Do lung problems cause voice disorders?
Respiratory problems are especially problematic to singers, other voice professionals, and wind instrumentalists, but they may cause voice problems in anyone. Support is essential to healthy voice production. The effects of severe respiratory infection are obvious and will not be enumerated. Restrictive lung disease such as that associated with obesity may impair support by decreasing lung volume and respiratory efficiency. However, obstructive pulmonary disease is the most common culprit. Even mild obstructive lung disease can impair support enough to cause increased neck and tongue muscle tension and abusive voice use capable of producing vocal nodules. This scenario occurs even with unrecognized asthma and may be difficult to diagnose unless suspected, because many such cases of asthma are exercised-induced. Vocal performance is a form of exercise, whether the performance involves singing, giving speeches, sales or other forms of intense voice use. Individuals with this problem will
