How to cure throat ligaments at home

Functions and structure

The vocal cords are located in the middle of the throat. They have an elastic structure consisting of muscle and connective tissue. This part of the speech apparatus takes an active part in the formation of timbre.

Under the influence of air flow, the ligaments vibrate and close. As a result of these actions, a person produces sounds. This is the most important function of the ligaments in the throat. Thanks to small muscles, which, by the way, have a unique structure, a person is endowed with a voice. Disturbances in the normal functioning of the ligaments lead to a decrease in its quality.

The protective function of the human body is no less important. Ligaments prevent foreign elements from entering the lungs. When the larynx becomes inflamed, the pathological process also affects the vocal muscles. As a result, they swell and the gap between the ligaments closes. This transformation affects changes in the voice. The person may become hoarse or temporarily lose the ability to speak.

Causes of voice loss

Most often, infectious diseases of the pharynx and bronchi provoke an inflammatory process in the tissues of the ligaments. Among the common pathologies, doctors list the following:

• rhinitis,
• bronchitis,
• tonsillitis,
• measles,
• whooping cough,
• pneumonia,
• scarlet fever,
• flu.

The diseases are accompanied by a narrowing of the gap between the ligaments and, accordingly, loss of voice. In addition to infections, there are a number of factors that negatively affect the condition of the tissues of the mucous membrane of the ligaments. These include:

• general hypothermia of the body,
• the presence of allergic reactions in the patient,
• prolonged inhalation of cold air through the mouth,
• aggressive effects of dust, gas on the mucous membrane,
• overstrain of the vocal apparatus at the moment of screaming,
• the effect of nicotine on mucous tissues,
• excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Why is my voice lost?

We figured out how to treat the vocal cords. But it is much easier to prevent the development of a disease than to try to defeat it later. Therefore, carefully study the reasons for the development of ligament pathologies:

• Infectious diseases such as pneumonia, sinusitis, tonsillitis, flu or rhinitis. In this case, home treatment methods will not help; a mandatory consultation with a specialist is necessary.
• Severe hypothermia can lead not only to ligament pathology, but also to other serious diseases.
• Bad habits, especially smoking, since nicotine can irritate the mucous membranes.
• Too much tension on the vocal cords. Do not shout under the influence of emotions, so as not to break your voice. In particularly severe cases, this can lead to permanent loss of the ability to speak.
• Being in a dusty space. Harmful substances entering the mucous membranes irritate them and lead to loss of voice.
• If you breathe through your mouth, the icy air can cause your voice to become hoarse.
• Allergic reactions can also affect the development of the disease.

Most of these factors can be easily eliminated, so try not to let them develop pathology.

Signs of ligament inflammation

The medical literature lists symptoms of inflammation of the ligaments (laryngitis). Let's look at them:

• the voice becomes hoarse and hoarse, in some cases disappears completely,
• sore throat feeling,
• mucous membranes are dry,
• a feeling of pain in the larynx, intensifying at the moment of swallowing,
• dry cough, which over time develops into a wet cough,
• swelling of the mucous tissues of the larynx and shortness of breath,
• increased body temperature and headaches during exacerbation.

The listed signs of the development of the inflammatory process can appear all together or individually. The intensity of symptoms depends on the form and stage of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of each person.

Inflammation of the throat ligaments: causes and symptoms

The vocal cords are two strips of elastic muscle tissue. They are located side by side in the larynx just above the trachea.

Like other tissues in the body, the vocal cords can become overstressed and damaged.

The vocal cords are also susceptible to infection, tumors, and injury.

When a person is silent, the ligaments remain open, they create the airways through which we breathe.

When a person speaks, exhaling air is forced out of the lungs through the closed vocal cords, causing them to vibrate.

It is worth noting

Laryngitis, or laryngitis, is swelling of the vocal cords caused by inflammation or infection. Swollen vocal cords vibrate differently than normal, altering the typical sound of the voice.

Laryngitis can be caused by the following reasons:

• too frequent and intense vocal exercises by singers and singers;
• allergy;
• measles;
• bronchitis;
• pneumonia;
• whooping cough;
• viral infection such as flu and sore throat (tonsillitis);
• stomach acid reflux;
• rhinitis;
• scarlet fever in the incubation period in adult patients;
• exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke, even secondhand smoke, dust or too much alcohol.

Symptoms of inflammation of the throat ligaments include:

• a change in the sound of the voice, from hoarseness to a croaking voice or complete loss of voice;
• fever;
• a sore throat;
• general malaise;
• problems breathing or swallowing;
• feeling of being unable to clear your throat.

Inflammation of the throat ligaments has six forms:

1. Catarrhal . The mildest form occurs with the flu or cold. Features: hoarseness, sore throat, itching and coughing. It goes away along with the disease that caused it.
2. Hypertrophic . Occurs during a chronic disease and during hormonal changes in the teenage body. Small nodules appear on the vocal cords. Treatment is medicinal; it is rarely necessary to remove the inflamed areas of the ligaments surgically.
3. Atrophic . The mucous membrane of the pharynx atrophies, the patient complains of a constant cough, during which crusts with streaks of blood in the sputum come off. This form of laryngitis can be triggered by eating very hot and spicy foods, which is why residents of the Caucasus often suffer from atrophic laryngitis. Not typical for children.
4. Tuberculous or syphilitic . Syphilitic plaques and ulcers or tubercular tubercles appear on the vocal cords.
5. Diphtheria, also known as “true” croup . It is characterized by the formation of a white, very dense bacterial plaque on the tonsils. It clogs the vocal cords.
6. "False" croup . The result of an acute viral illness in young children. Severe swelling and spasm of the glottis occurs, which causes breathing problems in the child.

Classification of inflammation

Like all diseases, laryngitis can manifest itself in an acute form and progress to a chronic stage.
This usually occurs due to late contact with the doctor or non-compliance with the treatment regimen. Inflammation of the vocal cords is classified according to its form. There are several of them and each type of disease has its own distinctive characteristics.

Catarrhal laryngitis

This form is considered the easiest. Inflammation of the ligaments develops against the background of influenza or ARVI. Symptoms of the catarrhal form are expressed in a feeling of itching and sore throat. Slight hoarseness may occur. The person coughs constantly.

Catarrhal laryngitis does not pose a significant threat to the patient's health. Usually it goes away without a trace after recovery. More information about catarrhal laryngitis &rarr,

Hypertrophic laryngitis

The disease can occur independently or transform from atrophic, catarrhal laryngitis. A special feature is the proliferation of the submucosal layer and epithelium. As a result, ridges and tubercles form on the folds. It is these changes that cause hoarseness in the voice and give the feeling of a lump in the throat.

Atrophic inflammation

Irreversible changes in the tissues of the mucous membrane are a sign of the atrophic form. During prolonged inflammation, cells are replaced by connective fibers. The number of mucous glands is significantly reduced. External manifestations of the disease include dryness, coughing, and changes in voice quality.

Tuberculous or syphilitic inflammation of the ligaments

The vocal cords become covered with tubercular tubercles. Or the tissues are affected by ulcers and syphilitic plaques. Conservative treatment in this case will not be effective. And hoarseness is constantly felt.

How to cure throat ligaments

Having excluded other harmful effects, after some time the laryngeal ligaments will recover, but you can use special medications intended for such situations, then the therapeutic effect will be achieved much earlier.

Medicines for inflammation of the vocal cords due to illness:

1. Antibacterial drugs.
2. Bioparox.
3. Lugol.
4. Miramistin.
5. Means for better sputum discharge.
6. Antihistamines and others.

In addition to taking medications, patients with similar symptoms must follow the doctor’s special recommendations. People during illness need a special regime and compliance with special conditions, which contributes to a speedy recovery.

Mode:

• during illness you need to spend as much time as possible in bed;
• observe dietary restrictions. It is necessary to exclude spicy, cold, hot and spicy foods from your diet, as well as alcoholic drinks and carbonated water;
• ensure maximum rest for the vocal cords, if possible, then generally remain silent and not talk;
• eliminate smoking, even passive smoking;
• Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, preferably warm.

In some cases, when inflammation of the vocal cords develops as a result of a serious infection or if there is a cyst on the ligaments, the patient must be hospitalized and treated in a hospital setting.

Diagnostics

The doctor conducts a physiological examination and interviews the patient. At the same time, the quality of the voice sound and the general condition of the person are assessed. Already at this stage, an experienced otolaryngologist is able to make a diagnosis and draw up a plan on how to cure inflammation of the vocal folds.

During the examination, the doctor feels the neck, determining the condition of the lymph nodes. The doctor examines the nose, mouth, throat. The data obtained allows us to compare the symptoms with the general condition of the person. After this, the reasons that provoked the inflammatory process in a particular case are established.

If necessary, additional laryngoscopy is performed. This procedure examines the larynx and removes a tissue sample for biopsy (test).

How to treat inflammation of the vocal cords yourself

The question of how to treat vocal cords at home is increasingly worrying many people. There are many traditional methods, but in a really difficult situation, you need to see a doctor. So, how to treat paresis of the vocal cords using traditional methods:

• Grind chamomile and marigold flowers and mix with eucalyptus leaves. All ingredients must be taken in equal proportions. Then pour boiling water over this mixture, cover with a lid and let it brew for 40 minutes. You need to gargle with the solution twice a day.
• Mix hot homemade milk and mineral water in equal parts. Slowly drink the resulting drink in small sips throughout the day.
• Heat the milk and add a pinch of turmeric to it. Drink the resulting drink in small portions throughout the day.
• Brew marshmallow tea. Add a teaspoon of honey to it when the drink has cooled slightly. Drink part of the resulting infusion every hour.

Inflammation of the vocal cords can be treated with these methods. Symptoms and treatment are interrelated. If the symptoms are too severe or you feel pain that is too much to bear, you need to visit the hospital.

Treatment options

There are several ways to treat throat ligaments. Let's take a brief look at these methods. Medicines are the basis of therapy:

• To thin the mucus, Ambroxol, ACC, Fluimucil are prescribed.
• Among the expectorant drugs one can note Gerbion, Eucabal and the well-known Pertusin syrup.
• To relieve inflammation in the throat, aerosols (Ingalipt, Kamfoment) are suitable.
• Lugol's is applied to the ulcerated areas.
• In the chronic form, an antibacterial aerosol may be prescribed, for example, Bioparox.
• Tablets for throat ligaments Homeovox and Isla have proven themselves well.

Treatment

Even if there are no symptoms other than voice problems, throat diseases should not be left untreated. If the disease is not treated in time, it can become chronic. Then any treatment will not be as effective as in the early stages, and irreversible changes may occur to the vocal cords themselves.

If slight hoarseness is observed, treatment can be carried out at home.

But if it has completely disappeared, the disease has not been treated for several days, or hoarseness appears periodically, you should definitely seek the help of a specialist.

Medical assistance

If you experience hoarseness or loss of voice, you should consult an otolaryngologist (ENT). First, the doctor will examine the throat, nose, mouth and cervical lymph nodes, and then prescribe treatment. An instrumental examination of the throat (called laryngoscopy) is prescribed by doctors very rarely - only in cases where treatment lasts a long time, but without visible success.

Depending on the cause of the throat disease and how severe the vocal cords are inflamed, the specialist can choose several treatment options from the following options:

• Lubricating the throat with Lugol's solution. Prescribed if ulcers were found during examination.
• Inhalations.
• Tablets or powders to thin phlegm.
• Antibacterial drugs (tablets or aerosols).
• Physiotherapeutic procedures: electrophoresis with novocaine, ultraviolet irradiation, UHF.
• Surgical intervention. Most often prescribed by doctors if a neoplasm is present.

If possible, it is better to consult a highly specialized doctor who deals directly with diseases of the vocal cords - a phoniatrist. People whose professional duties require them to speak or sing a lot should regularly consult a phoniatrist for both treatment and prevention of diseases of the vocal cords.

Drug treatment

Drug treatment occupies a special place in the methods used to restore voice. Now there are many medications that relieve inflammation and swelling of the throat. Here are several groups of drugs that are most often prescribed if the voice has disappeared:

• Lozenges and tablets for the throat (Faryngosept, Falimint).
• Aerosols (Cameton, Yox).
• Antiviral drugs.
• Local antibacterial drugs (Thymol, Dequalinium).
• Antibiotics (Bioparox, Streptomycin).
• Corticosteroids - for chronic forms.

It is worth remembering that symptoms of vocal cord diseases can be caused by various reasons. Therefore, you should not try to restore your voice on your own with medications or any other means if it suddenly disappears. Only a doctor can find the cause after a thorough examination.

Treatment at home

In cases where hoarseness has only been present for a few days, you can try to treat the vocal cords at home. Also, traditional methods can be used as an addition to drug treatment prescribed by a doctor. But only after consultation with a specialist!

When the vocal cords are inflamed, you need to not speak, even in a whisper, for at least several days, and drink only warm liquid.

Warm compresses, gargling with a soda solution or decoctions of chamomile and sage will also be useful. If there is no temperature, you can steam your feet. The following recipes can be used as home remedies:

1. Boil the potatoes. Place mint leaves or chamomile on the bottom of the dish and sprinkle potatoes on top. You need to breathe the steam for about 10 minutes.
2. Take onion peels (2 teaspoons), pour half a liter of boiling water, and brew. You should gargle with the decoction three times daily.
3. Take 2 tablespoons of dried raspberry leaves, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, a teaspoon of ginger, pour three glasses of boiling water and leave in a thermos overnight. Drink a couple of spoons before meals.
4. Mix egg yolk and butter. Take a tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
5. Drink moderately hot beer or milk with mineral water.

Prevention

Follow the simple advice of otolaryngologists:

• When the first symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately.
• Avoid hypothermia.
• Maintain normal water balance (drink 1.5–2 liters of water per day).
• Avoid overstraining the ligaments.
• Stop smoking and alcohol.
• Consume cold foods and drinks in small doses and very carefully.
• Ventilate your living space and do not forget about regular wet cleaning.

An experienced doctor should treat inflamed ligaments in the throat. Only in this case can we hope for recovery, prevent the development of complications and relapses.

Tatyana Grosova, nurse