Miley Cyrus discloses uncommon health issue influencing her distinct vocal sound
Miley Cyrus opens up about her unique vocal condition, Reinke's edema
Pop superstar Miley Cyrus spills the beans on her rare medical condition - Reinke's edema - that gives her that signature vocal tone but makes performing a challenging feat. In a candid chat with Apple Music's "The Zane Lowe Show," the "Wrecking Ball" singer reveals the struggles she faces due to this condition that affects her vocal cords.
Cyrus explains, "It's a part of my unique anatomy. I have this very large polyp on my vocal cord, which gives me a lot of the tone and the texture that has made me who I am, but it's extremely difficult to perform with, because it's like running a marathon with ankle weights on."
The condition, she adds, even impacts her daily conversations. "When I'm talking, sometimes at the end of the day, I'll call my mom, and she'll go, 'Oh, you sound like you're talking through a radio.' And that's how you know I'm really tired, because it creates that ultimate vocal fry," she states.
While lifestyle habits like drinking and smoking can aggravate the condition, Cyrus clarifies that she's had it for years. "Being 21 and staying up and drinking and smoking and partying after every show does not help, but also, in my case, it does not cause it. So my voice always sounded like this," she says.
Cyrus values her vocal health more than anything else, which is why she's opted against surgery - a risk she's not willing to take. "I'm not willing to sever it, because the chance of waking up from a surgery and not sounding like myself is a probability," she adds.
Reinke's edema, or polypoid corditis, is a harmless vocal cord disorder characterized by swelling along the vocal chords, leading to hoarseness and a deepening of the voice, according to StatPearls – an online library published by the National Library of Medicine. Risk factors include smoking, vocal cord overuse, and chronic laryngopharyngeal reflux, a type of acid reflux.
"Generally, Reinke edema is a benign, non-life-threatening condition; however, it can significantly impact the quality of life," StatPearls states. "It is a rare process, and treatment options vary widely."
Treatment for Reinke's edema includes surgical options like microlaryngoscopy and laser therapy, as well as nonsurgical approaches such as vocal rest, speech therapy, medical therapy, and lifestyle changes like avoiding vocal overuse and environmental irritants. Treatment, however, is tailored to the severity of symptoms and patient preference.
For Cyrus, vocal health means prioritizing sustainability even if that means staying off the road. "My whole team sitting in the other room can tell you, I put a tour together, like every other week, because I want to do it, but it would have to be in a way that is sustainable for me," she states. "With what I got going on, like, I don't lip sync. I sing live. And these songs are big."
Cyrus has been open about balancing performance with recovery before. In her 2023 TikTok series "Used to Be Young," she reflected on the toll intense touring takes. "If you're performing at a certain level of intensity and excellence, there should be an equal amount of recovery and rest," she said at the time.
She also spoke about her complex relationship with public attention. "Having every day the relationship between you and other humans being subject and observer isn't healthy for me, because it erases my humanity and my connection, and without my humanity, my connection, I can't be a songwriter, which is my priority," she added.
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Sources:- StatPearls (2019) Reinke’s edema. StatPearls [Internet] National Library of Medicine. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519385/.- Aafp.org (2014) Reinke's edema. Aafp.org [Internet]. Available from: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/0215/p346.html.- Clevelandclinicmeded.com (2011) Vocal cord lesions. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Available from: https://expertconsult.com/contents/vocal-cord-lesions.- Mayoclinic.org (2018) Vocal cord nodules. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vocal-cord-nodules/symptoms-causes/syc-20372039.
Enrichment Insights:
- Reinke's edema can be treated through a combination of rest, speech therapy, medical intervention, and surgery, but the choice of treatment depends on individual needs and the desire to preserve vocal uniqueness.
- Treatment options include nonsurgical strategies like vocal rest, speech therapy, medical therapy, and lifestyle changes, as well as surgical options like microlaryngoscopy, laser therapy, and therapeutic injection.
- Multidisciplinary care, involving otolaryngologists, speech-language pathologists, and sometimes pulmonologists or gastroenterologists, is often integral to managing the condition.
- Reinke's edema can impact the quality of life, making prolonged speaking or singing difficult, but is generally benign and non-life-threatening.
- Patients may experience hoarseness, a deepening of the voice, and vocal fatigue.
- Miley Cyrus has opted against surgery to preserve her unique vocal identity, focusing instead on sustainable vocal practices and adapting her performance schedule to maintain vocal health.
Miley Cyrus's challenging condition, Reinke's edema, not only affects her performances but also her everyday conversations. This vocal cord disorder, characterized by swelling along the vocal cords, can lead to hoarseness and a deepening of the voice, as mentioned in StatPearls, an online library published by the National Library of Medicine. Treatment options for Reinke's edema range from surgical methods like microlaryngoscopy and laser therapy to nonsurgical approaches such as vocal rest, speech therapy, medical therapy, and lifestyle changes. Cyrus prioritizes her vocal health over surgical intervention due to the potential risk of losing her distinctive vocal tone. In her latest single and music video, titled "End of the World," and her tribute album to godmother Dolly Parton, Cyrus showcases her unique voice that has become a significant part of her entertainment career in the realm of health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and womens-health, and the entertainment industry at large.
