Don't ignore hoarseness

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Oct, 1996

Hoarseness can be a sign of vocal cord damage. However, otolaryngologists at Saint Louis University School of Medicine say that, in most cases, it can be prevented or treated effectively.

"The most common cause of hoarseness is vocal abuse," notes John E. Eisenbeis, assistant professor of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery. "People use their voices too loudly, too much, and too long. For instance, the person who does too much yelling at a single football game can have a hoarse voice lasting six months." Other common causes include:

* Failure to keep vocal cords well-hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent irritation. * People unknowingly breathe poorly and don't use the air in their lungs in an efficient fashion for voice production. * Smoking can cause fluid to build up under the surface of the vocal cord. That thick fluid can develop into a "smoker's polyp," creating a raspy-sounding voice. * the back flow of stomach acid into the throat that commonly follows overeating can irritate the vocal cords. Acid reflux during the night often leads to hoarseness the next morning. * Medications such as antihistamines dry the vocal cords. * Vocal cord cancer.

According to Eisenbeis, most vocal problems will go away in three to five days. He offers the following tips for prevention and treatment to five days. He offers the following tips for prevention and treatment of hoarseness:

Drink plenty of fluids. People who regularly use their voices should drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day. Drinking water also can help speed recovery from hoarseness.

Use a moderate voice level. Avoid speaking too loudly. If more volume is necessary, use amplication.

Don't scream. It can cause a blood vessel on the vocal cord to rupture and form a small mass known as a hemorrhagic polyp. damage caused by screaming can require months of recovery.

Avoid caffeine. It causes the blood vessels to constrict and can worsen acid reflux.

Rest a hoarse voice. Limiting talking can help you recover from hoarseness. Voice rest means no whispering. The air flow pattern required for a whisper is just as hard on your vocal cords as speaking in a loud voice. Use good voice production methods. For some people, speech therapy may be required to teach proper methods of breathing, coughing, or beginning speech sounds.

Clearing your throat won't help. It creates a harsh air flow across the edge of your vocal cords that causes abnormal vibration and can generate additional swelling.

See your doctor if hoarseness persists. It can be a sign of a potentially dangerous condition such as throat cancer or vocal cord paralysis.

"We live in a society that can be hard on our voices," Eisenbeis points out. "We work and socialize in noise-filled environments. We live very rushed lives that cause us to have poor eating habits, inadequate hydration, and indigestion. While a fast-paced lifestyle may not cause some diseases, it definitely contributes to voice problems. But with some common sense and care, it is possible to protect our voices in order to keep them healthy and strong."