This week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, voiced his support for the administration of the measles vaccine. This stance stands in contrast to his past views, which have been opposed to vaccines. His words were clear: ‘It’s the position of the federal government and my personal belief that the measles vaccine is essential.’ However, he also iterated that while vaccines should be encouraged, the government should not obligate its citizens to take them.
Kennedy, commonly known as RFK Jr., recently visited West Texas which is currently experiencing a notable uptick in measles cases. In this region, the burgeoning pandemic has claimed the lives of two children, and over 500 individuals are reported to have been infected.
RFK Jr. lives with a relatively rare ailment, spasmodic dysphonia – a neurological disorder causing muscle spasms in the vocal cords. Kennedy forms part of the mere 50,000 North Americans who are estimated to have spasmodic dysphonia. This condition predominantly impacts those in their middle years and often persists throughout an individual’s life.
The 70-year-old statesman was diagnosed with this condition two and a half decades ago when he was 46 years old. Reflecting on the change brought about by the condition, he shared, ‘My voice used to be significantly strong prior to the diagnosis when I was 46. In fact, my voice strength was exceptional.’
He further explained how the condition affected him, ‘Spasmodic dysphonia causes my voice to tremor. Initially, I was unaware of what was wrong. However, after my television appearances, people would send in letters informing me that I had symptoms suggestive of spasmodic dysphonia.’
Spasmodic dysphonia is an uncommon and chronic neurological disorder that affects speech. This condition triggers involuntary spasms in the muscles that regulate the opening and closing of the vocal folds. It leads to an abrupt shift in the voice quality, causing it to seem breathy, strained, shaky, or hoarse, akin to voice loss.
The muscular spasms can result in excessive tightness of the vocal cords, which subsequently results in the voice appearing strained. On the other hand, when the vocal cords relax and separate, the voice adopts a breathy quality. The voice quality can oscillate unpredictably between a gentle, whispery tone to a strained, hoarse sound; it may even appear shaky or uneven since specific sounds might cut off mid-sentence.
Despite available treatments aimed at relieving the spasms affecting the vocal cords, such as botulinum toxin (Botox) injections, voice therapy, or surgical intervention through thyroplasty, an absolute cure for spasmodic dysphonia is yet to be discovered. It remains a chronic, lifelong condition.
The post US Health Secretary RFK Jr. Advocates for Measles Vaccine appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
