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.
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.
Laryngitis is a swelling of the tissues around the vocal cords. Symptoms include a hoarse voice. The voice may be lost completely.
Objects that are swallowed can get stuck in the throat. A stuck object can cause coughing, choking, pain when swallowing, or trouble swallowing. If the object is dangerous or blocks breathing, it may need emergency removal.
Strep throat is a contagious illness. It is spread by coughing, kissing, or by touching others after touching your mouth or nose.
An abrasion of the back of the throat can be caused by swallowing a sharp piece of food or other sharp or abrasive object.
A sore throat is often due to a virus. It can also be caused by the strep (streptococcus) bacteria, often called strep throat. Read on to learn about caring for a strep throat at home.
Learn how to care for yourself at home when you have a possible strep throat infection.
An infection around the tonsils is generally caused by the streptococcus bacteria. The infection can cause severe sore throat, pain with swallowing, swollen glands, and fever.
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.
Treatment for a tumor may change the way you speak, chew, or eat. If so, your healthcare team will show you new ways to do these important tasks. Family, friends, and other people you trust can also help you adjust.
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.
Bleeding can happen at the surgery site after a tonsillectomy. It can be controlled with direct pressure or medication that shrinks the blood vessels.
Follow these instructions to help care for and clean your tracheostomy.
Learn how to care for a sore throat at home.
