Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) prevents your vocal cords from opening all the way when you breathe, causing an airway blockage.
Recognizing the signs of VCD and its causes is the first step in managing it.
How Do I Know If I Have Vocal Cord Dysfunction?
Common signs of VCD include:
- Feeling of a lump in your throat
- Tightness in your throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Noisy breathing
- Lightheadedness
- Frequent throat clearing
- Tingling feeling in your hands and feet
Common Causes of Vocal Cord Dysfunction
Researchers believe more than one thing can lead to a VCD episode. Potential causes are separated into four categories:Â
- Environmental irritants: allergens, cold or dry air, strong chemicals like bleach, smoke or perfumes
- Medical conditions: asthma, chronic acid reflux and upper respiratory illnesses like colds or sinus infections
- Mental health conditions: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
- Exercise: high-intensity exercise
VCD is difficult to diagnose, and healthcare providers often mistake it for asthma or croup (a contagious respiratory infection).
Your ENT will conduct a physical examination, ask you questions to determine the underlying causes of VCD episodes, and may order a laryngoscopy (an examination of your vocal cords using a thin tube guided through the nose or throat) or pulmonary function tests (that measure how much air you breathe in) to diagnose the condition.
How Can I Manage Vocal Cord Dysfunction?
Vocal cord dysfunction has no known cure, but there are a couple of management techniques, including:
- Respiratory retraining. A speech-language pathologist can teach you breathing exercises to help manage VCD during episodes. For example, pursed lip breathing can help you slow your breathing and inhale more air.
- Managing triggers. Your ENT can treat or manage the underlying conditions contributing to VCD. For example, if frequent sinus infections contribute to your VCD episodes, your ENT may recommend Balloon Sinuplasty to widen your sinus cavity and minimize the inflammations contributing to repeated infections.
By learning effective breathing exercises and managing the triggers contributing to your VCD, you can minimize its effect on your life.
For more information on vocal cord issues, contact Southeast Texas Ear, Nose & Throat, LLP today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.
