Persistent hoarseness can be the result of several medical conditions. A hoarse voice is characterized by difficulty while speaking, husky voice, an abnormal pitch and occasionally difficulty in swallowing.
Home Remedies for Hoarseness
- The principal thing for you to do is give your voice rest. Whispering / shouting worsens the condition, by putting excessive pressure on the vocal chords.
- Pepper and dry ginger powder added to hot milk is an excellent tonic for the throat. It reduces hoarseness and improves voice. Drink this blend 3 times a day.
- Warm water is one of the most ideal remedies for hoarseness. Also, gargling with hot water is recommended. Ad a pinch of salt to the hot water and use to gargle. It quickly restores voice quality.
- Steaming is another effective home cure. Boil water in a wide bowl; you may add 3 drops of eucalyptus oil.Inhale the vapors for 5 to 7 minutes. Cover your head with a towel, so as to prevent the steam and vapors from escaping; this makes the therapy more effective.
- Ginger tea is highly beneficial too. Grate about 1 inch of the ginger root, and add to a bowl of boiling water. Let the water simmer for 20 minutes. You may add cardamom powder and honey. These are soothing too; and help alleviate hoarseness and soreness successfully.
What to do for hoarseness
- Avoid going to places that are extremely polluted and dusty, and keep your mouth and nose covered with a mask when outdoors.
- In winters, the weather is relatively dry; hence, using a humidifier to keep the moisture in is advocated.
- Avoid smoking, caffeinated drinks, aerated beverages, and alcohol.
- Add 1 spoon of salt to hot water; gargle 3 to 5 times everyday. Gargling affords speedy relief.
- Drinking hot fluids alleviates the symptoms of hoarseness. Take plenty of soups, broths and barley water, they soothe the throat and ease pain and discomfort.
- Milk and turmeric powder has been used to treat hoarse voice since times immemorial. Turmeric soothes the inflamed lining and prevents infection effectively.
- Honey is recommended by experts too. Honey lubricates the throat and makes it smooth. Honey is known to drain mucus and fight infection. It appreciably allays pain and hoarseness.
What are the Reasons for Hoarseness
Any medical condition / a disorder that directly or indirectly has an impact on the vocal cords, due to which the vocal cords fail to close completely, leads to hoarseness of voice.
Common causes for hoarseness include:
- Common cold, cough and sinusitis are the commonest reasons for hoarseness of voice.
- Excessive use of voice.
- Gastro-esophageal reflux disease, acid reflux, cold, cough, flu, sore throat, laryngitis, viral infection, tonsillitis or an allergic reaction trigger hoarseness too.
- Shouting, crying, or screaming for prolonged periods leads to hoarse voice.
- Smoking, alcohol, chewing beetle is another contributing factor.
- Dust and pollution are significant triggers as well.