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General health information

Hoarseness

Hoarseness means that your voice sounds different, becomes weaker or cuts out. It is often caused by a virus, voice strain or irritation from smoke or stomach acid, but it can also indicate a vocal cord problem, paralysis or, more rarely, a tumour. Hoarseness with stridor, a high-pitched sound when breathing in, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or persistent hoarseness in someone who smokes needs prompt assessment.

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  • Hoarseness means that your voice sounds rough, fragile, weak or different from normal. It often goes away on its own after a cold or voice strain.
  • The most common causes are a virus, a lot of talking or shouting, smoking, dry air and stomach acid flowing back up. Vocal cord nodules or a nerve problem are also possible.
  • Using your voice gently, not smoking and drinking enough may help, but not all hoarseness is harmless. Persistence is an important sign.
  • Hoarseness together with stridor, a high-pitched sound when breathing in, difficulty breathing, inability to swallow, rapidly becoming unwell or sudden throat swelling needs prompt assessment.
  • Persistent hoarseness, especially in someone who smokes or used to smoke, needs assessment through your usual GP (family doctor), or HAP 9252, the out-of-hours GP service, outside normal opening hours.

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Further reading

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B
Bad breathBad breath usually comes from the mouth or teeth, for example from a coated tongue, gum problems or a dry mouth. Thorough cleaning often helps, but persistent odour needs dental assessment. Swelling and swallowing or breathing problems are warning signs.
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Sore throatA sore throat is often caused by a virus and usually clears up on its own. However, watch for difficulty breathing, drooling, inability to swallow, dehydration, a muffled voice, a uvula pulled to one side or marked swelling on one side of the throat. These may indicate a more serious infection or an abscess. Rest, fluids and soft food often help, but a doctor needs to assess warning signs promptly.
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Blocked earA blocked feeling in the ear is often caused by earwax, a cold, pressure changes or fluid, but may also mask sudden hearing loss. Put nothing into the ear. Hearing that suddenly becomes clearly worse over hours or a few days, especially on one side, needs urgent assessment the same day.