Hoarseness

A Hoarse Christmas

The 24th midnight is a huge occasion for myself and our family. Every year we go for the Christmas mass and sing carols. We sang loudly and with lots of joy and enthusiasm. Some of us in the choir was having a cold and difficulty in singing. But it wasn't noticed by anyone. After mass we wished everyone, ate and drank and went home.

We came home at 3.30am. Soon we came, we shared our Christmas gifts. After a little while I noticed that my mom's voice is kinda odd. It was husky. I  diagnosed it as hoarseness. I thought it'l go off soon. I thought it was normal because we sang, had cold drinks and and the weather was  cold. Then we went to sleep, all tired but happy. However when I woke up, I noticed that my mom's voice was still the same. She was talking like a man! :) She had difficulty in answering the Christmas wishing phone calls and she felt upset that this happened on such a wonderful day. 

The day went on, our home packed with visitors, good food and drinks, singing and laughter. When evening dawned all wished us 'Merry Christmas' for one more time and said goodbye. Everyone had a great day but was tired. And my mom's condition grew worse. She is not even whispering. She is asking me what medicine she can take or should she see a doctor? I didn't know what to say. Then I called up my friend's father who is a doctor. He advised to do steaming, gargling, drink lot of fluids and take antibiotics. He reassured me that she is okay and might have caught the 'flu' going  around these days and singing had aggravated the condition. I was satisfied. 

But how did it happen? I wondered............................

HOASENESS (dysphonia)

Hoarseness is having difficulty producing sound when trying to speak, or a change in the pitch or quality of the voice. The voice may sound weak, very breathy, scratchy, or husky.

Causes;

• Acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux)
• Allergies
• Breathing in irritating substances
• Cancer of the throat or larynx
• Chroniccoughing
• Colds or upper respiratory infections
• Heavy smoking or drinking, especially together
• Overuse or abuse of the voice (as in shouting or singing)

Other causes include:

• Aneurysms of the upper aorta
• Breathing tube orbronchoscopy
• Damage to the nerves attached to the voice
• Foreign object in the esophagus or trachea
• Ingesting a harsh chemical liquid
• Puberty
• Thyroid or lung cancer
• Underactive thyroid gland
• Vocal cord nodules
• Weakness of muscles around the voice box caused by nerve or muscle disorders

Hoarseness may be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic).

Rest and time may improve the hoarseness. Crying, shouting, and too much talking or singing may make the problem worse. Be patient, because the healing process may take several days. Don't talk unless you really need to and avoid whispering. Whispering can strain the vocal cords more than speaking does.

Gargling does not help the vocal cords. Avoid decongestants because they dry the vocal cords and prolong irritation. If you smoke, reduce or stop smoking.

Humidifying the air with a vaporizer or drinking fluids can offer some relief.

How are vocal disorders treated?

The treatment of hoarseness depends on the cause. Many common causes of hoarseness can be treated simply by resting the voice or modifying how it is used. An otolaryngologist may make some recommendations about voice use behavior, refer the patient to other voice team members, and in some instances recommend surgery if a lesion, such as a polyp, is identified. Not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke is recommended to all patients. Drinking fluids and taking medications to thin out the mucus may help.

Treat conditions such as:

• Alcoholism
• Allergies
• Bronchitis
• Laryngitis

Prevention

Specialists in speech/language pathology (voice therapists) are trained to assist patients in behavior modification to help eliminate some voice disorders. Patients who have developed bad habits, such as smoking or overusing their voice by yelling and screaming, benefit most from this conservative approach. The speech/language pathologist may teach patients to alter their methods of speech production to improve the sound of the voice and to resolve problems, such as vocal nodules. When a patient’s problem is specifically related to singing, a singing teacher may help to improve the patients’ singing techniques.

Prevention tips:

• If you smoke, quit.
• Avoid agents that dehydrate the body, such as alcohol and caffeine.
• Avoid secondhand smoke.
• Stay hydrated—drink plenty of water.
• Humidify your home.
• Watch your diet—avoid spicy foods.
• Try not to use your voice too long or too loudly. 
• Use a microphone if possible in situations where you need to project your voice.
• Seek professional voice training.
• Avoid speaking or singing when your voice is injured or hoarse.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003054.htm
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/hoarseness.cfm