Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffVocal cord paralysis can affect your ability to read books to your children, cheer for your hometown team or sing your favorite songs.
But your vocal cords do more than just produce sound. They also protect your airway by preventing food and drink — and even your saliva — from entering your windpipe (trachea) and causing you to choke. Rarely, vocal cord paralysis can be life-threatening. If both cords are paralyzed in the closed position, you won't be able to breathe properly.
Vocal cord paralysis can occur after neck or throat surgery, when the nerves that control the vocal cords are intentionally or accidentally damaged. Thyroid cancers or lung tumors also may cause vocal cord paralysis.
Symptoms
