Laryngitis

Symptoms and Causes

Laryngitis sounds complicated for ordinary folks, but laryngitis simply means inflammation of the larynx. But what actually is a larynx? For those who have forgotten their anatomy, larynx is unassumingly, our voice box. When there is inflammation, there will almost always be pain and swelling of the voice box, which can result to hoarseness of voice to loss of voice. Laryngitis can be the worst enemy of singer-entertainers and speakers. With inflammation of their most important instrument, everything will just be compromised.

There are several reasons for the larynx to be inflamed. The most common is due to infection of the microorganisms that caused the common colds, or bacterial or viral infection of any organ of the upper respiratory tract. If you talk, shout or sing excessively, your voice box may also be irritated. And the more you get constant irritation of your voice box, the more that laryngitis will reoccur.

But there is another kind of laryngitis which is caused by the acids of your stomach. Before food enters the stomach, it enters a valve. This valve is supposed to keep the food intact once the food is in the stomach. But sometimes there is weakening of the valve. The tendency is for food or stomach acids to back up into the esophagus towards the larynx, causing reflux laryngitis. Stomach acids are quite irritating; when there is constant reflux, it causes several complicated diseases, such as growth of granulomas on the larynx. In this case, it is important to understand first what caused the laryngitis before treating it. If acid reflux is the cause, then it is unwise to take medications for viral or bacterial infection. Doctor’s visit should always be considered to get the proper treatment. But while waiting for the right medical diagnosis, here are some of the natural remedies you can do to lessen the inflammation signs and symptoms.

Home remedies

• White Pine Bark is an astringent, expectorant, and circulatory stimulant. It can be used as an inhalant for bronchitis, laryngitis, and respiratory congestion.
• Rest: Just like any other diseases, resting or sleeping is one of the best ways to recuperate from illnesses. Adequate rest or plenty of time to rest will allow the body to heal from any type of illnesses. Resting can be done by sleeping or sitting. Sleeping is perhaps the most important thing to do during the recovery process. Not only will sleep give your mind a time to regenerate, your body will also be revitalized after enough sleep time. By having regular sleep schedule, your body has properly rested. Another way to rest is to spend time watching television, reading or walking, anything that will not stress out the body and will therefore heals the inflammation of the larynx.
• Drink Lots of Water : Water is lubricant of our throat. When you drink six to eight glasses of water per day, you maintain adequate lubrication and moisture of your larynx. Because of the swelling, it is sometimes difficult to swallow, so many of those suffering from laryngitis will refrain from eating or drinking. While this is understandable due to the situation, it is still important to have adequate fluid intake to keep the larynx from more irritation. However, you must choose water in room temperature. Water in extreme temperature, such as ice cold drinks or hot tea may aggravate the symptoms of laryngitis.
• Use Honey : An ounce of honey may give you about 120 calories, but honey may be one of the best antibacterial and antiviral remedy for laryngitis. For centuries it has been used as medicine in any types of wound and inflammation. Using honey will not only provide you with enough nutrients to help in the healing process, especially during these times when appetite is reduced due to swallowing discomfort, but the enzymes found in honey can clear away the symptoms of inflammation. Honey may be mixed with apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice. Adding cayenne pepper powder can also help in breaking the mucus that is surrounding the inflammation on your voice box.
• Stop Smoking : There is no doubt that smoking cigarettes contribute to the irritation of the throat. Smoking can even cause chronic laryngitis, especially for those who are smoking regularly. If there is inflammation of the voice box, it is just appropriate to stop smoking. In fact, it would be wiser to simply stop smoking because it may just be the reason why you have laryngitis. The chemicals that are inhaled from the smoke are irritants to the voice box. Discontinuing smoking will not only heal your inflamed voice box, it will also prevent you from developing complicated diseases of your pulmonary organs.
• Speak Softly : There is a difference between speaking softly and whispering. Whispering irritates further the larynx. Speaking softly, on the other hand, has lesser effects on the larynx compared to whispering. There are some messages that need to be articulated while you are recuperating from laryngitis. Talking loudly and harshly aggravates the inflammation process. Talking as little as possible and with soft tone is one of the best remedy to stop voice box inflammation.
• Cut out Alcohol : Alcoholic drinks contain chemicals that are irritating to the voice box. Alcohol may be considered a fluid, but it can cause more harm to the larynx than other types of fluids. Aside from the harmful substances in the alcohol, alcohol also causes dehydration. Abstaining from alcohol consumption will greatly decrease the healing time of laryngitis.
• Rest your Voice : Whatever form of laryngitis you may have, voice rest is important. Resting your voice means complete silence. Since communication is important for a social being, you may communicate through the use of pen and paper, or in modern times, by using your mobile phones and sending text messages. Talking, especially for those suffering from complicated laryngitis, may cause hemorrhage of the vocal cords, leading to more complications. Take note that even whispering will cause the vocal box to strain and therefore will cause hemorrhage or other problems of the larynx. Especially for those who are earning a living with their voice, such as the singers, it is important to head the advice of voice rest than lose the instrument that will give you high esteem.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.