Hoarseness

Hoarseness is a condition in which your voice sounds raspy, strained and breathy. There are many causes to hoarseness, including:

Excessive use of voice
Cold or sinus infection
Laryngitis: when your vocal folds swell temporarily due to a cold, infection or allergies
Gastroesophageal reflux: also known as heartburn, this condition occurs when stomach acid goes up into your throat
Vocal cord palsy: where 1 of your vocal cords fail to move or appose upon phonation.
Vocal fold haemorrhage: if you voice suddenly disappears, or if you can speak but not sing, it is a sign of a vocal fold haemorrhage
Neck trauma
Vocal cord nodules, cysts or polyps
Laryngeal cancer

Depending on the cause, condition and its severity, treatment options can vary. Common treatment methods include:

Hoarseness can be prevented for the most part by following simple habits and making the right lifestyle changes:

Quit smoking
Encourage hydration
Observe voice hygiene
Treat gastro-esophageal reflux
Protect against neck trauma with protective head gear or seatbelts where applicable.