WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- If you can understand what it's saying, your voice can tell you a lot about your health.
Changes in your voice can be a sign of anything from a cold to acid reflux, throat cancer or vocal cord paralysis, University of Michigan vocal health specialist Dr. Norman D. Hogikyan says in a news release.
Most voice changes are temporary, but people who notice prolonged voice changes that last more than a few weeks should see a doctor.
If throat cancer is caught early, there's a good chance it can be cured without the need for extensive treatment. But if it's caught later, there's less chance of curing throat cancer and it often requires more drastic treatment, including possible removal of the voice box.
Hogikyan offers the following advice on how you can keep your voice healthy:
More information
Here's where you can find information about how to protect your voice and recognize problems.