Why Does My Voice Hurt in the Morning?
When you wake up and begin speaking to your roommates, significant other, or coworkers, you may notice that your voice feels tight and raspy. It may even sound deeper than your traditional talking voice.
The feeling of pain in your throat when you wake up can have many causes, both internal and external.
One of the most common causes of a hoarse voice in the morning is inflammation of the larynx. Phlegm naturally passes through the throat throughout the day, but when we are asleep, it can pool around the larynx, causing it to swell in irritation.
On top of that, hoarseness can be caused by sleeping with the mouth open. This is a very natural occurrence during sleep, but it causes dry air to be cycled down the throat and to the lungs, which can lead to inflammation and infection. Drying out the vocal cords can also cause pain when they rub together to make sound during conversation.
If you have acid reflux, then the stomach acid that is regurgitated into your throat can irritate your larynx and other parts of your throat. Other symptoms include heartburn and difficulty sleeping. Acid reflux is very common, and your ENT doctor in Los Angeles can give you multiple treatment options. Sleeping on multiple pillows and not eating close to bedtime are two easy ways to minimize this occurrence.
It’s also possible that allergens in the air are causing your tight throat. If you sleep with the window open, you may want to rethink this, as it lets in more allergens. You can invest in a humidifier or fan to help minimize the allergens in the air.
Waking up and immediately feeling unwell is a terrible way to start the day, but know that your chronic sore throat in the morning is likely not a cause for concern. Some simple at-home treatments like showering in the morning and drinking something warm can give you tremendous relief.
You probably won’t need vocal cord surgery in Los Angeles, but you should contact a doctor if this sore throat impacts your everyday life. It could be due to an underlying disorder or infection that needs attention.