Risk Factors Contributing To Voice Disorders

Allergies

As is the case with viral infections, allergies can also cause inflammation of the larynx, which can cause an individual's voice to go through temporary changes until the disorder has been properly treated. In order to lessen the severity of the voice disorder the patient is experiencing, it's important to identify what is causing the allergic reaction. If patients suffer from seasonal allergies and are allergic to tree, grass, or weed pollen, it's highly recommended for them to avoid spending too much time outdoors on days with a high pollen count. Doing so could exacerbate their seasonal allergies and lead to more damage to their vocal cords. If patients find an allergy has created problems with their vocal cords, they should consider taking medications to alleviate the allergy. They should also drink plenty of water. While these problems should lessen over time, patients should also certainly visit a doctor if they're still experiencing problems with their vocal cords after the allergy has dissipated. Other allergy types that could contribute to the development of a voice disorder include drug, food, and animal allergies.

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Throat Cancer

Throat cancer refers to any cancer that adversely affects the mouth, nose, throat, or sinuses. A very common symptom that occurs when suffering from one of these cancers includes changes to the voice. If cancer develops in an individual's voice box or larynx, it's almost a certainty they will begin to suffer from a voice disorder. The same is true if cancer started in one of the surrounding areas but has since spread to the larynx. The changes in a patient's voice will likely be accompanied by a sore throat and difficulties with swallowing because of the presence of a lump within the affected area. Smoking is among the most common reasons a cancer of this kind occurs, which is why it's important for individuals to take measures to stop smoking now if they want to reduce their risk of contracting such a disease. If the cancer is located in the larynx, surgery may need to be used to remove the tumor. If so, the voice disorder could be permanent.

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