How to Treat Laryngitis

Laryngitis or a hoarse voice is usually caused by overuse or abuse of the voice (or laryngeal) muscles. Sometimes it can also happen during an infection or when you're experiencing a bout of flu/cold or other upper respiratory condition. The symptoms of laryngitis can range from varying degrees of voice loss to painful sensations accompanied by a raw, tickling feeling in the throat.
This article will give some tips on how to treat symptoms of laryngitis or hoarse throat.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Rest your vocal cords and try not to use the muscles too often by speaking less; this is the most important way to treat laryngitis. It is difficult for most people to keep silent for long periods, especially when in the workplace or in a profession that requires public speaking or professional singing. Some ways to deal with this is are to write your thoughts down on paper and pass notes when possible or take a few days rest from work to recuperate.

2. Don't drink iced beverages or cold water. Cold drinks will aggravate the vocal cords and cause more problems. Warm drinks and herbal teas are recommended. Drink plenty of water each day (about eight glasses). Add a slice of lemon or a tablespoon of honey to soothe the vocal cords.

3. Laryngitis is exacerbated by dryness in the air, so use a humidifier in the room especially at night while you are sleeping. This will help keep the mucosa lining on the vocal cords moist and will help you to sleep by reducing the irritation and coughing.

4. Suck on throat lozenges and gargle with mouth antiseptic solution. These are readily available at most drugstores. Beware of lozenges that contain mint and menthol, since these products will temporarily paralyze the throat muscle and delay the healing process.

Tips & Warnings

• Laryngitis can be prevented by not abusing your voice and vocal cords. Constant screaming and shouting or overuse of the vocal cords will increase the risks of getting a hoarse throat and long-term abuse will result in growth tissues or nodules on the throat lining itself.
• Always seek medical attention if your voice remains hoarse or loss of voice remains over 5 days. This could be a sign of something more serious and you need to have the possibility of throat cancer ruled out or ruled in by a doctor.
• Seek immediate medical attention if the laryngitis is causing severe symptoms, for example, coughing blood, severe pain from swallowing or inability to swallow.
• This article is not a substitute for seeking medical attention from your own doctor or professional healthcare giver.

Resources

• Jewell Producitons TV
• JewellTV.com
• National Institute of Health

[toevlugsoord]

on 2/9/2009 I really appreciate this article. I am suffering from this right now and being a writer on here I was curious what the tips were. Thanks!

[valenzuela]

on 1/9/2009 A lot of very good tips. Especially the one about menthol or mint being in the lozenge. Thanks Dr. Jewell.

[QueenofMisc]

on 12/12/2008 Thank you for the information. Very useful :-)

[Rockney]

on 12/1/2008 Great information! Pefect timing for the cold season!

[writerman]

on 11/29/2008 Informative, good article.