Hoarseness: what are the causes of hoarse voice (acute and chronic)?

Hoarseness is a voice disorder caused either by strain on the vocal cords or by a disease of the vocal cords. Alternatively, it may be related to infectious and inflammatory diseases in the larynx and oral cavity.

You are often interested in the following information:
Why do I have hoarseness?
What does long-term hoarseness mean?
What acute or long-term vocal cord disease is responsible for this problem?

Inflammation of the airways

In some cases, hoarseness can also be caused by inflammatory diseases of the airways or diseases affecting the lungs. For example, laryngitis can be a symptom of dry cough and sore throat.

Professionally, the disease is called laryngitis.

Read more.

Laryngitis takes different forms.

The chronic form can develop on the basis of long-term inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Treatment is usually carried out by administering antibiotics - either in a general or local way (through a spray that is applied orally).

Diseases of the vocal cords

The vocal cords are part of the larynx. In addition to being affected by inflammation as part of laryngitis, several other diseases threaten them.

Examples are benign formations, various polyps, nodules, which are common in singers. In addition to benign diseases, malignant lesions also affect them.

Carcinoma of the vocal cords is a serious disease. In addition to hoarseness, it is associated with pain in the throat, painful swallowing, a feeling of obstruction in the throat, bad breath and also difficulty breathing.

Another type of vocal cord disease is vocal cord paresis, i.e. vocal cord paralysis. The resulting malfunction of the vocal cord ligaments causes them to behave incorrectly. This in turn interferes with the normal opening and closing of the vocal cords.

The paralysis can be caused by, for example:

• neurological disease, namely Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis
• a tumour or tumour of the larynx
• lung cancer
• thyroid cancer
• after surgery in the neck area
• trauma to the neck, but also to the head
• in some cases, viral diseases

Swelling, tumour and other obstruction as a cause of hoarseness

If no visible cause or factor can be found that may have caused the hoarseness, it may be swelling, myxedema or a tumor or tumor. Other obstructions directly on the vocal cords may also be to blame.

If a person has hoarseness without other symptoms that persists for several weeks, he or she should see a doctor.

Airway swelling is present in inflammatory and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. However, it can also occur in allergies, food allergies, drug allergies, and even insect stings such as bee or wasp stings.

Mucus is an example of when it acts as a barrier. Increased mucus production is a cause of inflammation of the airways. It also occurs with the flu, but also with allergic rhinitis. Mucus can leak into the larynx from the upper airways. This is a common cause of hoarseness and coughing in children.

Congestion causes hoarseness not only when speaking, but also when breathing. Then it can be felt in the nose, nasopharynx, throat. And in the case of inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, hoarseness comes from the bronchi.

Hoarseness can also be a symptom of cancer, for example lung cancer. It affects the lower respiratory tract and the lungs. It is the most common type of cancer in general. It is very dependent on various risk factors. It affects smokers in particular, not only active but also passive.

Symptoms appear slowly and subtly. The warning signs are just the constant coughing, coughing up blood and also hoarseness. So it is certainly not to be underestimated, especially if it persists for a long time.

Similarly, the upper respiratory tract can also be affected by cancer. Whether it is oral cancer, oesophageal cancer, laryngeal cancer or thyroid cancer. In all these cancers, symptoms such as hoarseness, painful swallowing and sore throat are common.

In this case, too, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor as soon as the initial symptoms are noticed. Hoarseness can indicate not only common inflammations but also serious tumours.

Congestion as a cause

There are cases when hoarseness is caused by straining of the vocal cords, for example, by loud shouting, singing or excessive use of a strong voice for a long time. In this case, the solution to hoarseness is only rest, rest and regeneration of the vocal cords.

Other causes of hoarseness

Often, hoarseness is not only related to the respiratory system. It can also be caused by various other diseases. For example, it occurs in oesophageal reflux disease. Part of the stomach contents, including gastric juices, get back into the oesophagus. This causes heartburn, a feeling of acidity, chest pain and also hoarseness.

It is also one of the symptoms in thyroid disorders, whether it is hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. That is, weak or excessive production of thyroid hormones.

External environment, irritation and hoarseness

In contrast to the disease, the cause can also be in the surrounding environment or in substances that irritate the throat area. An example is dry air, especially during the heating season or during the dry hot days of summer. The vocal cords become excessively dry, causing hoarseness. Smoking and being in a smoky area also have a negative effect.

Irritation of the lining of the throat can be caused by volatile chemicals, which can be inhaled or ingested - even in the home environment, for example in the form of cleaning products. Concentrated alcohol or hard alcohol can also be harmful.

As with reflux disease, it can also occur after vomiting, especially if the vomiting is repeated and persists for a long time. The acidic contents of the stomach also irritate the mucous membranes in the airways, which causes hoarseness.

Another example of irritation of the vocal cords is a prolonged cough.