Hoarseness Little talk and as much fresh air as possible can help

Natural help with hoarseness: Little talk and lots of fresh air
At the moment many parts of the so-called "old-summer-summer" can still be felt, but on many days it is wet, cold and uncomfortable outside. Not infrequently, this leads to a cold, which is accompanied by hoarseness. Some then quickly resort to medication, while others tend to rely on tried-and-tested home remedies. But what really helps?

Scratchy voice and hoarseness
In many places you can still enjoy the last days of the "Indian Summer", but it hardly gets any cooler in the fall, even the first hoarse ones go to school or to work. For many, a scratchy voice and sore throat are part of the colder season. It is not easy to prevent. If you have a cold, the speech is more reminiscent of a detuned violin or guitar, said general practitioner Hans Michael Mühlenfeld from Bremen. In an interview with the dpa-Themenendienst he said: "One is hoarse when the vocal tract - the larynx - is irritated by inflammation." The larynx swells as a defense reaction against the virus infection. The vocal cords can no longer vibrate freely, and the voice sounds hoarse, explained Mühlenfeld.

Colds are often associated with hoarseness. (Image: Jana Behr / fotolia.com)

In autumn and winter you can catch a virus quickly
It is not so easy to prevent. According to Mühlendorf, the viruses are floating around in the air - and especially in the cold season, when you usually spend a lot of time indoors, you can easily catch a virus. He therefore recommends that you get as much fresh air as possible in autumn and winter and spend as little time as possible in buses, subways or trams. In addition, one should not negatively burden his body, for example by smoking. As a preventative measure, it is also always recommended to strengthen the immune system. Health experts advise too much sleep, a balanced vitamin-rich diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and alcohol abstinence.

Definitely spare the vocal cords
But if it does catch you then, the most important thing is "to accept the signals of the body," says Mühlendorf. The family doctor recommends switching back on a gait and avoiding strenuous physical exertion. In addition, you should urgently save voice when hoarseness. "Speaking a little helps to enable the body to better manage the cure," said the expert. In most cases, the doctor advises against medication. Medicines suppress the disease signals of the body, the person feels healthy and therefore overexerts his body.

Inhale water vapor
There is a lot of natural that helps against colds. Among other things, various home remedies for hoarseness are available. Mühlendorf recommends, as an active remedy, to inhale water vapor, because the larynx needs heat and humidity. You can also add salt or sage in the water. Another option is to gargle with this water. Patients should always drink plenty of fluids because the larynx needs moisture. In addition to water, it is especially tea. However, "there is no panacea" (ad)