Hoarseness is a condition that affects the voice, causing it to sound breathy, raspy, or strained, or be softer in volume or lower in pitch. It is often a symptom of problems in the vocal folds of the larynx. The vocal folds are two bands of smooth muscle tissue that are positioned opposite each other in the larynx. When we speak, the vocal folds snap together while air from the lungs blows past, making them vibrate. The vibrations produce sound waves that travel through the throat, nose, and mouth, which act as resonating cavities to modulate the sound. The quality of our voice—its pitch, volume, and tone—is determined by the size and shape of the vocal folds and the resonating cavities.

Hoarseness can be caused by a variety of factors, including misuse or overuse of the voice, viral infections, growths on the vocal cords, and neurological disorders. If you are hoarse for more than three weeks, especially if you haven’t had a cold or the flu, you should see a doctor. Other symptoms that warrant a visit to the doctor include coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing, feeling a lump in your neck, experiencing pain when speaking or swallowing, having difficulty breathing, or losing your voice completely for more than a few days.