It's not a disease, but a catch-all word that means you've lost your voice. If it happens suddenly, it's called "acute" laryngitis. You can get it from a cold or overusing your voice. You can get long-term laryngitis if you breathe in something irritating, like smoke or chemical fumes.
Acute laryngitis is the most common cause of hoarseness and voice loss that starts suddenly. Most cases of acute laryngitis are caused by a viral infection that leads to swelling of the vocal cords. When the vocal cords swell, they vibrate differently, leading to hoarseness.
Other Possible Causes
Experiencing unexpected hoarseness or voice loss can indicate an underlying health condition. Other possible causes include: Acid reflux, known as heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). Growths on your vocal cord tissue, also called vocal nodules, polyps, cysts, and contact ulcers.
Laryngitis is when your voice box or vocal cords in the throat become irritated or swollen. It usually goes away by itself within 1 to 2 weeks.
Why is my voice hoarse but my throat doesn't hurt? A hoarse voice without a sore throat can occur when a non-inflammatory condition has caused loss of vocal cord function. This can be caused by overuse like yelling or speaking in an abnormal tone for long periods of time.
It can last 1 to 2 weeks.. Some people lose their voice when they have laryngitis. Avoid irritants, like fumes and smoking, and don't strain your voice box by shouting or whispering. Warm liquids and humidifiers can help soothe your irritated voice box and help you get your voice back faster.
Laryngitis is commonly caused by a viral infection, such as a cold or flu. Bacterial infection may also cause laryngitis, although this is rare. You can also get laryngitis if you strain or overuse your voice by yelling or after long periods of talking, shouting or singing.
Recent research has shown that under periods of stress, the muscles that control the voice box become tense. Periods of prolonged muscle tension in the voice box can lead to an incoordination of the vocal control system.
If you have aphonia or loss of voice, it means you can't make yourself heard because your voice sounds hoarse, or you can't speak above a whisper. Sometimes you can't speak at all.
A hoarse voice may sound breathy, raspy, strained, or there may changes in volume and pitch to include a total loss of voice. When you have an upper respiratory tract infection (like the common cold) swelling in the larynx leads to a condition called acute laryngitis. Hoarseness is a symptom of acute laryngitis.
Drink lots of water and warm fluids like decaffeinated herbal tea and broth to soothe your throat. Avoid beverages with alcohol and caffeine. Give your vocal cords plenty of rest. Avoid talking altogether when you can, or communicate in a soft voice—but avoid whispering.
Drinking warm water helps relieve pain and inflammation, and honey is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substance. By fighting inflammation, it may help reduce pain and discomfort in the throat. Honey can also act as a cough suppressant.
If you're losing your voice regularly or if your voice doesn't return to normal after a few weeks, it's time to consult a laryngologist (ENT voice specialist). He or she can investigate whether it's a sign of a larger, more serious medical issue."
If your voice is tired, your throat feels tight, or it hurts to talk, you may have muscle tension dysphonia, or voice strain caused by muscle tightness. This common voice problem can occur even if your vocal cords are normal but the muscles in your throat are working inefficiently.
The top symptoms of COVID-19 from the omicron variant, a sore throat and hoarse voice, differ from common symptoms from other variants, CBSNews reported July 19.
Most of the time, the recovery of a viral infection depends on our own immune system. Most of the time, you will be able to recover your lost voice within 7 days. Sometimes overuse of our vocal cords or using them unnaturally can also cause us to lose our voice.
What does laryngitis look like? The vocal folds have tiny blood vessels that enlarge with irritation or infection, producing a bloodshot look. They are commonly swollen, with a dull, rough appearance that replaces their typical satin sheen.
"Vocal hoarseness is especially common and often goes undiagnosed because it usually resolves on its own within a couple weeks, but long-standing hoarseness needs to be addressed – ideally by an ear, nose and throat specialist – because it can sometimes be a sign of a more serious condition."
Laryngitis often occurs with an upper respiratory infection, which is typically caused by a virus. Several forms of laryngitis occur in children that can lead to a dangerous or fatal respiratory blockage. These forms include: Croup.