Most of us have suffered from aphonia more than once in our lives after having a cold or the flu. Although you spend a few days with a broken and hoarse voice, this is something temporary that you usually recover without problem in a short period of time. However, if this hoarseness persists, you may have a more serious disorder. In this post we explain what the causes of persistent aphonia can be and we give you some tips to prevent it.
Causes of hoarseness
Hoarseness occurs as a result of inflammation or the appearance of nodules in the vocal cords, which prevents them from joining together properly, causing a change in the voice. According to experts, this vocal condition affects more women than men, due to the anatomical peculiarities of the female larynx.
The most common causes of aphonia are a cold, lack of hydration of the vocal cords, overexertion or misuse of the voice, or tobacco. But there are more causes that can lead to hoarseness. We detail them below:
· Laryngitis. It consists of temporary inflammation of the vocal cords as a result of a cold, allergy or respiratory tract infection. It is one of the most common causes of hoarseness.
· Heartburn. It occurs when stomach acids go up the throat and irritate the vocal cords, which causes some people to constantly want to cough, causing hoarseness.
· Use of corticosteroid sprays for asthma accentuates the dryness of the vocal cords and favors the proliferation of fungi in the larynx.
· Stress and anxiety. Both disorders can cause aphonia as a result of lowered defenses, at which point an infection in the vocal cords may appear.
· Hemorrhage in the vocal cords. It occurs when a blood vessel on the surface of the vocal cord’s ruptures, causing the tissues to flood with blood.
· The paralysis of the vocal cords. Some of the triggers are neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's.
· Other causes: hypothyroidism, thyroid surgery, laryngeal cancer.
Tips to prevent hoarseness
The voice is an essential instrument in our day-to-day life, so we must take care of it and follow the following tips to avoid aphonia:
· Try to sleep 8 hours each day and breathe through your nose, as the voice is very sensitive to lack of sleep.
· Don't force your voice. Although each person has their own limits, it is advisable not to speak more than 4 hours a day or sing more than 2.
· Avoid air conditioning and smoke-laden environments because they dry out your throat.
· Hydrate frequently, reducing your coffee consumption because it also dries out your vocal cords. Replace it with infusions, water or juices. Also, avoid cold and / or very hot drinks.
· Relax the area by stretching, slowly turning your neck in a complete circle.
Although most hoarseness is due to an infection, if the trauma lasts over time, it is advisable that you go to an ENT consultation to assess your situation. At Afemefa we have the best professionals who will be delighted to assist you to solve all your health problems.
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