You lose your voice primarily because your vocal cords become inflamed or irritated, a condition known as laryngitis. This inflammation prevents your vocal cords from vibrating properly, which results in hoarseness or complete loss of voice. Common causes include overuse (such as shouting, singing, or excessive talking), upper respiratory infections, exposure to irritants like smoke or chemicals, allergies, acid reflux, and sometimes underlying medical conditions affecting the vocal cords. When inflamed or damaged, the vocal cords swell or develop lesions that impair their normal function, leading to voice loss.
Additional causes can include vocal cord hemorrhage from strain, growths like nodules or polyps, neurological conditions, thyroid problems, and smoking. Recovery typically requires resting the voice and avoiding further strain, and persistent or frequent voice loss may need medical evaluation.
In sum, losing your voice is mainly due to inflammation or injury to the vocal cords that stops them from vibrating properly to produce sound.
