What disease does hoarseness warn about?

Hoarseness can be a sign of laryngitis, gastroesophageal reflux, vocal cord paralysis, or cancer.

Hoarseness is a change in the quality or pitch of the voice, making it sound rough, raspy, or weak. It is caused by an abnormality in the vocal cords, which are responsible for producing sound when air passes through them. Below are diseases that have symptoms of hoarseness.

Laryngitis

Laryngitis is one of the most common causes of hoarseness, which can be acute or chronic. Acute laryngitis is often caused by an upper respiratory infection, the flu, or excessive voice use such as shouting, speaking loudly, singing loudly, talking for too long without resting, or speaking at a high pitch.

Patients should rest, limit talking and drink plenty of water to help the larynx recover. In case of hoarseness due to smoking or exposure to chemicals that irritate the larynx, these agents should be avoided and not consumed too much alcohol or beer.

If a viral infection causes hoarseness, the symptoms may go away on their own or the person may need to take antiviral medication as directed by a doctor.

Vocal fold hemorrhage

Vocal fold hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel on the surface of the vocal cords ruptures. At this point, the patient may quickly become hoarse, need to stop talking and go to the hospital for examination.

Hoarseness is an abnormal change in the pitch or volume of the voice. Photo: Freepik — Hoarseness is an abnormal change in the pitch or volume of the voice. Photo: *Freepik*

Laryngeal nodules, cysts, and polyps

Vocal cord nodules, cysts, and polyps are benign tumors that can appear along the vocal folds. Excessive talking and shouting can cause pressure, friction, and disruption of the vibration of the vocal cords, resulting in hoarseness. Rest, surgery, or voice therapy may be recommended by your doctor.

Vocal cord paralysis

Vocal cord paralysis occurs when one or both vocal cords cannot open or close properly. Causes may include trauma to the head, chest, or neck; tumors at the base of the skull, neck, and chest; lung cancer; or thyroid cancer.

At this time, the paralyzed vocal cords cannot move normally, leading to hoarseness. Treatment methods include voice therapy and surgery.

Acid reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, causing throat irritation. This irritation can affect the function of the vocal cords and contribute to hoarseness. In some people, it can adversely affect the larynx, leading to laryngeal reflux with constant throat clearing.

To reduce symptoms and prevent the disease from occurring, each person should maintain a moderate weight, eat a healthy diet (avoid spicy, greasy or acidic foods), not smoke and take medication as prescribed.

Neurological disorder

Conditions such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke can affect the coordination and control of the muscles involved in speech, resulting in hoarseness. People with Alzheimer's often have a raspy, unclear voice, with an "umm" sound following each utterance.

Laryngeal cancer

Malignant tumors that develop in the vocal cords can affect the function of the organ and cause hoarseness. The main symptoms of laryngeal cancer are hoarseness that lasts for more than three weeks, changes in voice, a sore throat or a cough that does not go away. Treatment may include surgery to remove part or all of the larynx.

Huyen My (According to Medical News Today )

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