Laryngitis

Overview

Most of the time, you can tell if you have laryngitis because you develop symptoms such as hoarseness, a sore throat or a dry cough. If your symptoms diminish in a week or two, you probably won’t need to seek medical care. When necessary, however, your healthcare provider can determine if you have laryngitis by:

Taking a culture. Your healthcare provider examines and swabs your throat. The sample is then treated with a substance that encourages germ growth. If germs that cause infection are found, then your culture is positive.
Performing a laryngoscopy. A small camera called an endoscope is inserted through your nose or mouth so your healthcare provider can get a better look at your vocal cords.
Completing a biopsy. If you have a nodule or lump on your vocal cords, your healthcare provider may take a small sample of tissue and send it to a pathology lab for analysis.

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Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

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Diagnosis & treatment

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