Key points
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Reinke’s edema causes swelling on vocal cords and can affect speech
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It is rare and often related to smoking or vocal tension
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Miley Cyrus says that it makes act more difficult, but it gives its voice its unique sound
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 (Healthday News) – Actress Miley Cyrus states that a rare voice disorder called Reinke’s edema is behind her famous hoarse voice, and also makes singing live is very difficult.
The 32 -year -old pop star talked recently about the condition during an interview in “The Zane Lowe Show” by Apple Music, he reported CBS News .
He described Reinke’s edema as a “abuse of vocal strings” and said he has had it for a long time.
“Be 21 years old and be awake drinking, smoking and celebrating after each show does not help. But also, in my case, it does not cause it. My voice always sounded like this, so it is part of my unique anatomy,” Cyrus explained. “So I have this very large polyp on my vocal cords, which has given me much of the tone and texture that has made me who I am.”
It has also hindered acting.
“It is extremely difficult to perform with him because it’s like running a marathon with weights on his ankles,” he said.
Even talking at the end of the day can be exhausting, he added.
“I call my mother and she tells me: ‘Oh, you sound like you were talking through a radio,’ and that is how you know I’m really tired because I create that like maximum vocal frying.”
What is Reinke’s edema?
Reinke’s edema is a condition that causes swelling on vocal strings. It is also known as edema of vocal strings or polypoid corditis, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
It is more common in people who smoke for a long time, but it can also occur in people with acid reflux or in those who use the voice a lot, he said CBS News .
In some cases, swelling forms growths that look like polyps on vocal strings.
The condition is very rare: less than 1 percent of the general population suffers from it, the clinic scored.
Symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic, may include:
There are surgical and non -surgical forms of treating Reinke’s edema.
Surgery may imply the use of a laser or small instruments to remove inflamed tissue. Speech therapy and the treatment of fundamental causes, such as quitting or taking medications for acid reflux, can also help.
But Cyrus said he is avoiding surgery for now.
She “is not willing to cut (the fabric) because the possibility of awakening surgery and does not sound like myself is a probability.” CBS News reported .
Although the condition makes acting difficult, Cyrus said that it is also part of what makes his voice distinctive: “My voice is super unique for that.”
More information
The Cleveland Clinic offers more information about Reinke’s edema.
FOUNTAIN: CBS News, May 27, 2025
What does this mean for you?
Reinke’s edema is a rare condition of vocal cords. Knowing the symptoms can help you or someone you know to detect them in time, especially if you smoke or use your voice, like Cyrus.
