What Role Does Hydration Play In Preventing And Treating Laryngitis?

Overview

Have you ever suffered from an extremely sore or dry throat following the flu, or even lost your voice? If yes, you may have suffered from laryngitis, a condition caused by the inflammation of the vocal box, and the larynx. There are various causes of laryngitis including infections, overuse and irritation, and the symptoms range from dry throats to a complete loss of voice. Those who have suffered from laryngitis may have attempted to remedy their dry throats by increasing the amount of water they drink, and some do indeed find it to work to alleviate the symptoms. But to what extent do water and hydration help manage and treat laryngitis?

Understanding laryngitis

Laryngitis is an inflammatory condition caused by the inflammation of the larynx, which houses the vocal cords. Inflammation is a biological response to harmful stimuli such as pathogens, cell damage, and irritants. In the case of laryngitis, such inflammatory response can be the result of many different things such as:

• Viral infections (such as the cold or flu)
• Bacterial & fungal infections
• Acid reflux
• Vocal stress (talking too loudly or shouting too much)
• Smoking
• Pollution
• Allergies

Typically laryngitis is short-lived and will get better over time. However, sometimes laryngitis lasts much longer and becomes a chronic condition. The symptoms of laryngitis vary. However, since the inflamed larynx houses the vocal cords, laryngitis often results in a change in speech and pain in the throat. Common symptoms of laryngitis include:

• Change in speech (hoarseness or loss of voice)
• Throat pain
• Irritating cough
• A constant need to clear your throat (too much phlegm production)

The larynx contains membranes and muscles that are important for speech. When the vocal cords become inflamed due to laryngitis, it sometimes results in a change in the person's voice, becoming more hoarse, or sometimes a complete loss of voice. Inflamed tissue in the larynx can also become more sensitive and swollen, resulting in irritation and pain in the throat when inflamed tissue is forced to move too much during speech or coughing. 

The role of hydration in preventing laryngitis

The vocal cords and other membranes within the larynx are protected by a thin layer of mucus, which acts as both a lubricant—reducing friction between the vibrating vocal cords to facilitate sound production—and a barrier that captures particulates from inhaled air. When dehydrated, the body attempts to conserve water via many different mechanisms, including reducing the amount of external fluid released such as urine, sweat and mucus. This means that when a person is dehydrated, the mucus produced to protect the structures of the respiratory tract including the larynx is reduced, thus increasing the friction between the vocal cords, which can cause irritation and laryngitis.

Maintaining adequate hydration protects the mucous layer in the larynx. This allows the vocal cords to be lubricated and move smoothly, reducing the risk of developing inflammation and irritation from friction in the larynx. Furthermore, the mucous layer also protects the larynx from harmful substances in the air such as pollutants, irritants and allergens, which can then be easily removed via coughing.

Maintaining adequate hydration also reduces the risk of developing laryngitis by aiding the function of the immune system. The immune system is a defence system whereby white blood cells patrol the body via lymphatic and blood vessels. Hydration supports blood flow and circulation through the circulatory system, increasing tissue and lymphatic fluid, helping immune cells respond to infections and reducing the risk of developing laryngitis from viral and bacterial sources, such as the cold and flu viruses. Furthermore, drinking enough water and staying hydrated can also reduce the risk of developing inflammation by counteracting dryness caused by environmental irritants such as smoke and pollution.

The role of hydration in treating laryngitis

Soothing inflamed vocal cords

Laryngitis usually involves the inflammation of the vocal cords, leading to throat pain, irritation, and swelling. When the vocal cords are inflamed and swollen, it often results in excess friction leading to further irritation. Drinking more water can help increase the moisture within the larynx and respiratory system, reducing dryness which can exacerbate irritation of the vocal cords and providing a temporary soothing effect for dry and irritated vocal cords, which can help reduce the symptoms of laryngitis and aid recovery.

In addition, both warm and cold fluids can help manage the symptoms of laryngitis. Cold fluids can help reduce inflammation, providing a cooling and soothing relief for the inflamed tissue. Just like an ice pack, cold fluids cause the blood vessels and capillaries to constrict around the inflamed larynx, which decreases swelling and inflammation in the inflamed vocal cord tissue. This can help reduce the effects of inflammation, and provide temporary relief. Warm fluids, such as tea and coffee, can also manage the symptoms of laryngitis by relaxing the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, decreasing tension and vocal strain.

Thinning mucous

In response to inflammation and irritation in the larynx, the body will often increase the secretion of mucus into the larynx in an attempt to remove the irritant or allergen that is causing the inflammation. However, this mucous can end up being too thick and cause too much phlegm build-up, especially if the person was previously dehydrated. Drinking fluids and staying hydrated helps maintain a humid environment where the mucous is thinned and easier to remove via coughing. Mucous is important for protecting the respiratory tract, especially the larynx, as it traps harmful irritants and allergens, which can then be removed from the airway. Drinking more fluids to thin the mucus helps the body remove any irritants and pollutants which may have caused inflammation and laryngitis in the first place.

Furthermore, the additional moisture from staying hydrated helps reduce the need for coughing and removing excess phlegm and mucous. This helps reduce excessive coughing, which can cause further damage and inflammation of the vocal cords. 

Restoring vocal cord function

The vocal cords are responsible for producing speech and sound via vibration. Hence, the vocal cords require adequate lubrication and elasticity to perform optimally. Good hydration allows the vocal cords to stay lubricated, hence reducing the stress and damage from too much friction. In addition, good hydration also increases the elasticity of the vocal cords themselves, making them less stiff and more elastic, reducing the risk of additional strain during inflammation when speaking.

Hydrated vocal cords require less effort to produce sound, which is important when recovering from laryngitis, as it reduces the amount of strain on the vocal cords when speaking. This is important as overstraining vocal cords may lead to slower healing and more damage when recovering from laryngitis. 

Practical hydration tips for prevention and recovery

Since hydration can play a key role in preventing and managing the symptoms of laryngitis, how can we ensure that we are consuming enough fluids? 

According to Harvard Health Publishing,¹ the average healthy man will require 15.5 cups of water, and the average woman requires 11.5 cups of water. The exact number for you will depend on several different factors, such as activity level, temperature, diet etc. A good way of gauging whether you are hydrated enough is by observing the colour of your urine. When your body is well hydrated, your urine should appear light yellow/straw colour, and the darker the urine the more dehydrated you are.

To ensure optimum moisture and hydration of the larynx, make sure that you are drinking a little and often throughout the day. This can be made easier by having a large water bottle that you can bring with you through your daily activities.

Other than drinking plenty of fluids, there are other ways to ensure that you have the right moisture and hydration to optimise recovery from laryngitis. If you live in a very dry climate, or if your home is too dry, this can cause the surface of your larynx to dry out quicker, and hence humidifiers may be a good option if the environment that you live in is dry. Furthermore, incorporating foods with high water content, such as watermelons and other fruits, can also help increase hydration.

Summary

To conclude, laryngitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the larynx and the vocal cords. This can often result in difficulty speaking and the symptoms can often be exacerbated by dehydration. Maintaining a healthy level of hydration can be an important part of maintaining optimum conditions within the larynx, hence decreasing the risk of developing laryngitis. Furthermore, staying hydrated during recovery from laryngitis not only provides temporary relief from the effects of inflammation and swelling but also speeds up recovery and decreases slow healing. Hence, hydration can play an important role in not only managing laryngitis but also play an important role in prevention.