Do vocal cord polyps fear oil smoke?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on May 15, 2025
00:00
00:00

Polyps on the vocal cords are a relatively common ENT disease with various clinical symptoms. The most common symptom is hoarseness. Some patients may also feel like there is a foreign body in their throat or experience throat pain. It is recommended to avoid exposure to cooking fumes as much as possible, as they are quite irritating and can directly stimulate the mucous membrane of the throat. Such exposure can also cause coughing and thus irritate the vocal cords. Frequent contact with cooking fumes can potentially worsen hoarseness. Of course, it is even more important to receive timely treatment. Most patients can consider medication therapy, although a small number may need to undergo surgery to remove the vocal cord polyps. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
41sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of vocal cord polyps?

Vocal cord polyps are a relatively common ENT disorder. Small vocal cord polyps may not show obvious clinical symptoms and are often discovered only during a physical examination or laryngoscopy. However, larger vocal cord polyps can cause noticeable clinical symptoms, most commonly hoarseness. The hoarseness can be recurrent or persistent and may worsen with excessive use of the voice. Some patients may also experience a foreign body sensation in the throat or throat pain, which is primarily considered to be caused by vocal cord polyps accompanied by chronic pharyngitis. A laryngoscopy can provide a definitive diagnosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
51sec home-news-image

How to detect vocal cord polyps

Vocal cord polyps are common and frequently occurring diseases in otolaryngology. How to examine vocal cord polyps primarily involves assessing the patient's symptoms. For instance, if a patient develops vocal cord polyps, they will first exhibit symptoms of hoarseness. If the hoarseness persists and cannot be alleviated, an electronic laryngoscopy should be conducted initially. By using an electronic laryngoscope, the movement of the vocal cords and the condition of the vocal cord mucosa can be observed on a display screen, thereby identifying the presence of vocal cord polyps. For patients with vocal cord polyps, it is important in daily life to reduce voice use, avoid excessive vocalization, and lessen harmful habits such as smoking and drinking to prevent the occurrence of vocal cord polyps.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
46sec home-news-image

Can vocal cord polyps be treated conservatively?

Vocal cord polyps are a relatively common ENT disorder. For treatment, conservative treatment can be considered for some patients. If the vocal cord polyps are small and the symptoms of hoarseness are not particularly noticeable, conservative treatment with medication can be initially considered. Common treatments include oral traditional Chinese medicine, combined with nebulization therapy. It's also suggested to undergo voice training concurrently. Generally, with formal treatment lasting about two weeks, symptoms of hoarseness can gradually improve, and polyps may recede in some patients. However, if the vocal cord polyps are particularly large and the symptoms of hoarseness are very noticeable, and conservative treatment proves ineffective, then surgical treatment should be considered.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 20sec home-news-image

Do vocal cord polyps have to be surgically removed?

Vocal cord polyps must be treated surgically. Vocal cord polyps are caused by improper vocal use for an extended period, overexertion, and yelling, leading to vocal cord lesions. Typically, the disease affects only one vocal cord, causing the patient's voice to be hoarse, with symptoms worsening continuously. During an examination with an electronic laryngoscope, a pale white or pale red smooth granule can be observed on the anterior middle third of the unilateral vocal cord, resulting in incomplete closure of the glottis and consequently a hoarse voice. In terms of treatment, conservative management for vocal cord polyps is ineffective. Patients must undergo a vocal cord polyp removal surgery under suspension laryngoscopy. The surgery requires hospitalization and general anesthesia, followed by the use of antibiotics postoperatively to avoid local infection. Recovery usually allows discharge from the hospital after about a week. However, after recovery, patients still need to speak softly and sparingly, avoid catching colds, and prevent recurrence. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
44sec home-news-image

Is vocal cord polyp removal painful?

Vocal cord polyp removal surgery generally does not cause notable pain. Currently, there are mainly two types of surgery for vocal cord polyps. The first type is under general anesthesia, and the second type is under local anesthesia, including topical anesthesia. If you choose surgery under general anesthesia, the patient will be under anesthesia throughout the procedure and will not feel pain. However, there might be varying degrees of pain after the surgery, although it is generally tolerable. If you choose surgery under topical anesthesia, there might be some pain during the procedure, but it typically isn't severe. Post-surgery pain is usually not too intense, but regular follow-ups are necessary, mainly to monitor for any recurrence of the polyps.