Doctor Oz did an episode on Vocal Cord Abuse with Dr Steven Zeitels, who has done Vocal Cord Surgery on famous people including Julie Andrews and Steven Tyler. Dr Oz screened everyone in his audience and found a woman with a very hoarse voice who said that her voice is always hoarse. If you yell at your kids, talk on the phone too much, or scream at your kid’s games, then you could be straining your vocal cords and even kill your vocal cords.
Dr Steven Zeitels sprayed Dr Oz’s guest’s nostrils with a numbing medication that she breathed in (and said it does not taste very 
good). Then Dr Zeitels put a Laryngoscope (that looked like a long flexible tube with a tiny camera on it) up her nose and down into her throat. The doctor said that she does not have the vocal chords of someone who is shy, because her vocal cords had lots of inflammation. If you misuse your voice and abuse your vocal cords, you can get nodules that change the way you can make sounds with your voice. A Vocal Cord Nodule is similar to getting a callus on your foot.
Vocal Cord Nodule Symptoms
Dr Oz wrote the following symptoms to watch for:
– Horaseness
– Inability to project your voice
– Vocal fatigue and feeling tired when you try to talk
Vocal Cord Abuse Treatments
Dr Oz said to try the following vocal chord treatments before getting Vocal Cord Surgery:
– Rest your voice
– Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water
– Voice Therapy or Voice Rehab Therapy
Dr Steven Zeitels said that Dr Oz’s guest probably hemorrhaged through her vocal cord at some point when she was unable to speak at all for a couple of days. If she ultimately has to have vocal cord surgery, they now have special lasers to remove the nodules. After the surgery, the patient usually does voice therapy to prevent this from happening again. So how do you know if you have this problem? If you are hoarse persistently for multiple weeks in a row, and if strangers and family comment on your voice often, you will know even if you do not hear it yourself.
Dan Johnson says
Hi-
It’s vocal CORD, not CHORD!!!!
admin says
hehe ooops, thanks Dan!
Tammy says
Dr Zeitels also saved my husband’s voice but not from any of the reasons mentioned above. He had vocal cord cancer on his right vocal cord. We were told the only treatment available was radical surgery to remove the entire vocal cord and hope he could speak, eat and breathe without assistance. Dr. Zeitels was able to use laser surgery to remove the cancer. My husband is doing great. His voice has mostly returned back to normal (before the surgery he was very hoarse) and he can eat and breathe normally. If it wasnt for Dr.Zeitels my husband wouldnt be resuming his normal life right now.
Emma says
He performed surgery to remove nodes from Julie Andrew’s vocal cords?
Can I point out that this surgery to “save” Julie’s voice took it from her forever? She once had a four octave range and now she can sing about 5 relatively decent, kind of hoarse notes.
I don’t know if this is the man who did that, but if it is, I am not happy with him for taking away one of the most beautiful voices in history.
Emma says
Never mind.
I am very sorry.
I should have researched before posting.
tammy says
Emma, The dr that destroyed her voice worked at a hospital in NY. Dr Zeitels gave it back her.
Sally says
Where could a person find out more about this? My hubby has cancer of the tongue and nodes in the throat. Thanks to anyone who can reply.
sandy schrecengost says
I live on the west coast an hour north of LA. I wonder if his practice could recommend a vocal specialist on this coast? How do I contact his practice? I have struggled for nearly 15 years with spastic dysphonia which is painful every single day. Thank you