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Taking Care of Your Throat
10/29/2013 1:50:13 PM
Taking Care of Your Throat
Perhaps it's because you feel a bit hoarse, perhaps it's because your throat
feels dry. Whatever the reason, you've probably often felt the urge to clear
your throat. The practice is so common that several words for it have entered
the language: "Ahem!" and "Harrumph!" are two common terms that mimic
the sounds people make in preparing the throat for speech. A hearty harrumph may feel satisfying, but over the long run the habit will
leave you even hoarser, experts say. You've probably been clearing your throat for your entire life without really
thinking about why. Here's the reason: You clear your throat because your larynx--that upper part of the respiratory
tract that contains the vocal cords--becomes irritated. The irritation can be
caused by something as simple as an accumulation of mucus, perhaps from
a cold or an allergy. Other common causes are dryness in the throat or a
reaction to environmental tobacco smoke. Clearing the throat is really an irritating, abrasive response to what you feel in
your throat. The irritation causes swelling in the larynx, which in turn affects
the way your vocal cords perform. Your voice may go from a well-modulated
pitch to a breathy, raspy whisper. Those who use their voices for a living, such as newscasters and opera stars,
have to protect their throats through good health habits. You can follow their
lead and protect your voice with these tips:
Break the throat-clearing habit
If you are overtaken by the urge to clear your throat, swallow twice instead --
that should help move the mucus along. A last-ditch effort is a very breathy
cough, just to get the accumulated phlegm off the vocal cords.
Improve your air quality
Stay away from secondhand smoke and other sources of indoor and outdoor
pollution as well. Heated air is dry air, another common cause of hoarseness,
so be sure to use a humidifier in your home in the heating season.
Stay hydrated
Try taking small sips of water throughout the day to keep the mucus from
building up. Lozenges and herbal tea with a twist of lemon help soothe an
irritated throat.
Turn the volume down
If you're prone to temporary hoarseness, you may need to examine your
speaking style.
Fight hoarseness with horseradish
That and other "hot" foods, such as jalapeno peppers, can bring temporary
relief from a cold. That's because spicy foods open the nasal passages.
Know when to visit the doctor
If hoarseness lasts more than three weeks, or you experience a complete loss
or severe change in your voice for more than a few days, contact your doctor.
Allergies, thyroid problems, neurological disorders and trauma to the voice
box are some causes of hoarseness that may require medical treatment.
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