Can vaping change your voice?

Selena Gomez recently shared that vaping changed her voice, and it’s sparked a question many haven’t considered before: Can vaping affect the way you sound?

Research on how vaping affects your vocal cords is evolving, but experts say growing evidence suggests that it does.

“Vaping is thought to negatively impact the voice, but the jury is still out as to how and to what degree,” says Dr. Resha Soni, an otolaryngologist and laryngologist at Aurora Health Care. “Studies suggest that vaping irritates the delicate lining of the vocal folds.”

Vaping has become increasingly common over the past decade. Some use e-cigarettes as an alternative to smoking, and others are drawn to the flavors, social aspects or nicotine effects.
Although many are aware of how this habit can affect your lungs, fewer realize the damage it can do to your voice.

How vaping may affect your voice

Anything that irritates or damages vocal cord tissues can affect how your voice functions. That includes smoking, nicotine and vapes.

“Vapes can contain glycerol, nicotine and chemicals, which can lead to inflammation of the vocal folds and impact the vibratory surface of the vocal folds, leading to a voice change,” Dr. Soni says. “People can experience an irritating cough or a change in the sound of their voice with longer use, leading to worse symptoms over time.”

For some, those changes may be subtle at first. Others may notice their voice becoming raspy, rough or easily fatigued after prolonged use.

Signs vaping may be affecting your voice

Symptoms gradually worsen over time. Some of the first signs are often an irritating cough or hoarseness. Other symptoms often include:

• A rough or raspy voice
• Increased throat clearing
• A chronic cough
• Vocal fatigue when speaking or singing
• Reduced vocal range

These symptoms can have many causes besides vaping, which is why it’s important not to ignore symptoms.

“Any persistent hoarseness lasting more than a few weeks is worth evaluating to exclude any serious or reversible causes,” Dr. Soni says.

Is the damage reversible?

Whether or not you can restore your vocal health depends on the extent of the damage. While quitting vaping could improve the structural changes to the vocal folds, Dr. Soni says the damage may be permanent in some cases.

What’s more, vaping may harm the voice indirectly through its impact on the lungs.

“Lung function is an important factor when it comes to the voice,” Dr. Soni says. “Good breath support is crucial for adequate vocal fold function, and we know that vaping negatively impacts lung health.”

Because breathing and voice production work together, reduced lung function can make it harder for the vocal folds to perform efficiently.

How to help protect your voice

There is no magic solution for maintaining a healthy voice, but one recommendation consistently rises to the top.

“Adequate water intake is crucial for vocal health and is one of the single most evidence-supported and cost-effective interventions for vocal health,” Dr. Soni says.

Staying hydrated helps keep the vocal folds functioning properly and may reduce irritation that can contribute to voice problems.

Whatever the reason you choose to vape, and no matter how long you’ve done it, it’s worth paying attention to how your voice sounds.

If you vape, smoke or have a history of either, be sure to talk to your health care provider about risks to both your voice and overall health.

Are you trying to find a doctor? Find one in Illinois or Wisconsin.