You lose your voice primarily when your vocal cords become inflamed, swollen, or damaged, preventing them from vibrating properly to produce sound. This condition is often called laryngitis and can be caused by several factors:

• Upper respiratory infections such as colds, coughs, bronchitis, or sinusitis commonly cause inflammation of the vocal cords, leading to hoarseness or loss of voice

• Excessive use or strain of the voice, like yelling at sports events, prolonged singing, or talking loudly for long periods, can irritate and inflame the vocal cords, sometimes causing vocal cord lesions such as nodules or polyps

• Exposure to irritants like cigarette smoke, alcohol, stomach acid reflux, workplace chemicals, dust, or molds can inflame the vocal cords and cause voice loss

• Neurological conditions or psychological stress can also lead to voice loss, such as vocal cord paralysis or psychogenic aphonia, where emotional factors cause inability to speak normally

• Less commonly, persistent voice loss may signal more serious issues like precancerous changes or cancer of the larynx

In summary, losing your voice results from inflammation, swelling, or injury to the vocal cords due to infections, overuse, irritants, or other medical conditions that impair their normal vibration and function