Patients with thyroid pathology, apart from other symptoms, may also complain about voice changes [27], the most common being hoarseness, breathiness, strain, and uncertainty about how the voice will sound [28]. Cases of low voice, rough voice, reduced vocal range, and vocal fatigue were also reported [7].
A Hoarse Voice Is One Of Many Thyroid Symptoms
Low thyroid hormone levels cause fluid to accumulate in the vocal folds, and when the thyroid gland enlarges due to disease, the vocal chords can become pinched or partially paralyzed due to their snug proximity.
Thyroid cancer isn't the only type of thyroid disease that can cause changes in your voice. Benign growths can also affect your voice, and so can two common thyroid conditions — overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
This leads to symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), such as tiredness, weight gain and dry skin. The swollen thyroid may also cause a goitre (lump) to form in your throat. It may take months or even years for the condition to be detected because it progresses very slowly.
Recent findings: An enlarged thyroid gland, as in thyroiditis, multinodular goiter, or large nodules, can cause compressive symptoms. Malignant nodules invading the recurrent laryngeal nerve and benign nodules compressing the nerve can cause vocal cord paralysis and hoarseness.
Later symptoms of an underactive thyroid include: a low-pitched and hoarse voice.
Why is my voice hoarse but my throat doesn't hurt? A hoarse voice without a sore throat can occur when a non-inflammatory condition has caused loss of vocal cord function. This can be caused by overuse like yelling or speaking in an abnormal tone for long periods of time.
Laryngitis is one of the most common causes of hoarseness. It can be due to temporary swelling of the vocal folds from a cold, an upper respiratory infection, or allergies. Your doctor will treat laryngitis according to its cause.
The most common causes of chronic hoarseness are: Overusing your voice, which is most common in individuals who use their voices professionally (performing artists, teachers, salespersons and speakers) Persistent bacterial or viral infection. Polyps, cysts or nodules on your vocal cords.
Symptoms of vocal fatigue may include: hoarseness; change in laryngeal sensation (tightness, neck muscles aching); increased vocal effort to produce sound; loss of dynamic control (generally soft becomes more difficult); and vocal onsets become discoordinated.
Lupus can cause hoarseness, throat pain, and difficulty breathing. Some people with lupus have reported total aphonia, or inability to speak, that can last for several days before or after an autoimmune flare-up.
A goiter is a common first sign of Hashimoto's disease. A goiter is painless, but can create a feeling of fullness in the throat, and can make the front of your neck look swollen. Other symptoms of Hashimoto's disease that develop over time include: Tiredness (fatigue).
A sore throat, pain, or tenderness around the throat area can be a sign of thyroid problems such as thyroiditis.
Overt hypothyroidism or full-blown disease
The end-stage of Hashimoto's is when your thyroid has become so damaged that you no longer have enough thyroid hormones and have to go on medication.
Too much iodine in the diet may function as a trigger among people already at risk for Hashimoto's disease. Radiation exposure. People exposed to excessive levels of environmental radiation are more prone to Hashimoto's disease.
If you have Hashimoto's disease, you will most likely experience fatigue. Fatigue can get in the way of your productivity by reducing your attention span, reducing your memory, and impairing your judgment. If your fatigue does not go away after two weeks, you should see your doctor.
If Hashimoto's is left untreated, complications can be life-threatening. Because the hormones produced by the thyroid are so vital to the body's functions, untreated Hashimoto's can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications.
However, if you have Hashimoto's disease or other types of autoimmune thyroid disorders, you may be sensitive to harmful side effects from iodine. Eating foods that have large amounts of iodine—such as kelp, dulse, or other kinds of seaweed, and certain iodine-rich medicines—may cause hypothyroidism or make it worse.
Hashimoto's encephalopathy is a rare complication in which the swelling of the brain can cause profound and debilitating neurological symptoms. The condition only affects around two of every 100,000 people each year and usually between the ages of 41 and 44.
Causes of hoarseness
Bronchitis or laryngitis – Bronchitis and laryngitis are both forms of inflammation that can cause your voice to become hoarse or raspy. Cancer – A hoarse voice that lasts more than three weeks can be a sign of a more serious issue like laryngeal cancer or esophageal cancer.
This may be due to ongoing infection, smoking, allergies, other irritants, persistent vocal strain or reflux. Certain medications also can affect your voice. Hoarseness due to chronic laryngitis typically improves by eliminating the underlying cause.
Decreased Taste, Difficulty Swallowing, Hoarse Voice And Pain Or Discomfort. These symptoms can all be found in conditions that affect the upper respiratory passages and throat. Examples of possible causes of these symptoms include sinus infections, laryngitis, tonsillitis, or other infections.