When you have a case of laryngitis, your voice box, or larynx, becomes angry and inflamed. This inflammation prevents your vocal cords from vibrating properly and can put a damper on your day. A common condition, laryngitis is often caused by overuse of your vocal cords, the common cold, an upper respiratory infection, alcohol use, smoking, as well as from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the symptoms associated with this ailment can alter and change your voice, and can even make you lose your voice completely. To recover your voice quickly, there are some helpful laryngitis tips you can follow.
First, in addition to losing your voice, some of the other symptoms that can accompany laryngitis include:
• Fever
• Throat Pain
• A cough
• Sneezing
• Nasal Congestion
• A runny Nose
As we enter flu season, laryngitis becomes more prevalent, but luckily there are ways to get back on track. Take the needed steps to recovery by following these helpful laryngitis tips.
Get Some Rest
One of the best ways to get your voice back is to give it a rest. While we know this is easier said than done, giving your voice a break from speaking will help you get back on track. Try your best not to speak, and if you need to communicate, write it down. If this is not possible, make sure you don’t talk to anyone who is further than arm’s reach away, and don’t try to whisper, just speak quietly.
Crank Up the Humidity
When you have a case of laryngitis, you are more than likely doing most of your breathing from your mouth, not your nose. When you breathe with your mouth, your throat becomes dry. Dryness can directly affect your larynx, which will not help you feel better. To help counteract the dryness, place a humidifier in your bedroom and wherever you spend most of your time. Just make sure to have one placed near your bed as you sleep!
Don’t Smoke
Smoke is an irritant, and that’s the last thing you need if you are trying to recover from laryngitis. If you smoke, you should try your best to refrain from smoking. In fact, if you have a bout of laryngitis, there is no better time to quit. If you choose, you can use this time to help you kick the habit. Ditching this bad habit has many health benefits besides helping your case of laryngitis. If you don’t smoke, make sure you stay away from those that do smoke to help prevent further irritation.
Stay Hydrated
When you have laryngitis, you are likely to suffer from a bout of dry mouth. Also, your voice box becomes swollen and inflamed, so make sure you stay hydrated to help counterbalance these symptoms. Do you need another reason to drink more water? Staying hydrated is one of the most helpful laryngitis tips because it can keep inflammation under control and help you feel better, faster. All in all, staying hydrated is the most important treatment method you can implement during a bout of laryngitis, so make sure you carry a water bottle with you throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Laryngitis is caused by inflammation of the voice box or larynx, which can result from overusing your vocal cords, the common cold, upper respiratory infections, alcohol use, smoking, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These factors irritate the vocal cords and can lead to voice changes or loss.
Besides voice loss, other symptoms of laryngitis include fever, throat pain, coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose. These symptoms often accompany the inflammation of the larynx and affect your overall respiratory health.
Resting your voice helps by allowing the inflamed vocal cords time to heal without additional strain. Avoiding speech, or speaking only quietly without whispering, reduces further irritation and speeds up the healing process for your voice box.
Using a humidifier adds moisture to the air, helping to relieve dryness caused by mouth breathing common during laryngitis. Increased humidity soothes the throat and larynx, reducing irritation and promoting healing of the vocal cords.
Smoke acts as an irritant to the already inflamed vocal cords, worsening symptoms and delaying recovery. Avoiding smoking, and secondhand smoke, helps minimize further irritation and supports faster healing of the larynx.
Hydration is crucial during laryngitis because it helps soothe dryness in your mouth and throat, reduces inflammation in the vocal cords, and supports overall tissue repair. Drinking plenty of water can significantly improve how quickly your voice recovers.