If you have ever experienced a hoarse voice for an extended period, you may be wondering what is causing it. Many people assume that it is simply due to a cold or the flu, but in some cases, it may be something more serious – such as vocal cord hemorrhage. We will discuss what vocal cord hemorrhaging is, its symptoms, and how to treat it.
The vocal cords are the two tissue bands found inside your larynx (voice box). They produce sound when air passes over them. The opening for this airflow may be reduced or completely closed off due to swelling, growths, or excess mucus, which prevents proper breathing and speaking.
Inflammation of the vocal cords may also occur, which then causes bleeding. Vocal cord hemorrhaging occurs when one or both rupture and cause internal bleeding. It is a severe condition and, if not treated, can cause permanent damage to your voice and even death in the most severe cases.
The usual symptoms of vocal cord hemorrhaging are hoarseness, pain, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and choking while trying to eat or drink due to lack of air passage through the larynx. The voice may become weak and husky because there is less airflow over the vocal cords due to blood collecting at the particular place. There will be no sound during the speech if either one or both of the cords collapse entirely.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you need to visit your ENT doctor immediately. After examination, the doctor can recommend some of the below forms of treatment:
Do not strain your voice when speaking or singing. Before using it for an extended period, have a warm up so that larynx muscles and cords do not become strained and tendons and ligaments in them do not tear. Drink lots of non-caffeinated fluids to stay hydrated.
Vocal cord hemorrhaging is usually fairly easy to treat, but it can be severe if not treated quickly. If you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Prevention of this condition is ideal and necessary to maintain your voice’s health.
The board-certified ENT doctors of Westside Head & Neck treat all general conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. Every doctor under Westside Head & Neck has extensive training in the treatment of:
Even more serious conditions such as neck, mouth, and throat cancer can also be diagnosed and operated on by ENTs. We accept most PPO insurance plans, Medicare, and select HMO’s to keep hearing, swallowing, and breathing relief open to more Los Angelenos. Our two offices are located in Santa Monica and Culver City. To set up an appointment to discuss your ENT issues with any of our physicians at either location, please call (310) 361-5128 or email appointments@westsidehn.com.
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