This is an inflammation of the part of your throat that holds your vocal cords. It's called the "larynx." Laryngitis can make you sound hoarse, and your voice may be very weak. Your laryngitis is said to be "chronic" if it lasts longer than three weeks.
This is a sore throat that lasts for more than three months. The soreness can make it hard for you to swallow and speak.
If salivary glands in your mouth don't produce enough saliva, you have a condition we call "dry mouth." It can be uncomfortable. It can lead to problems with your mouth and teeth.
This condition is a swelling of the thyroid gland, a gland in the neck that produces hormones to regulate metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Goiters occur most commonly in women over the age of 40. A goiter is not the same as thyroid cancer.
Swallowing is a complex process. It begins in your throat, and it ends as food or liquid is pushed into your stomach. A problem at any step along the way can make swallowing hard for you.
This condition, which is most common in people who have chronic tonsil infections, is a hardened buildup of debris in the pockets of the tonsils. Tonsil stones are not usually harmful. People who have them are often not aware of them.
This condition is an infection of the tonsils (the large lymph glands at the back of the throat). Tonsils normally help protect against infection, but they can become overwhelmed by viruses or bacteria. Tonsillitis occurs most often in children and rarely in adults.
This condition occurs as a result of an interruption of nerve impulses to the larynx. Vocal cord paralysis can affect speech, allow food and liquids to enter the lungs, and create difficulty in breathing.
It's important to keep your voice healthy. Teachers, singers, salespeople and others who rely heavily on their voices need to know how to keep the voice strong. So let's take a few moments to learn about proper voice care.
This is a growth on one of your vocal cords (also known as the "vocal folds"). The cords are muscular bands in your throat that vibrate to produce sound. A polyp may look like a swollen bump or a blister, or even a thin, long growth. It can change the way your voice sounds.
This voice disorder causes spasms in the muscles of your larynx (that's your voice box) as you speak. These spasms can cause your voice to sound tight, strained or breathy. You may have spasms so frequently that it's hard for others to understand what you're saying. Spasmodic dysphonia is a chronic condition. That means once you develop it, you have it for the rest of your life.
This is an abnormal softness of the larynx (that's the voice box). With laryngomalacia, the tissue above the vocal cords is floppy. It can fold over and partially block the airway. This causes noisy breathing and other issues. In most cases, a baby is born with this condition. But it can also develop soon after birth.
This condition makes it hard for you to speak clearly. This happens because you have trouble controlling the muscles that are used for talking. Let's take a moment to learn more.
A sore throat can be painful. There are many reasons why you may have a sore throat. Your healthcare provider will work with you to find the cause of your sore throat. They'll also find the best treatment for you. Read on to learn more.
A peritonsillar abscess is a collection of pus that forms near the tonsils. It is a complication of bacterial infection of the tonsils (tonsillitis). The abscess causes one or both tonsils to swell. The infection and swelling may spread to nearby tissues. If tissues swell enough to block the throat, the condition can become life-threatening. It is also dangerous if the abscess bursts and the infection spreads or is breathed into the lungs. The goal is to treat a peritonsillar abscess before it worsens and threatens your health.
You have been told that you may have vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). Normally, when a person breathes in and out, air flows through the vocal cords and in and out of the lungs, allowing the person to breathe easily. But with VCD, the vocal cords close when they should open.
Learn about mouth and throat tumors, including who's at risk and symptoms.
You have a tumor in your mouth or throat. A tumor is a mass of abnormal cells. To learn more about your tumor, your healthcare provider will evaluate you. This may include a health history, physical exam, and some tests. Here's what to expect.
A thyroglossal cyst is a type of neck lump (mass) that some people are born with. Thyroglossal cysts are most often found and treated in children. But they may sometimes go undetected or untreated until adulthood.
This surgery removes your tonsils. These two glands are found in the throat. They help fight infection. But in some people, the tonsils can get infected frequently. They can swell so large that they block airflow, especially during sleep. Removing the tonsils can fix these problems.
A tracheostomy helps you breathe. But the tracheostomy tube, which goes through the hole in your neck and into your windpipe, needs to stay clean and clear. Let's learn how to care for it properly.
This surgery treats a condition called "laryngomalacia." That's a softness of the larynx (the voice box). We do this surgery to help with breathing, especially during sleep.
This surgery removes the tonsils and adenoid. These glands are found at the back of the throat and nose. Often, we remove them to help open the airway and make breathing easier, especially during sleep. We also do this surgery when the glands keep getting infected.
This surgery removes the adenoid. That's a gland at the back of the throat, directly behind the nose. We may remove it to help with ear and sinus infections. We may remove it to open the airway and make breathing easier, especially during sleep. In many cases, we do this surgery along with a tonsillectomy. That's a surgery to remove the tonsils.
Your healthcare team will explain your options. They can answer any questions you have. They'll work with you during all stages of your treatment.
Surgery may be done to remove either a noncancer (benign) tumor or a cancerous tumor. Read on to learn more.
You may go home the same day as your surgery, or you may need to stay in the hospital longer. These first few days after your surgery can be a challenge. You'll have lots of help from your healthcare team. And you'll learn how to care for yourself once you're home.
Treatment for a tumor may change the way you speak, chew, or eat. If so, your care team will show you new ways to do these important tasks. Family, friends, and other people you trust can also help you adjust.
You had a procedure called a laryngectomy, which is surgery to take out all or part of the larynx (voice box). Here's what you need to know about home care after surgery.
A thyroglossal cyst is a type of neck lump (mass) that some people are born with. Your healthcare provider may remove the cyst to keep it from getting infected.
After a total laryngectomy, you breathe through an opening in your neck called a stoma instead of through your nose and mouth. Suctioning the stoma area helps keep your airway clear. This helps you breathe safely and comfortably.
Your mouth allows you to speak, breathe, and chew. This article shows specific parts of the mouth, with a helpful diagram.
Here are details and images of different parts of the throat and neck.
