Whether you got caught up in the excitement of rooting for your team or spent hours catching up with an old friend, there's a price to be paid for pushing your voice to the limit. An evening of abandoned shouting, singing, or even talking can leave your throat and larynx (also known as the voice box) sore and inflamed. You may wake up to find that your voice has gone on strike, and no eleventh-hour concessions will get your sound system back on the job.
While laryngitis can also be caused by upper respiratory infections, fungal or yeast infections, flu, allergies and environmental irritants such as dust and smoke, in many cases it's an overuse injury. It's a common occurrence for teachers. They start the week with rich, hearty voices that only grow hoarser until, by Friday, they can barely whisper. Doctors have a name for it - teacher vocal abuse. Teaching is a high-risk occupation for voice disorders. Constant stress on the vocal cords can cause permanent damage and produce wart-like growths called nodules, which sometimes require surgical removal.
Natural food therapy used with the approval of your doctor may help relieve the symptoms of laryngitis, according to some health professionals.
FOOD THERAPY
"Put some lemon juice and honey in a tablespoon with a pinch of cayenne pepper and suck on it," advises Elson Haas, M.D., director of the Preventive Medical center of Marin, CA. He says the mixture helps coat your larynx, which can relieve laryngitis. There are no hard-and-fast rules about frequency: "Just as often as you deem necessary," suggests Dr. Haas. Another important aspect of relieving the symptoms of laryngitis is hydration. Drink a lot of non-caffeinated beverages (caffeine dries up the vocal cords), because moist is always good for the voice. A humidifier may also help.
Consult Your Medical Doctor When:
- Your voice disappears all of a sudden, for no apparent reason.
- You lose your voice after a head or neck injury.
- You experience hoarseness for more than 2 weeks.
To prevent viral laryngitis, do the same as to avoid cold or flu: hand-washing and avoiding those with respiratory infection, says a U.S. researcher. Viral laryngitis is contagious and passes in the same way as flu or cold.