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Tuesday, April 21, 2015
People who rely on their voice for a living, such as singers, actors and media personalities, know the importance of keeping it healthy. But for most people, voice health is not something they think about until they have a problem.
One of the most common problems people have with their voice is hoarseness and voice loss (laryngitis), which can be caused by a variety of issues, including infection and misuse and overuse through excessively loud or prolonged talking.
Other medical conditions that can lead to voice problems include
A variety of things could cause voice loss or hoarseness. That's why it's important for people to see an otolaryngologist if they have problems for three weeks or more.
Over 7 million Americans have a voice disorder that can affect both their social and their professional life.
People can become depressed because they couldn't be heard in a noisy room, or don’t call people because they can't be heard. If you experience a voice problem, there are treatments available. But remember that there are easy, preventive steps you can take to keep your voice healthy.
These steps are recommended to keep your voice healthy:
Otolaryngologists and other voice disorder specialists are celebrating the fourth annual World Voice Day on April 16 to recognize the importance of the voice and the need for preventive care.
This article originally appeared in UC Health Line (4/05/07), a service of the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center Public Relations Department and was adapted for use on NetWellness with permission, 2007.
Last Reviewed: Apr 09, 2007
Siddarth M Khosla, MD
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati