The laryngitis is a very common disorder that involves laryngitis and vocal cords. Generally it is caused by bacteria and viruses, other times by the wear and tear of the vocal cords due to prolonged use of the voice, by irritations due to the abuse of alcohol, smoking or medicines, by problems related to the gastro-esophageal apparatus.
Since laryngitis affects the vocal cords which are one of the organs that allow us to speak, the first symptom of this disease is the sudden and prolonged lowering of the voice accompanied by nasal congestion and consequent headache, sore throat which makes swallowing difficult, fever. It is evident that for its symptoms it can be easily confused with flu syndrome or other generic cooling pathologies. It is advisable to avoid the abuse of self-medication and consult your doctor when the symptoms are particularly stubborn: laryngitis is not a serious disease but sometimes involves a very high fever that can be of concern.
When laryngitis has a bacterial or viral origin, the only cure able to act effectively is antibiotic and cortisone, however during periods of malaise more careful behaviors must be followed to avoid worsening the situation: – drink a lot to hydrate the throat and its internal components which are generally subject to dryness during periods of malaise; – avoid fatigue of the vocal cords and therefore limit their use; do not speak for many minutes consecutively, maintain a rather low tone of voice, take a sip of water to avoid that dryness of the throat and the effort further compromise these organs; – installing a humidifier in your home makes the air less dry, promoting the release of the nasal passages blocked by mucus. The herbal science and the memory of our grandmothers also offer solutions for this problem. Some foods such as onion, sage, rosemary, garlic, celery, ginger and carrot have beneficial effects.
Popular wisdom recommends: – to do gargling with warm salt water and lemon that perform a disinfectant and balsamic function or with warm water and vinegar in equal measure at least 4-5 times a day; – consume the ginger root . You can keep it in the mouth like a candy or make a decoction with water, garlic, lemon juice and honey; – drink a cup of hot milk and honey before going to sleep which has a balsamic and decongestant action. This remedy, due to its pleasant taste, is particularly suitable for children.