If your epiglottis stops working properly, it can lead to food or liquids entering your windpipe instead of going down your esophagus to your stomach. This can lead to choking or aspiration pneumonia, a condition where food or liquid enters your lungs and causes infection. The epiglottis also helps to protect the vocal cords by blocking any foreign substance from entering the trachea, therefore, a malfunctioning epiglottis can also lead to voice problems or even voice loss. In some cases, if the epiglottis is severely damaged, it may require surgery or other medical interventions to correct the problem.
