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Causes of Hoarseness
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Hoarseness also know as voice strain or loss of voice is described as having difficulty producing sound when trying to speak, or a change in the pitch or quality of the voice. The voice may sound weak, excessively breathy, scratchy, or husky.Hoarseness is usually caused by a problem in the vocal cords. Most cases of hoarseness are associated with inflammation of the larynx (laryngitis).
Common causes of hoarseness are laryngitis, excessive use of the voice (as in shouting or singing), allergies, inhaling irritating substances, excessive use of alcohol or tobacco, coughing, in children it can be caused by prolonged or excessive crying, viral illness and gastric reflux (acid from the stomach irritating the voice box).
Other causes include heavy smoking and drinking, overall weakness caused by other diseases, tonsillitis, ingestion of a caustric liquid, foreign object in the esophagus or trachea, infectious mononucleosis, postnasal drip, voice cord nodules or paralysis (post surgical), bronchoscopy or other test (temporary), puberty, and cancer in the voice box (layngeal cancer).
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Hoarseness: Mix (?) drops of grapefruit seed extract in 1-cup lukewarm water. Gargle several times a day to get rid of hoarseness.
