How to Prevent Hoarseness

You know you haver a mild case of hoarseness when your voice sounds abnormal during speaking. Your voice is likely to sound strained or raspy when you are suffering from hoarseness. Hoarseness is typically caused by vocal cord strain and can be easily prevented by avoiding certain activities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Quit smoking as soon as possible. Smoking is the number one cause of hoarseness in both men and women. Once you stop smoking, your speaking voice is likely to return to normal.
2. Stay well hydrated. If your throat is dry, then you may develop hoarseness. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Also, avoid drinking any substance that contains alcohol or caffeine.
3. Keep your voice level. Loud talking and yelling can cause a person to become hoarse. Try not to talk too loud or too often to prevent hoarseness.
4. Watch your diet. Some people find that certain foods will trigger an episode of hoarseness. Spicy foods have been found to aggravate the vocal cords.
5. Cease talking if you are hoarse. To continue to do so will worsen the condition. If you must speak, talk in a low voice and keep conversations short.

Tips & Warnings

• Being exposed to secondhand smoke can also cause a person to become hoarse. To avoid this, stay away from smoky clubs and bars.
• You can get professional help if you are experiencing hoarseness. Some people find vocal training helpful.
• Some forms of hoarseness are not preventable. This is the case for sufferers of laryngitis.