Laryngitis (Where did that frog come from?)

Hoarseness affects everybody at one time or another.  It is a common accompaniment of a cold or sore throat, and an after-effect of strenuous yelling.  Coughing sometimes goes along with hoarseness.  Your voice may not sound right, you may clear your throat a lot, or you may have trouble speaking.  Though usually temporary and inconsequential, it can be a symptom of serious life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.

What Causes it?

Hoarseness can arise from many causes, some of them under your control, some not:

• Smoking.
• Alcohol use, especially heavy drinking.
• Allergies.
• Gastrointestinal reflux (stomach acids backing up into your esophagus) that reaches up to the larynx.
• A viral or bacterial infection.
• Wear and tear on vocal cords from yelling or crying, or simply from aging.
• Severe anxiety or other psychological factors.
• Nodes, polyps, or ulcers on the vocal cords, usually caused by stressing the voice in some way.
• They can also arise from smoking or exposure to air pollution.
• Serious illness, such as cancer, thyroid problems, or neurological disorders.

How can you prevent or treat it?

•  Don't smoke.  If cigarettes make you hoarse, that is an urgent sign that it's time to quit.
• Avoid alcohol and go easy on spicy foods.
• Don't overuse your voice.  Avoid nonstop or loud talking.  Don't try to yell over a loud noise.  If you are frequently called upon to speak or sing, professional voice training can help you conserve your voice and avoid hoarseness.
• Drink plenty of fluids and try to keep the air you breathe humidified.  (If you use a room humidifier, though, keep it very clean.  Otherwise, it can be a source of air pollution itself.)
• Try not to develop the habit of clearing your throat, which can make matters worse. 
  
• Don't whisper. This strains your vocal cords more than talking.  If you are resting your voice, speak only when necessary.  Use a soft, breathy voice.

When should you worry about hoarseness?

If hoarseness has bothered you for more than two weeks, particularly in the absence of a cold or flu, or if it is painful and you can't seem to get rid of it, you should be medically evaluated.  (Difficulty in swallowing, a lump in your neck, and coughing up blood are symptoms that need immediate medical attention.)  Examining the throat and vocal cords and evaluating voice use is something any good doctor should be able to do.  If necessary, your physician may send you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist or, if you need training in voice use, to a speech therapist.