A haemorrhage is a bruise of the vocal cord, meaning there is no blood outside of the vocal cord. It is instead all trapped inside. This turns the vocal cord red when it first occurs. The vocal cords should normally be white.
Discolouration is only one of the various symptoms that may occur due to a haemorrhage. Other potential symptoms, which may differ depending on an individual’s vocal demands, include:
- Acute loss of voice or vocal range
- Hearing two pitches at the same time
- Hearing a flutter in your voice
- Hoarseness in your voice (may be mild or severe)
- Decreased range (no longer hitting higher notes easily)
- Inability to sing quietly
- Inability to hold a pitch steady
- Neck pain.
Over time, as the haemorrhage heals, the body will reabsorb the blood in the cord and the colour will change to a yellowish tinge and then back to its normal white colour. In some cases, a small polyp or a dilated blood vessel, known as a varix, may sometimes be visible, and give a clue as to the reason for repeated haemorrhage.
It is important to note that individuals will not usually be in any pain due to a haemorrhage and it does not cause any difficulty with breathing, swallowing or eating. Individuals will not notice blood in their spit, nor will they cough up blood.