Throat FAQs

Swelling of the vocal cords prevents them from coming together properly, which causes a change in the voice.

• If you smoke, quit.
• Avoid substances that dehydrate the body, such as alcohol and caffeine. Avoid secondhand smoke.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Humidify your home.
• Watch your diet - avoid spicy foods.
• Try not to use your voice too long or too loudly.
• Seek professional voice training.
• Avoid speaking or singing when your voice is injured or hoarse.

• Ninety percent of head and neck cancers arise after prolonged exposure to specific factors:
• For cancers of the mouth and throat, including the larynx (voice box), these include tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff) and alcohol.
• For cancers of the skin, prolonged exposure to sunlight is a major factor.

• Swelling of the tonsils
• Redder than normal tonsils
• A white or yellow coating on the tonsils
• A slight voice change due to swelling
• Sore throat
• Uncomfortable or painful swallowing
• Swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck
• Fever
• Bad breath

• Breathing through the mouth instead of the nose most of the time
• Nose sounds "blocked" when the person speaks
• Noisy breathing during the day
• Recurrent ear infections
• Snoring at night
• Breathing stops for a few seconds at night during snoring or loud breathing (sleep apnea)

The two primary reasons for removal of tonsils and/or adenoids are recurrent infection despite antibiotic therapy and difficulty breathing due to enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids. Removal of adenoids is also a beneficial treatment for some children with fluid in the middle ear.