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| Image source: everydayhealth.com |
Waking up with a raspy voice after cheering for your favorite football team or singing your heart out at an all-night karaoke party with your coworkers is quite common. Throat soreness can also occur when one is down with the flu. But if hoarseness, or an abnormal change in the voice characterized by breathy, strained, rough, or raspy sound, persists for weeks, then it is pertinent to visit an otolaryngologist who’ll perform a thorough examination and assessment of the condition.
If the hoarseness is not the result of a cold or flu or is accompanied by difficulty in swallowing or pain when speaking, immediate medical attention is also needed. Moreover, evaluation by a physician is recommended if the hoarseness comes with a lump in the throat or difficulty in breathing.
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| Image source: livestrong.com |
As a guide, below are three of the most common causes of hoarseness:
Acute laryngitis: This condition occurs when there is swelling of the vocal folds during a common cold, upper respiratory virus, or from vocal strain.
Benign vocal cord lesions: Prolonged hoarseness can lead to nodules, polyps, and cysts. Among those who are at risk of developing nodules, or callus-like growths on the vocal folds, are vocal performers such as singers. Vocal fold polyps and cysts meanwhile occur in those who gravely misuse or abuse their voice.
Vocal hemorrhage: A ruptured blood vessel results in blood leaking into the vocal fold. An indication of this condition is severe hoarseness or sudden loss of voice due to forceful, aggressive, or incorrect voice use. It is considered a serious condition and requires immediate medical attention.
Robert R. Beltran, M.D., specializes in head and neck plastic surgery and otolaryngology. For more on his medical practice, click here.
