What is Miley Cyrus's new medical condition? A look at Reinke's Edema

September 30, 2025 •

2 min read

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Reinke's edema is a rare vocal cord disorder, affecting less than 1% of the general population. In May 2025, singer Miley Cyrus revealed she has this condition, sparking widespread curiosity about what is Miley Cyrus's new medical condition and how it affects her career.

Quick Summary

Miley Cyrus recently disclosed she has Reinke's edema, a vocal cord disorder causing swelling and polyp-like growths. This condition contributes to her signature raspy voice but makes performing challenging, prompting her to be selective with her tours. She has also dealt with tachycardia, a heart-related condition, since her younger years.

Key Points

Reinke's Edema Diagnosis: In May 2025, Miley Cyrus announced she has Reinke's edema, a vocal cord disorder.
Signature Vocal Texture: The condition, which includes a large vocal cord polyp, contributes to her distinctive raspy and gravelly voice.
Performance Difficulties: The disorder makes live performances physically taxing, leading Cyrus to be selective about touring.
No Surgery: She has decided against surgery due to the high risk of permanently altering her voice.
Past Tachycardia: Cyrus also has a history with tachycardia, a heart condition, which she has managed since her teenage years.
Prioritizing Health: Her revelations show how she prioritizes her long-term health and creative integrity while managing her career.

Miley Cyrus Reveals Rare Vocal Condition

In a May 2025 interview, Miley Cyrus discussed her diagnosis of Reinke's edema, a vocal cord disorder. This condition contributes to her distinctive raspy voice but makes performing physically demanding. Though revealed as a 'new' medical condition, it had been affecting her for years.

Cyrus explained that the raspy texture is due to a large polyp on her vocal cord. She likened performing with Reinke's edema to "running a marathon with ankle weights on," illustrating the strain it causes. This provides context for her reduced touring schedule.

What is Reinke's Edema?

Reinke's edema is a noncancerous swelling of the vocal cords in Reinke's space, also called polypoid corditis or vocal cord edema. It's often linked to long-term smoking but can also result from chronic acid reflux and vocal trauma. In some cases, like Cyrus's, growths or polyps can form.

Common symptoms include:

A deepened voice
Hoarseness or raspiness
Vocal fry
Reduced vocal range
Difficulty speaking loudly

For Cyrus, the condition both defines her voice and presents professional challenges.

Treatment and Cyrus's Decision

Treatment options for Reinke's edema include non-surgical methods like addressing underlying causes (such as quitting smoking or managing acid reflux) and speech therapy. Surgical options, such as laser removal of swollen tissue, also exist.

Miley Cyrus has decided against surgery due to the risk of permanently changing her voice, which she considers integral to her identity and career.

Historical Health Concerns: Tachycardia

Prior to discussing Reinke's edema, Miley Cyrus had revealed she has tachycardia, a condition causing an elevated heart rate. While the specific type isn't disclosed, she stated it's not life-threatening. She first mentioned this in her 2009 autobiography.

Managing tachycardia has been a long-term challenge, requiring her to monitor her heart rate, especially during performances. She even used heart monitors as a teenager on tour. Despite this, she has managed to maintain her career.

Reinke's Edema vs. Tachycardia: A Comparison


Feature	Reinke's Edema	Tachycardia
Body System Affected	Vocal cords and respiratory system	Heart and cardiovascular system
Primary Symptoms	Hoarseness, deepened voice, raspiness, vocal fry	Elevated heart rate, heart palpitations, anxiety
Underlying Causes	Vocal abuse, smoking, acid reflux	Various, including underlying heart conditions or lifestyle factors
Miley Cyrus's Impact	Influences her unique vocal tone, makes touring difficult	Requires monitoring, impacts stamina during performances
Known Treatments	Vocal therapy, managing underlying causes, surgery (optional)	Heart monitoring, medication, lifestyle changes

Conclusion: Navigating Health and Career

Miley Cyrus's journey highlights the challenges performers face in managing their health alongside their careers. Her openness about Reinke's edema sheds light on a less common vocal condition and the personal decisions involved in managing a public career. By discussing both her vocal disorder and tachycardia, she provides insight into how individuals balance personal well-being with professional aspirations, even on a global scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Miley Cyrus revealed in May 2025 that her new medical condition is Reinke's edema, a vocal cord disorder characterized by swelling and fluid buildup.

Symptoms of Reinke's edema include a deepened, hoarse, or raspy voice, vocal fry (a crackly sound), and difficulty speaking loudly.

While the disorder creates her unique raspy vocal texture, it also makes singing and performing physically difficult, as she compares it to "running a marathon with ankle weights on".

Cyrus has stated that she is not willing to undergo surgery because there is a significant risk that she would wake up and no longer sound like herself, and she values her unique vocal tone.

Yes, in addition to Reinke's edema, Miley Cyrus has also had tachycardia, a condition that causes an elevated heart rate. She has been managing it since her younger years.

Reinke's edema is most commonly caused by long-term smoking, but can also be linked to vocal abuse and chronic acid reflux.

The condition makes live performances very taxing, which has influenced her decision to reduce her global touring schedule and find a more sustainable way to continue her music career.