Signs your voice is vulnerable

"World Voice Day" is an opportunity for everyone to assess their vocal health because our voices are so vital to our everyday lives.  Dr. Paul Bryson, who treats voice disorders at Cleveland Clinic, says a good way to tell if that tickle is something more serious is by how long the problem lasts.

"Most of the time when people have a voice problem or hoarseness it usually gets better with rest and it usually returns to a normal baseline within a pretty short period of time," he said.

If your voice gets weaker as the week wears on, you may want to see a doctor. Or, if you're hoarse for more than a week or two, dr. bryson says it may be a sign of a bigger problem.  If you find yourself clearing your throat often, you may want to see your doctor because it could be a reflux issue or allergies. Voice problems that cause pain or trouble swallowing should be evaluated right away, but the good news is most voice issues are easily treatable.

"Fortunately, most of the things that affect the voice tend to be benign or non-cancerous and tend to be related to possible voice overuse, sinus and allergy, or just inadequate rest or inadequate hydration," explained Bryson.

If you're getting enough sleep and staying hydrated and your voice is still hoarse, Bryson says you should get it checked out.