Laryngitis can occur most often in the winter due to forced heat in the home and the prevalence of germs and bacteria that seem to be everywhere. Laryngitis occurs when the vocal cords or larynx get inflamed. While it can be caused by overuse (such as a lot of screaming or yelling), for the elderly it’s often a side effect of having a bad cold or cough, especially when combined with the dry air of a home that’s got its heat on trying to stay warm. Laryngitis can lead to temporary voice loss, a tender throat, and incessant coughing. If your loved one has come down with a non-complicated case of laryngitis, you and his senior home care provider can do a few treatments at home to help alleviate the pain and irritation that comes from a case of laryngitis.
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Senior Home Care Crestline OH – Home Treatments for Laryngitis
Gargle with salt water. This age-old tried-and-true remedy works to help a throat feel better. Warm salt water can kill bacteria and reduce inflammation. It can promote the healing of your loved one’s inflamed vocal cords. Have your senior care provider dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Then your loved one can start gargling (remember, gargle and spit – don’t drink). If your loved one can let the warm salt water sit in his mouth until it cools, it’ll be more effective. Repeat several times a day.
- Turn on a humidifier, especially at night. While your loved one can sip on water during the day to keep his throat moist, at nighttime a humidifier will help keep the air that he’s breathing moister. Dry, heated air makes recovery tougher. The humidifier should be kept clean and use fresh water each day, so ask your senior care provider to refill it and get it ready for when your loved one needs it at bedtime.
- Rest those vocal cords. Your loved one should strive to keep talking to a minimum to give his vocal cords the chance to rest and recover. Staying silent might be difficult so have a pack of note paper and a pen ready for your loved one to write down his wishes for you or his senior care provider.
- Stock up on throat lozenges. Sucking on a throat lozenge will lubricate the throat, and that can bring relief from the congestion that results from sore throats. Throat lozenges come in many varieties – from ones with honey to menthol. Find one that your loved one enjoys and have plenty on hand to help him through his day.
- Drink up some tea. There are lots of ingredients you can put in tea to help heal the larynx. You can use ginger root because of its antimicrobial properties. You can add honey to soothe an inflamed throat as it will coat the larynx and reduce inflammation. Or you add apple cider vinegar to the tea. Apple cider vinegar is great at killing bacteria.
No matter which home remedies you choose, plenty of sleep, eating well and care from you will help your loved one on his road to recovery.
If you are considering hiring Senior Home Care Services in Crestline OH, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161. Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Ontario, Bucyrus, Mt. Vernon, Marion, Willard, and the surrounding areas.
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