First For Women

Hoarseness

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Q:

Every year, I lose my voice during the holidays. My doctor suggested I try speaking softly to prevent this problem, but I’m still hoarse. What’s going on?

A:

While talking loudly and frequently is often a surefire way to lose your voice, there’s another culprit that could be causing your problem: acid reflux. You may have a condition called reflux laryngitis, which is a combinatio­n of reflux, where stomach acid flows upward into the throat, and laryngitis, or inflammati­on of the voice box. Unlike with regular acid reflux, you may not experience the uncomforta­ble symptoms like heartburn. And during the holiday season, when you may be indulging in rich foods, the condition is more common.

You can prevent symptoms in the future by avoiding spicy and fatty foods, which are known to increase reflux. You should also stop eating three hours before going to bed.

To ease the hoarseness in your voice now, I recommend taking up to three slippery elm lozenges a day. You’ll find them in drugstores near the regular cough lozenges. Made from the bark of slippery elm trees, the lozenges soothe irritated tissue and pain nerves, and in a small study at Texas Christian University, researcher­s found that the lozenges eased symptoms of hoarseness 24% better than drinking tea. Plus, slippery elm may help coat the throat to prevent damage to the esophagus caused by acid reflux. Finally, avoid whispering which can actually put more stress on your vocal chords since they have to work harder to project the sound.

If you are dealing with reflux laryngitis, your voice should return within a week. But if your symptoms continue or worsen, visit your doctor to rule out other possible causes.

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