The post-festive season often brings about a health slump for many Brits.
After weeks of indulgence and late-night revelry, it’s common to start the new year feeling somewhat under the weather. ITV’s Dr Amir Khan notes that a hoarse voice is also a usual complaint at this time of year.
Speaking on why our voices might become strained and raspy, he said: “So, firstly, why do people like me get hoarse? Well, our vocal cords are two bands of tissue that sit inside of our voice box here – that’s called the larynx.
“When we speak, air from our lungs makes our vocal cords vibrate and create sound waves. Anything that effects these vocal cords or the larynx will make you sound hoarse, so here are five potential causes.”
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According to the GP, the five common causes are:
- Laryngitis – he said this is the “most common” cause of the problem, and can happen due to allergies. It can also be caused by infections.
- Overuse of your voice – this is something that most of us do at some point, and it can result in inflaming your vocal cords.
- Vocal nodules, cysts and polyps – he said these are non-cancerous growths that can appear on vocal cords.
- Neurological diseases and disorders – if you’ve had a stroke, or have a condition such as Parkinson’s disease, he said this can impact the part of your brain that controls the muscles in your larynx.
- Cancers – he noted cancers, such as lung cancer and throat cancer, can cause hoarseness. If you’ve had an “unexplained hoarse voice” for three weeks or more then it’s vital to see a doctor.
The explainer caught the attention of over 2,000 viewers online, sparking numerous comments discussing their personal experiences with hoarseness. One viewer praised: “These little videos are excellent. Simple, easy. Thank you.”
Another chimed in with: “Top tips as usual Dr Amir. Such important points. I do get a hoarse voice most winter’s due to overuse of my voice and ENT issues also – my voice is usually husky.”
Meanwhile, a third also replied: “My dad sadly lost his voice and he was diagnosed with lung cancer.”