Composed of muscle tissue, vocal cords are the two small elastic bands within the larynx. When air is exhaled through the trachea, it passes through the closed vocal cords, causing them to vibrate and produce noise. When you are not speaking, the...
Vocal cord dysfunction is a condition that is often misdiagnosed as exercise-induced asthma. Asthma medication will not help people with vocal cord dysfunction. The vocal cords in your throat open when you breathe in and close as you breathe out,...
Vocal cord paralysis occurs when the vocal cords do not open or close properly, according to The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. United Bristol Healthcare recommends speech therapy that involves breathing...
Paralysis in the vocal cords (or vocal folds, as they are sometimes known) can result from tumors, injuries, brain damage or nerve damage. After treatments for these problems are complete and you are healed, your vocal cords may return to normal...
A number of conditions can necessitate vocal cord surgery. Examples of vocal cord surgery are the removal of masses and the repair of scarring that interferes with speech and breathing. If you’re about to undergo vocal cord surgery, your...
Smoking is a form of vocal cord abuse. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, or NIDCD, frequent vocal abuse can damage the vocal folds and cause changes in the way your voice sounds and works, and may...
Our voices are created by the vibration of two folds of mucus membrane housed within a cartilaginous box called the larynx. When air is expelled through the lungs these tightly stretched membranes, commonly known as the vocal cords, vibrate. By...
Although babies' vocal cords are adapted to crying, prolonged crying can damage the vocal cords by causing nodules, irritation and pain, according to pediatrician William Sears. The website for Tampa-based Pediatric Otolaryngology explains that...
Thyroid surgery involves making an incision in the base of the neck in order to access the thyroid gland. Important anatomical structures in the neck that the surgeon should avoid include the trachea, the esophagus, the carotid artery, the jugular...
Caring for your voice takes a well-rounded approach. In addition to vocal warm-ups and attention to environmental factors, such as cold or smoke, you need to eat conscientiously. Most foods that you should avoid do not trigger disease in the vocal...
It can be hard to breathe when your throat feels as if it’s suddenly tightening or closing during exercise. The problem is caused by vocal cord dysfunction, a condition that affects the vocal cords, or voice box, in your throat. Learning a...
Hoarseness signifies an abnormality in the voice box, or larynx. The voice often sounds gravelly or weak and may crack or have an unusually high or low pitch. Hoarseness may occur acutely, lasting a brief period, or chronically. Causes of...
Starting a fitness program can be tough --- but it shouldn't be painful. If you are experiencing painful breathing after exercising, there is something wrong and you need to evaluate your health and your fitness program. Consult your doctor,...
Vocal cords, or vocal folds, are two, small muscle tissues situated in your voice box. They help in producing voice. Vocal nodules are small bumps that develop on the vocal cords due to misuse and excessive straining of your voice. They can cause...
Wheezing occurs when the lower airways become constricted, or as the result of problems with the vocal cords, producing a high-pitched sound during breathing. The causes of wheezing are varied but essentially relate to inflammation and swelling....
Since the first written description of asthma appeared in Homer's "Iliad," scientists have been trying to describe the shortness of breath you feel during exercise to improve treatment for this disease. Early physicians were unable to visualize...
Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation and constriction of the airways, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Symptoms of asthma include mucus production, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and...
The larynx (sometimes called the voice box) is a tube-shaped organ in the neck region between the pharynx (throat) and the trachea (breathing tube). The larynx houses the vocal cords and has a cartilaginous skeleton and intrinsic and extrinsic...
The vocal cords in the larynx occasionally require treatment because irritation from viruses, bacteria and strain cause discomfort and vocal limitations. Resulting laryngitis or hoarseness interferes with verbal communication, which is important...
Hoarseness refers to abnormal voice changes such as changes in loudness or tone. Hoarseness in children may simply be due to repetitive screaming and yelling, which irritates the vocal cords but usually goes away without medication. However, pay...
Irregularities during exercise, such as shortness of breath and noticeably high heart rates, should be carefully examined by a doctor. A common diagnosis for these symptoms is exercise-induced asthma, but research indicates this is often not the...
Singers create sound by using the abdominal and back muscles, the rib cage, lungs and the oral cavity, according to the book "Singing Secrets" by Kristina Seleshanko, an opera singer. The vocal chords, two small bands of tissue stretching across...
The reason you sound hoarse is usually because of swelling or lumps on your vocal cords, which can be caused by many conditions. The swelling or lumps change the way your vocal cords fit together, making your voice sound squeaky or airy. If...
Running is a great exercise for improving your cardiovascular fitness and overall health. Sometimes a minor recurring ache or pain can make running uncomfortable and cause people to cut back or even quit. Getting a sore throat while running is one...
Hoarseness usually does not last long and does not necessarily signify a serious condition, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The disorder makes the voice sound raspy, rough or strained because of changes related to the vocal folds that produce...
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes the bronchial tubes (air passages) to become inflamed and constricted. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute report that more than 22 million people in the United States have asthma and 6 million...
If your child's voice suddenly sounds husky, scratchy or weak, it's possible that he is suffering from hoarseness. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hoarseness is most often caused by inflammation to the larynx. However,...
A raspy voice after jogging may be related to a dry throat, various allergies or even asthma attacks. A raspy voice may be related to laryngitis, which has many causes. Most of the time laryngitis is associated with a cold or other illness but may...
Your body uses the cough reflexively to protect your lungs from foreign objects or harmful substances. Some people experience coughing, wheezing and other breathing difficulties after exercise. According to "Running Times," runner's cough is a...
Laryngeal cancer is found in the larynx of the body which is the organ that has the voice box and vocal chords. In this video learn more about this form of cancer and how it can be prevented and treated.
While we may wish some people wouldn't talk, we probably don't wish they had laryngitis. Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) due to overuse, irritation or infection. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments...
