Causes of Hoarseness

Hoarseness describes abnormal voice changes, according to specialist from the Cleveland Clinic. Your voice may sound raspy or strained. Most causes of hoarseness are not serious and go away within two weeks.

Cleveland Clinic mentions these potential causes of hoarseness:

• The common cold or an upper respiratory infection.
• Using your voice too much or too loudly.
• Gastroesophageal reflux.
• Smoking.
• Allergies.
• Thyroid problems.
• Trauma to the voice box.

Avoid Hoarseness

Hoarseness tends to happen when there is a problem with the vocal cords, the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery says.

Common reasons for hoarseness include laryngitis, non-cancerous vocal cord lesions, pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions, neurological issues, smoking or reflux.

The academy offers these vocal wellness tips:

• Refrain from speaking while there’s loud background noise.
• Be aware of how much and how loudly you are talking.
• Use a microphone if your job requires a lot of talking.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid large amounts of caffeine.
• If you smoke, quit. Also, avoid secondhand smoke.