One of the greatest skills anyone can master is the ability to communicate. While most of us do it without thinking, people like politicians, actors and other public speakers need to have a projecting and emoting voice, so that their message gets across to the masses. And having a condition that can affect your ability to speak can make things difficult, and this is something Robert F. Kennedy Jr is very familiar with.

The lead nominee for the US Department of Health and Human Services discussed how a condition has robbed him of his strong speaking voice. He had talked about this condition before as well, where he explained how a disorder called spasmodic dysphonia affected him, a disease that made his voice tremble. This happened when he made a lot of his living by public speaking, often speaking in big halls without any voice amplifications. This not only made it difficult for him to speak, but it also made it difficult for people to understand him!

During his confirmation hearing as President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s distinctive, gruff voice was impossible to ignore. At times, his speech patterns made him difficult to understand, bringing renewed attention to the cause of his vocal condition.

What Is Spasmodic Dysphonia?

Kennedy’s voice is not the result of an infection or respiratory issue. Instead, he has spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological disorder that causes involuntary spasms in the muscles controlling the vocal cords. These spasms create a strained or strangled quality to speech, making it challenging to communicate clearly.

Spasmodic dysphonia is a form of dystonia, a neurological condition affecting muscle control. It is estimated to impact up to 50,000 people in North America. The disorder originates in the basal ganglia, the part of the brain that regulates muscle contractions. When signals are disrupted, affected muscles move involuntarily or freeze in abnormal positions.

Other forms of dystonia can affect various body parts, including the neck which is called cervical dystonia, eyes which is called blepharospasm, or limbs. Some types of vocal dystonia, like lingual protrusion dystonia, can cause the tongue to protrude when speaking, further distorting speech.

What Are The Treatment Options For Spasmodic Dysphonia?

Dystonia remains relatively unknown, yet an estimated 250,000 Americans have some form of the condition according to American Association of Neurological Surgeons. It ranks as the third most common movement disorder, following essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease. There is no cure, and treatment options are limited. Some medications can help by altering brain activity, though they are often a first-line attempt rather than a definitive solution.

Physical and speech therapy are commonly used, and acupuncture or other alternative treatments may provide relief. For severe cases, deep-brain stimulation is a last-resort option. Botulinum toxin which is more commonly known as Botox, injections are a widely used treatment for certain types of dystonia, including blepharospasm. These injections relax affected muscles, reducing spasms but not addressing the underlying neurological issue.

Experts explain how although you cannot treat the disorder but rather the phenomena. According to WebMD the medications help you ease the vocal folds like the Myofascial release, which stretches your muscles and eases symptoms, anti-anxiety medication to ease the stress so that the symptoms do not get worse etc. For reasons still not understood, dystonia often affects the body part most essential to a person’s profession.

Can Your Prevent Spasmodic Dysphonia?

WebMD tells us that there is no way to prevent Spasmodic Dysphonia, while there is usually some lifestyle changes and habits you can change if you want to prevent this issue, but no such risk factor has been associated with Spasmodic Dysphonia. Beyond the physical challenges, spasmodic dysphonia can take a profound toll on a person’s emotional well-being and career. According to Dysphonia International, many individuals feel their voice no longer reflects their personality, emotions, or competence.

The condition can lead to emotional distress, job loss, forced career changes, reduced social interactions, and strained personal relationships. As Kennedy himself acknowledged, the condition makes communication more difficult, impacting both public perception and personal confidence.

In another MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) meetings, Vice President JD Vance said that he thinks Ibuprofen, a common pain medication, is 'useless'. While speaking at the MAHA summit in Washington DC on November 12, along side the Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, Vance talked about "the one way" he is "more instinctively MAHA".

He was here making a reference to Trump's administration's Make America Healthy Again. This is an initiative led by Kennedy.

This is when Vance said, "If I have like, you know, a back sprain, or I slept weird and I woke up with back pain, I don't want to take Ibuprofen." He said that he does not like taking medications. "I don't like taking anything unless I absolutely have to. And I think that is another MAHA style attitude. It is not anti-medication, it is anti-useless-medication," he said.

His remarks has made with many experts criticizing it. This is not the first time the MAHA flag bearers have faced criticism for their 'MAHA attitudes' and opinions. Earlier the connection between Tylenol, another popular pain medication and autism was also faced with criticism, with expert commenting on why the link is not correct.

In fact, Kennedy, who is leading the MAHA initiative has had a long history of being anti-vaccination and medication, which also includes refusing to promote the measles vaccines amid a measles surge. He also announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would no longer recommend children and pregnant women get COVID vaccines, and the reason he cited was "common sense".

What Does Ibuprofen Do In Your Body?

Many widely used painkillers contain ibuprofen, a medication known for easing pain, reducing inflammation, and lowering fever. It works by blocking certain natural chemicals in the body that trigger swelling and discomfort.

When someone is injured or unwell, the body produces chemicals that heighten nerve sensitivity, making pain feel more intense. Painkillers help slow this process by reducing the production of these chemicals, preventing nerves from sending strong pain signals to the brain, ultimately helping the person feel relief.

Ibuprofen’s main role is to reduce inflammation and soothe pain. By limiting the chemicals that cause discomfort, it also decreases redness and heat in the affected area. This is why it is commonly recommended for muscle spasms and sprains, as noted in a 2015 study in the National Library of Medicine.

The medication also acts on the hypothalamus, the brain’s temperature-regulation center, helping to bring down fever. The same 2015 study suggests that some painkillers may suppress certain immune responses, which can worsen inflammation but make the brain perceive less pain, creating an overall calming effect.

Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker faces a potential ban from boxing after testing positive for cocaine, casting a shadow over his October 26 fight with Briton Fabio Wardley. As reported by BBC Sport, the 33-year-old New Zealander returned a positive result for a recreational drug, not a performance-enhancing substance. The sample was collected a day earlier by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

His promoter, Queensberry Promotions, acknowledged the “adverse finding” but said no further comment would be made while the matter is being investigated. Parker’s UK manager Spencer Brown told Reuters they were “in total shock” and intend to get to the bottom of the development.

Parker could face a ban ranging from three months to two years, depending on circumstances. Although UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and the British Boxing Board of Control will determine sanctions, UKAD did not administer the test and must conduct its own inquiry before issuing any decision.

The case comes amid broader debates on how recreational drug use should be penalized in elite sports. Sanctions have varied widely in recent years, from a four-year ban for boxer Liam Cameron in 2019 to a three-month ban for rugby league player Adam Rusling in 2024.

Parker, who held the heavyweight world title from 2016–2018, had hoped to work his way toward a fight with undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk before his surprise loss to Wardley.

Why the Distinction Matters

Parker’s positive test for cocaine has reignited discussion around an important but often misunderstood issue: the difference between recreational drugs and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). While both categories are prohibited in competitive sport, their purpose, impact, and penalties differ significantly.

Recreational Drug Use in Sports

Recreational drug use reflects broader social trends. Studies in Western countries show that up to 38% of people have used an illicit drug at least once, with even higher rates among young adults. This behavior inevitably spills into sport, where athletes, like anyone else, may be exposed socially or recreationally.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) classifies prohibited substances into categories such as stimulants, narcotics, cannabinoids, beta-blockers, and more. Among athletes, the most commonly misused recreational substances include alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis, particularly among adolescents and collegiate players.

Why Athletes Use Them

• Recreational use in sports can be driven by:
• Social environments
• Stress or pressure to perform
• Age segregation and peer dynamics
• Motivation to relax or cope

In some sports, especially high-contact ones, alcohol use has been shown to be more prevalent.

Testing and Consequences

Although these drugs do not enhance performance, they raise concerns about athlete safety, decision-making, and conduct. Penalties vary widely, as seen in recent cases: some athletes have received multi-year bans, while others served suspensions as short as three months.

Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs)

PEDs are substances deliberately used to boost strength, stamina, speed, or recovery beyond natural limits. Their misuse is far more dangerous and directly threatens fair play.

Common PED categories include:

• Anabolic steroids
• Growth hormone and peptide hormones
• Erythropoietin (EPO)
• Stimulants
• Blood doping agents

These substances are often abused to gain a competitive edge, and their health consequences can be severe.

Risks and Health Damage

PEDs can cause:

• Hypertension, arrhythmias, stroke, heart attacks
• Liver toxicity
• Infertility, hormonal damage, genital changes
• Psychiatric effects such as aggression, depression, mania
• Addiction and withdrawal symptoms
• In extreme cases, death

Steroids are regulated as Schedule III substances, and many PEDs banned in sport are also restricted in general medicine. To ensure athletes can receive legitimate medical treatment, WADA allows Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) under strict criteria.

Actor Jarryd Nurden, a known name in theatre has finally made his return to the West End stage six months after his surgery that removed half of his lung due to a rare cancer.

Jarryd first thought he had nothing more than a stubborn winter bug. In late 2022, he came down with what felt like a “very bad flu,” pushing through fatigue and discomfort while performing in a Christmas pantomime. He assumed it was simply illness made worse by long rehearsals and a busy stage schedule. But the symptoms persisted, and further medical checks revealed something far more serious than a seasonal infection.

A Flu That Turned Out To Be A Lung Cancer

What Jarryd thought was flu turned out to be a rare form of lung cancer. The doctors re-examined the old medical scans, which had shown minor scarring, which was thought to be form a childhood drowning accident. This is when the doctors discovered a tumor had doubled in size, and it grew from two to four centimeters.

In January 2023, the same day he received news that he had secured a role in We Will Rock You, Jarryd attended an appointment at Guy’s Hospital, where doctors told him about the tumor. “When I had that phone call, that’s when my world crashed,” he told The Independent. “I was like: ‘I’m properly screwed.’”

The Diagnosis Of The Rare Lung Cancer

After months of tests and a keyhole surgery in August 2023 to examine the tumor, doctors confirmed it was primary malignant neuroendocrine neoplasm of the lung (atypical carcinoid), a rare form of lung cancer.

“That phone call I’ve always described as being underwater,” he said to The Independent. “Everything just slows down, and you’re like: ‘Oh, I have cancer’… I don’t drink, I don’t smoke… How’s this happening?”

Though the tumor was removed, some cancerous cells remained. Jarryd was given a choice: chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or a major operation to remove part of his lung. He chose surgery.

In October 2023, he underwent a completion lobectomy, removing the entire lower lobe of his left lung. The recovery was brutal. “Recovery was really hard… I think it was touch and go at one point,” he shared with The Independent. Complications meant four months in hospital, a second open surgery due to infections, and enduring the most intense pain he had ever felt.

Despite the hardship, the Actors’ Trust helped support him financially while he was unable to work. He underwent additional treatment in July 2024 to insert stents into a chest fistula and continued healing.

Way Back To The Stage

Against all odds, just three months after his last surgery, Jarryd accepted an offer to join the international tour of Chicago, covering the role of Mary Sunshine. He rehearsed for one day in London, flew to China, had a two-hour rehearsal, and stepped onstage.

“It was do or die… The challenge was intense,” he told The Independent. Taking his bow afterward was overwhelming. “It was immense gratitude… for being back on stage… being with such a supportive company.”

He added, “I think when you go through something very life-changing, you stop sweating the small stuff… You do have that second chance at life, essentially.”