A Guide To Voice Recovery After Illness

Posted on by Goodyear Office

Dealing with chronic hoarseness after a cold with a nasty cough or a bacterial infection like tonsillitis is like having an unwelcome guest that doesn’t know when it’s time to leave. Understanding why hoarseness arises and trying a few vocal care tips are crucial steps in expelling it from your home, or in this case, your throat.

What Causes Hoarseness?

Woman holding her throat.

Hoarseness describes the rough, breathy or raspy sound of your voice when your vocal cords are inflamed or injured. It’s a relatively common symptom, with about one in three people experiencing it at some point in their lives. Because the voice change arises from inflamed or damaged vocal cords, it’s common to develop it after illnesses that cause a lot of coughing or postnasal drip, wherein mucus drips to the back of the throat.

Tips To Recover Your Voice

Your raspy or weak voice will remain until the inflammation in your vocal cords calms down. Here are a few ways to return them to their healthy state:

  • Avoid talking. It’s tricky to avoid talking throughout the day, but it’s also an important part of vocal recovery. Using your voice when it’s hoarse will only further inflame the vocal cords. If you can, work from home and postpone meetings until your voice gets better. Let the people in your life know that you’re resting your voice as well. If you need to talk, do so at a normal volume, as whispering can strain the vocal cords.
  • Use a humidifier. There are signs at Goodyear hiking spots reminding visitors that Arizona is a dry-heat environment. Unfortunately, that dry heat can irritate the vocal cords. Counteract the effects of our hot and arid weather with a humidifier to add moisture back into the air.
  • Drink soothing beverages. Broth or warm tea can soothe the throat. Add some honey and a little lemon for added relief. Hydration is also important, so aim to get at least eight cups of water a day.

The final step in vocal recovery is to seek ENT help for lasting throat issues. If something like prolonged postnasal drip is irritating your throat and causing hoarseness, call our Goodyear Office today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.