How to Overcome and Prevent Vocal Band Lumps

Vocal folds may form due to irritation when the vocal cords are overused. This lump causes the voice to turn hoarse or even disappear. However , You don't need to worry. In addition to being overcome, vocal cord lumps can also be prevented.

The vocal cords are elastic tissues in the voice box (larynx) located in the larynx. When someone talks or sings, air from the lungs comes out through the vocal cords and causes vibrations. This vibration produces sound.

Excessive use of the vocal cords can cause irritation to that area. If it persists for a long time, irritation of the vocal cords will form a hard lump.

Apart from making hoarse, low, or missing sounds, vocal cord lumps can also cause a lump in the throat, pain in the throat or neck, and cough.

How to Overcome Vocal Band Lumps

If you experience these complaints, you are advised to consult an ENT doctor. The doctor will ask for a history of complaints and illnesses that you have suffered, as well as an examination of the throat and vocal cords. Examination of the vocal cords can be done with a laryngoscopy procedure.

After verifying that there are vocal folds, the doctor can suggest the following steps for treatment:

1. Resting sound

To relieve symptoms due to a lump in the vocal cords, you are usually advised not to speak or whisper, unless absolutely necessary. If possible, try not to use sound at all for several days.

2. Sound therapy

Voice therapy is carried out by speech therapists, who are trained professionals who provide specialized training to deal with speech disorders.

Voice therapy is the main method in the treatment of vocal cord lumps. With this method, the lump will usually disappear within 6-12 weeks.

3. Drug use

Several studies have shown that corticosteroid injection of vocal cords can help treat lumps in the vocal cords and restore the patient's voice. However, administration of drugs is not always necessary in the case of a vocal cord lump.

Sometimes irritation and lumps in the vocal cords can be caused by stomach acid disease (GERD), sinusitis, allergies, or thyroid gland disorders. If so, then these diseases also need to be treated.

4. Operations

Surgery is the last step that can be done if the sound therapy and other treatment steps do not give satisfactory results, or if the lump size is very large.

How to Prevent Vocal Band Lumps

Despite being treated, vocal cord lumps can reappear if the vocal cords continue to become irritated. To prevent it from coming back, do the following simple methods:

1. Avoid cigarette smoke

Cigarette smoke needs to be avoided to prevent recurrence of vocal cord lumps. This is because the components in cigarette smoke are known to cause irritation in the vocal cords.

2. Increase the consumption of water

Increase drinking water to keep the vocal cords moist and reduce irritation. Avoid drinks that contain alcohol, soda, and caffeine, such as coffee or tea.

3. Reduce stress

Avoid stress by meditating, doing yoga, or doing breathing exercises. When a person is under stress, neck muscles tend to be tense. This can interfere with the work of the vocal cords.

4. Warm up the sound

Sound heating is important before singing or talking for a long time. You can ask for a speech therapist or vocal coach to practice warming up before using the vocal cords for a long time.

5. Avoid talking aloud

Follow the instructions of the speech therapist about proper speech techniques. Of the various factors that might cause vocal cord lumps, research shows that excessive use of vocal cords is a major factor. If you need to speak loudly, use microphone.

Practice speaking or singing techniques correctly is the key to overcoming and preventing the emergence of vocal cord lumps. If the vocal folds have healed and you have taken the precautionary steps above but voice changes occur after a few days, you should check with an ENT specialist.

Written by:

dr. Irene Cindy Sunur

Label : Health cat_Health