Vocal cord paralysis describes the paralysis of the muscles of the vocal cords. The treatment of vocal cord paralysis is mainly voice therapy. In severe cases, surgery is able to improve vocal functions.
Vocal cord paralysis is the paralysis of muscles of the vocal cords in the larynx. The paralysis results mainly from an interruption of nerve impulses to the larynx. It affects primarily the normal ability of speaking. In severe cases with bilateral paralysis of both vocal cords, patients may also suffer from breathing problems.
The cause of a vocal cord paralysis is either due to a direct injury of the vocal cord, for example caused by surgery or overuse, or, which is much more common, due to the interruption of nerve impulses between brain and larynx. The underlying cause for such nerve damage can be: 1) Damage on the laryngeal nerve (nervus reccurens) in the neck area, mostly caused by surgery of the thyroid gland, 2) Laryngeal nerve damage in the chest area as seen in cases with apical lung cancer or aortic dissection, 3) tumors of the thyroid gland, 4) infections or inflammation in a related area, 5) stroke, and 6) other neurological problems. People with vocal cord paralysis can have symptoms such as a husky voice, hoarseness, noisy breathing, and loss of voice or vocal pitch. Furthermore, people may have swallowing difficulties in terms of chocking and coughing. If both vocal cords are paralyzed, it may lead to an obstruction of the larynx and therefore to respiratory problems.
The treatment of a vocal cord paralysis will depend on the severity. Usually, the treatment includes voice therapy. Voice therapy can help to strengthen the vocal cords and accelerate the regain of vocal functions. In severe cases, surgery will be necessary to fixate one vocal cord and thereby enable a better voice generation.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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