Twenty years ago, âinfrastructureâ was defined primarily with respect to the. adequacy of the nationâs public works. In the mid-1990's, however, the growing. threat of international terrorism led policy makers to reconsider the definition of. âinfrastructureâ in the context of homela nd security.
Risk factors for leukoplakia of the vocal cords include: ï· Alcohol use ï· Tobacco use ï· Laryngopharyngeal reflux ï· Diabetes ï· Use of inhaled steroids ï· Use of corticosteroids ï· Use of immunosuppressive drugs including chemotherapy and anti-rejection medicines ï· Radiation therapy.
Laryngologists are ENT doctors that spend an additional year studying vocal cord function and perform microsurgery on the vocal cords. While certain medical conditions can cause hoarseness, many illnesses are limited to the vocal cords. The most significant non-medical risk factor that causes voice concerns is smoking. Smoking causes chronic irritation of the thin tissue at the edge of the vocal cords. This can result in the development of polyps, which causes the classic smokerâs voice. There is also an increased risk of developing vocal cord or laryngeal cancers.