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Laryngospasm is a temporary spasm of the vocal cords, making it difficult to speak or breathe. The vocal cords are two bands of fibers inside the larynx, the tip of the windpipe. Laryngeal spasms usually come on suddenly and go away after a few minutes. Shortness of breath can make you feel extremely scared, but it is not life-threatening.
1. What is laryngospasm?
Laryngeal spasm is a sudden contraction of the vocal cords. This condition is often a symptom of an underlying health condition. Laryngospasm is quite rare and lasts less than a minute. During that time, you should be able to speak or breathe. This condition is not a warning sign of some serious health problem and say, laryngospasm is not fatal for the patient. Some cases experience only one laryngospasm.
If you have recurrent laryngospasm, you should find out what is causing it.
Co thắt thanh quản ảnh hưởng nghiêm trọng đến chất lượng cuộc sống của người bệnh
2. Causes of laryngospasm
Causes of laryngospasm may include some of the following:
Gastrointestinal reactions Laryngeal spasms are usually caused by a reaction that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. Such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is a chronic condition.
GERD is characterized by stomach acid or undigested food back into your esophagus. If this acid or food touches the larynx, where the vocal cords are located, it can trigger the cord to spasm.
Vocal cord dysfunction or asthma Vocal cord dysfunction is when your vocal cords work abnormally when you breathe in or out. Vocal cord dysfunction is similar to asthma, and both can trigger the larynx.
Asthma is an immune system response caused by air pollutants or by strong breathing. Although vocal cord dysfunction and asthma will have different treatments, they share many of the same symptoms.
Stress or anxiety Another common cause of laryngospasm is stress or anxiety. Laryngeal spasms can be your body's way of responding to an intense sensation you're experiencing.
If stress or anxiety causes laryngospasm, you may need help from a mental health professional in addition to your treating physician.
Hen suyễn là một nhân tố kích thích tình trạng co thắt thanh quản
Intraoperative anesthesia Laryngeal spasms can also occur during surgery involving general anesthesia procedures. This is because anesthesia stimulates the vocal cords.
Laryngospasm after anesthesia is more common in children than in adults. They are also more likely to occur in people who undergo surgery on the larynx or pharynx. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are also at increased risk for complications from this surgery.
Sleep-related laryngospasm Some studies indicate that laryngospasm can occur while you are sleeping. Laryngeal spasms will affect your sleep. This can make you feel extremely panicked when you wake up feeling disoriented and short of breath.
Similar to laryngospasm that occurs while awake, laryngospasm that occurs during sleep will only last for a period of a few seconds.
Repetitive laryngospasm may be related to acid reflux or vocal cord dysfunction. Although not life-threatening, you should consult your doctor if you experience this condition.
Recurrence of laryngospasms is uncommon, however, if they do occur, you should try to stay calm. Taking antacids or acid suppressants for several weeks can help diagnose the cause by eliminating it. If the diagnosis isn't clear, your doctor may refer you to an ENT specialist to look at your vocal cords with a microscopy to make sure there aren't any other abnormalities.
If laryngospasm is caused by another vocal cord dysfunction, speech-language pathologists will help you practice breathing exercises. Relaxation and breathing techniques can reduce symptoms and the frequency or severity of future laryngeal damage.
Co thắt thanh quản làm giảm chất lượng giấc ngủ của người bệnh
3. Signs of laryngospasm
During laryngospasm, the vocal cords often stop in an uncontrollable position. You cannot control the spasm that occurs at the tracheostomy or inside the windpipe. You may feel like your windpipe is blocked or like you can't breathe.
A laryngospasm usually won't last too long, although you may experience some problems for a short period of time.
If you can breathe during laryngospasm, you may hear a hiss as air moves through the smaller trachea.
4. Treatment of laryngospasm
Laryngitis often comes on suddenly, making symptoms more severe than they really are. If you have recurrent laryngospasm due to asthma, stress, or GERD, you can learn breathing exercises to stay calm during that time. Staying calm can reduce the duration of contractions in some cases.
If you are experiencing discomfort in your vocal cords and blocked airways, try not to panic. Do not gasp or swallow too much saliva. Take a small sip of water to try to wash away anything that might be irritating the vocal cords.
If GERD is a trigger for laryngospasm, treatments that reduce acid reflux can help prevent it from happening. These may include lifestyle changes, medications including antacids, or surgery.
Học các bài tập thở giúp bạn điều trị tình trạng khó thở
5. What to do if someone has laryngospasm
If you witness someone having laryngospasm, you need to make sure they are not choking on something. Try to help them stay calm and notice if they can answer your questions.
If there are no objects blocking the airway, or you are not having an asthma attack, you should continue to talk to them in a soft voice until the laryngospasm has passed.
If within 60 seconds the condition gets worse or if the person develops other symptoms (such as pale skin), don't take it for granted and think it's simply a spasm of the vocal cords. manage. Call an emergency medical center urgently.
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References: mayoclinic.org, healthline.com
