[4][10] Treatment of Reinke's edema starts with the elimination of associated risk factors, such as smoking, gastric reflux, and hypothyroidism.

[7] The swelling of the vocal cords and the lowering of the voice are warning signs that an individual has Reinke's edema.

This is true for other risk factors as well, such as untreated gastric reflux and overuse of the voice, which is common to professions such as singers and radio announcers.

[7] Additionally, the combination of several risk factors increase the likelihood of an individual developing Reinke's edema.

For example, an individual who smokes and also has gastric reflux would have an increased susceptibility for developing Reinke's edema over time.

[4] Reinke's edema is commonly diagnosed in middle-aged females with a history of smoking (aged 50 years or older).

Additionally, individuals in professions that require constant use of the voice, such as singers, teachers, and radio hosts, may be at an increased risk for developing the disease.

[7] Accumulation of fluid within the Reinke's space alters the elasticity of the vocal cord, making it less stiff and more gelatinous.

[15] In addition, cigarette smoke can create reactive oxygen species that alter the environment of the vocal cords.

This leads to an overall decreased stiffness of the tissue layer, which vibrates more slowly and produces a deeper sounding voice.

[2][4] The progression of Reinke's edema is gradual and is directly related to the duration of exposure to risk factors, such as smoking and gastric reflux.

The pale type is defined by a glazed appearance of the vocal cords with a clear (colorless) fluid underneath.

Additionally, if the edema becomes too severe, patients may experience difficulty breathing due to airway obstruction.

[2][12] Reinke's edema is often diagnosed by an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist (an Otorhinolaryngologist or Otolaryngologist) by examination of the vocal folds ("cords").

First, the doctor will review the patient's medical history and symptoms, such as hoarseness, dysphonia, and reduced vocal range.

Once the patient's history is reviewed, the vocal cords will be visualized using laryngoscopy, a technique in which a tube with a camera (endoscope) is passed through the nose and down the larynx.

Based on the results of the laryngoscopy, Reinke's edema can be classified using a standardized system set in place by Yonekawa.

In the case of Reinke's edema, structural changes to the vocal cords will result in abnormal wave patterns.

This includes the cessation of smoking, the control of gastroesophageal reflux using antacids or proton-pump inhibitors (eg, Protonix®),[19] and the discontinuation of activities that cause vocal distress.

[12] While surgical microlaryngoscopy has its associated risks, if left untreated, Reinke's edema can lead to a variety of long-term complications.

Besides dysphonia (impaired sound production for speech), the most serious of these complications is airway obstruction due to severe inflammation of the vocal cords.

Before the Hirano microflap method was developed in 1895,[dubious – discuss] vocal stripping[24] was the most common procedure used to correct Reinke's edema.

Recent findings have shown a morphological change in fibroblasts extracted from the tissue of Reinke's edema to a more dendritic-like shape with several protrusions.

In one study using pyrosequencing, thirty-one of the forty-four non-neoplastic lesions sampled were found to have Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae bacterial strains as the dominant bacteria present.

While smoking, gastric reflux, and vocal abuse have been more widely agreed upon in literature as risk factors for Reinke's edema, the altered bacterial cultures could be developed as a diagnostic tool in the future.