causes of your condition.

Another possible cause of hoarseness is a neurological condition. The vocal cords are affected by blunt trauma, such as while using an endotracheal tube. Besides, some people develop spasmodic dysphonia, a local problem of the muscles in the larynx that results in hoarseness. In some cases, the cause is unknown, but there are several treatments available for hoarseness.