When the voice goes, HEARING

We frequently don't take the common cold seriously when it affects our voices, but hoarseness can have long-term effects. But how does it start, and what should you do if your voice sounds like a grater all of a sudden?

Tina Turner and actress Jessica Schwarz both have it: a gruff, almost raspy voice that sounds incredibly seductive. This is why, when they have a cold, some ladies are unconcerned at first if their voice is busy and sounds like a grater. For instance, cold symptoms like a runny nose are frequently more unpleasant than hoarseness.

"You take the illness far more seriously if you're unhappy, have a cough, and a headache than if your voice is scratchy," says Dr. Michael Deeg of the German Society for ENT Medicine. "At that point, many people think to themselves, "It's not so horrible." This is a mistake, as hoarseness is a major symptom.

What causes a person's voice to become hoarse?

During colds, viruses and bacteria frequently assault the vocal cords, larynx, and trachea. It's only natural: the pharynx connects them directly to the mouth and nose. As a result, viruses and bacteria are the most common causes of hoarseness.

What can you do if you're suffering from hoarseness?

If you have a cold and your voice starts to itch or you become hoarse immediately away, you should take care of it as soon as possible. Above all, it implies:

Drink a lot of water.

The neck is kept moist as a result of this. However, we should steer clear of liquids high in tannic acid (coffee, black, and green tea), as well as acidic fruit juices. Hoarseness is better treated with water, herbal teas, and juice spritzers.

Inhale

It's preferable to use sage tea or saltwater for inhalation and gargling. Chamomile, on the other hand, must be dosed cautiously or the mucous membranes would be dried off.

Wrapped potatoes

A potato poultice can also aid with acute sore throats and hoarseness (boil three to four potatoes, mash them, and wrap them around the throat in a cloth for 30 minutes).

Keep your voice alive.

Avoid using your voice excessively. Whispering, on the other hand, is not an option since it puts additional strain on the vocal cords. When you're hoarse, it's best to speak gently and avoid situations where you inadvertently raise the volume.

When the croaky voice remains Under no circumstances should voice problems be protracted, because if you ignore the infected vocal cords, you will remain ill for longer, even with a simple cold. In the worst case, thickening of the vocal cords can lead to nodules on the vocal folds - the healing of hoarseness can then take months. And once the immune system is weakened because of a weakened voice, it is easier to catch another cold. If hoarseness persists for more than a week or two, it is advisable to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist

What is the doctor's treatment for hoarseness?

The doctor examines the larynx and vocal cords using a mini-mirror while looking down the throat. Are they crimson? Do they appear to be swollen? Is there a thickening of the mucous membrane? Is the voice hoarse and brittle because of a cold secretion on the vocal cords? This discharge is bright and clear if a virus has caused the cold. Antibiotics will not assist in this situation. Antibiotics, on the other hand, can successfully heal a bacterial infection, which is distinguished by thicker and darker mucus. Anti-hoarseness programs If you have trouble with your voice regularly, you can take steps to enhance your voice and breathing technique in the long run:

Even better: avoidance. In the winter, the heat from the heating system makes the air in the house extremely dry. The mucous membranes in the nose and throat, on the other hand, must remain moist to be healthy and resistant. As a result, the air humidity at home and at work should not go below 55%. This can be verified using a specific measurement instrument, which costs around ten euros and can be found at any electronics store. Large bowls of water, evaporators or wet towels on radiators, and green plants can all help to create a healthier, more humid indoor climate. What about outside? To avoid hoarseness when it gets really cold, close your mouth and breathe through your nose.

Help, laryngitis (laryngeal irritation)! The larynx plays an important role in sound production. The mucous membrane of the larynx becomes inflamed in laryngitis (which can potentially be chronic), causing coughing, sore throat, and hoarseness. It is mainly caused by a viral inflammation of the respiratory system, although there are other reasons, such as smoking or reflux-related laryngitis, in which the stomach's acidic contents flow back into the esophagus and throat. During laryngoscopy, the doctor can discover laryngitis. After a few days, laryngitis normally goes away on its own.