Many of us are familiar with that uncomfortable phenomenon when our muscles suddenly seize, often after a hard workout, like a five-mile run along Riverfront Park. But what few people realize is that your vocal cords can also seize or spasm.
How Do My Vocal Cords Spasm?
Your vocal cords are two muscular bands that sit in your larynx, also known as the voice box. When you talk, they meet to create noise. A vocal cord spasm, or laryngospasm, is when those muscles seize unexpectedly, just like your legs would. When they seize, they prevent you from breathing or speaking as you normally would.
Although laryngospasms are rare and short-lived, usually lasting less than sixty seconds, the inability to breathe or speak can be scary.
What Causes a Laryngospasm?
Laryngospasms can happen for no reason at all or because of an underlying condition or influence, including but not limited to:
- Asthma
- Chronic acid reflux
- Extreme stress or anxiety
- Anesthesia
- Irritable larynx syndrome (wherein the mucosa of your upper airways is too sensitive to stimulation)
How Do I Identify and Treat a Laryngospasm?
You can identify a laryngospasm by your inability to speak or breathe normally. Some people also report a choking sound.
During a laryngospasm, it’s essential to stay calm. Drink small sips of water to clear irritants and try not to gasp for air. Next, apply forceful pressure down and in towards the joint on the soft spot behind your earlobes, just above your jaw, to help your vocal cords relax.
If you’re having trouble breathing, try breathing in and out through a straw without pausing between inhale and exhale. You can also try breathing in slowly through your nose and exhaling through pursed lips.
If we identify an underlying ENT condition contributing to laryngospasms, treatment will center around that cause. For example, if chronic acid reflux is causing your spasms, we may recommend lifestyle changes, medication or, in severe cases, surgery.
When Should I Schedule an ENT Appointment?
If you have a laryngospasm, schedule an appointment with an ENT provider at Southeast Texas Ear, Nose & Throat, LLP right away. We’ll perform an examination and review your symptoms to identify the underlying cause of the spasm and develop a treatment or management plan.
