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A hoarse voice can be caused by overuse, an infection, or irritation of your vocal cords. The symptoms of a hoarse voice are often referred to as “laryngitis,” although this is a catch-all term rather than a specific diagnosis. [1] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source To cure a hoarse voice, rest and soothe your vocal cords. You can also prevent future instances of laryngitis by cutting out smoking and avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine.
Steps
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Drink hot fluids. Warm herbal tea and other hot drinks will soothe and relax your vocal cords. This, in turn, will allow your voice to return to normal as quickly as possible. If you don’t like herbal tea, try a mug of hot apple cider or hot chocolate. [2] X Research source
- Chamomile tea, or any tea designed to soothe your throat, will be especially helpful for a hoarse voice. Avoid spicy herbal teas with ginger or lemon.
- Avoid caffeinated tea or coffee when soothing your vocal cords. The caffeine in the tea will dehydrate your body, and could worsen the hoarseness of your voice.
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Add a few drops of honey into the herbal tea. This will create an extra-soothing drink. Honey has soothing properties of its own, and is commonly used to treat a sore throat or hoarse voice. [3] X Research source
- You could also eat a few spoonfuls of pure honey. However, since honey is thick and tough to swallow, adding it to tea is the most common option. [4] X Research source
- If you don’t like tea, try sucking on a piece of hard candy made with honey. Or, add a spoonful to a mug of hot water with a squeeze of lemon juice.
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Gargle warm salt water. Add 1 pinch of salt to a mug full of warm water. Take a mouthful of the water, and gargle it in the back of your throat for about 30 seconds. Gargling with salt water will help moisten and soothe your throat, and help your voice sound less hoarse. [5] X Research source
- Spit the water out once you’ve finished.
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Suck on a piece of hard candy or throat lozenge. Hard candy or cough drops will soothe and moisten your scratchy throat. This will reduce any pain or discomfort, and help you voice sound less hoarse. [6] X Research source Hard candies made with menthol may help by coating your throat and returning the sound of your voice to normal.
- The flavor of the candy or lozenge doesn’t matter. Avoid spicy hard candy (including cinnamon-flavored candies), as the spice may cause stomach acid to rise up in your throat.
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Set up a humidifier in your room at night. A humidifier will project cool, humid air into the room while you sleep. As you inhale the humid air, your throat and vocal cords will moisten. This will reduce the effects of laryngitis and help your voice sound normal in the morning. [7] X Research source
- If you don’t own a humidifier, you can purchase one at any department store or home-goods store. You can also buy a humidifier through major online retailers.
- Either a cool- or a hot-air humidifier will be beneficial to your throat and help cure a hoarse voice.
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Speak as little as possible when your voice is hoarse. Your vocal cords will naturally heal themselves over time. Encourage this process by resting your voice. If you use your voice rigorously during an episode of laryngitis—e.g., shouting, loudly singing, etc.—you’ll risk permanent damage to your vocal cords. [8] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- You may need to let friends and family members know that you can’t speak loudly, so they aren’t confused.
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Avoid eating spicy foods. Although they’re delicious, spicy foods can have a negative effect on the vocal cords. Spicy foods will stimulate stomach acid, and cause it to move up into your throat. Damage to your vocal cords over time can lead to chronic laryngitis. [9] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Excess consumption of spicy foods also commonly causes heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Both of these conditions can lead to chronic laryngitis.
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Limit alcohol and caffeine consumption. Both alcohol and caffeine dehydrate your body. General dehydration can lead to dry vocal cords. This will lead to cases of acute laryngitis. [10] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- To keep your body—including your vocal cords—properly hydrated, an adult man should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 L) of water each day. An adult woman should drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 L) of water each day. [11] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoking (in addition to its many other health concerns) will dry out and irritate your throat and vocal cords. This, in turn, can lead to frequent cases of laryngitis. Even secondhand smoke can dry your vocal cords and cause a hoarse voice. [12] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Long-term smoking can permanently damage the larynx and cause the notorious “smoker’s voice.”
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Schedule an appointment if your laryngitis lasts more than 2 weeks. While a hoarse voice is usually a minor—and temporary—inconvenience, in some instances it can be a sign of a more serious medical condition. If your voice is hoarse and scratchy for 2 weeks or longer, make an appointment with your primary care physician. [13] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Your doctor may refer you to an ears, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, depending on the nature and severity of your laryngitis.
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Describe your symptoms to your doctor. Tell the doctor about any symptoms that have accompanied your hoarse voice. Symptoms like a sore throat, dry cough, or tickle in the back of your throat aren’t concerning. Potentially problematic symptoms include: [14] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Coughing up blood.
- Struggling to breathe.
- Having a high, long-lasting fever.
- Difficulty swallowing.
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Ask your doctor about a diagnosis. Once you’ve described the symptoms of your laryngitis, the doctor may need to perform a few tests before providing a diagnosis. Depending upon your symptoms, the doctor may insert a small, flexible laryngoscope into the back of your throat. The doctor may also need to perform a biopsy to obtain a tissue sample from your vocal cords, which can be sent for laboratory analysis. [15] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- In some cases, frequent hoarseness can be caused by the growth of small polyps or benign tumors on the vocal cords.
- Your doctor will diagnose you with either acute laryngitis (a short condition caused by vocal cord strain or infection) or chronic laryngitis (a lasting condition caused by long-term exposure to irritants). [16] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Talk with your doctor about treatment options. Most treatments for laryngitis involve treating the various symptoms (e.g., rest your voice, stop smoking). If you have developed vocal polyps or other tumors on your larynx, your doctor will suggest surgery to remove them. [17] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Lab tests may indicate that you have larynx cancer. In this scenario, your doctor will advise you about how the cancer can best be treated or removed.
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Tips
- As part of a long-term solution to avoid chronic laryngitis, add more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to your diet. These foods contain vitamins that will keep your throat’s mucous membranes healthy and moist. [18] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262
- ↑ http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/articles/1206/medicines-and-remedies/hoarse-voice-treatment.html
- ↑ https://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/10-health-benefits-of-honey
- ↑ https://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/11-home-remedies-laryngitis
- ↑ http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/articles/1206/medicines-and-remedies/hoarse-voice-treatment.html
- ↑ https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-helping-a-hoarse-voice/
- ↑ http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/articles/1206/medicines-and-remedies/hoarse-voice-treatment.html
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/hoarseness-frequently-asked-questions
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/hoarseness-frequently-asked-questions
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262
About This Article
Article Summary
X
A hoarse voice can be uncomfortable and frustrating, but with some simple home remedies, it should go away within a week or 2. Drink plenty of herbal tea or hot water with honey to soothe your throat. However, avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate your vocal cords. You can also gargle warm salt water for 30 seconds to reduce the hoarseness of your voice. If you’re out of the house, suck on a throat lozenge or hard candy instead. While your throat’s healing, avoid speaking or whispering as much as possible, since this can make it worse. If your throat is still sore after 2 weeks, visit your doctor to rule out other underlying causes. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to use a humidifier to heal your throat and vocal cords, read on.
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Reader Success Stories
- "I've had the worst sore throat for days. My friends have said I sound like Gollum. As soon as I tried these, it got noticeably better. It's been an amazing help, keep it up!" ..." more
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"I've had the worst sore throat for days. My friends have said I sound like Gollum. As soon as I tried these, it got noticeably better. It's been an amazing help, keep it up!"
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"The whole gargling saltwater, drinking hot chocolate, honey and lemon juice, and not talking as much really helped. Thanks."
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