People experiencing a laryngospasm accept sudden difficulty animate and talking. A laryngospasm is a musculus spasm in the song cords, sometimes called a laryngeal spasm.

While a balmy laryngospasm where you can all the same exhale air can be frightening, information technology is usually not dangerous, and typically lasts only a few minutes.

A spasm in the song cords can exist an isolated incident and be caused past a multifariousness of medical weather.

Normally, the vocal cords split up when a person breathes, which is called abduction. A laryngospasm causes the song cords to be forcibly pushed together, called adduction. When the song cords spasm, they can fully or partially close the airway.

The spasm typically lasts well-nigh 60 seconds, which is non long enough to pose any danger. Rarely, particularly, as a reaction to anesthesia, a laryngospasm lasts longer and needs emergency medical attending.

These spasms tin can happen when people are eating, but unlike choking, nothing is lodged in the throat. Other symptoms of laryngospasm include:

  • sudden difficulty breathing with no obvious cause
  • a feeling of tightness in the throat
  • occasionally, loss of consciousness

Because a laryngospasm is often the product of another condition, there may be other symptoms. People with gastroesophageal reflux affliction (GERD), for instance, may experience symptoms of heartburn or reflux immediately before, during, or afterward a spasm in the vocal cords.

Sometimes a more serious condition tin resemble a laryngospasm. People who experience difficulty breathing associated with a new medication or food should not assume the problem is a laryngospasm. In these cases, tightness in the throat could signal an allergic reaction.

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A laryngospasm may be a reflex to prevent accidental drowning.

Doctors think that a laryngospasm may be a reflex designed to forestall accidental drowning or suffocation.

People who accidentally inhale food while talking, for case, tin benefit from a laryngospasm considering it prevents the food from blocking the airway. This is the reason why it is mutual to experience a laryngospasm while eating or drinking. Some people feel symptoms after feeling as if nutrient has gone down "the wrong pipage."

Unlike choking, a person experiencing a laryngospasm will not feel something physically lodged in the throat. The Heimlich maneuver also does not end a laryngospasm.

Eating is just ane potential laryngospasm cause. Some alternative causes for this frightening sensation include:

Stress and anxiety

Some people may experience a laryngospasm in response to intense anxiety or stress. During a panic attack, hyperventilation or intense fear may trigger a laryngospasm. The tightness in the throat can and then make the panic even worse.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia can trigger the laryngospasm reflex, particularly in children. It is even more common in babies. Overall, about ane per centum of adults and children, receiving anesthesia, feel a laryngospasm. In children who have asthma or a respiratory infection, the incidence increases to nearly 10 percentage.

People who experience a laryngospasm nether full general anesthesia for surgery might never know information technology happened since the anesthesiologist will immediately intervene.

Neurological Problems

Neurological issues can trigger a laryngospasm. For instance, people who have recently sustained a spinal cord or brain injury may experience muscle spasms, including laryngospasm.

Nervus injuries, specially in or virtually the neck and spine, can also be a factor. Some people with paralyzed vocal cords experience laryngospasms.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal reflux affliction (GERD) is a syndrome that causes the stomach contents, including stomach acrid, to flow back upward the esophagus and into the throat.

Some people with GERD experience intense burning and pain. Some individuals also experience laryngospasm. A small study of eight people with GERD found that a recent respiratory infection increases the risk of laryngospasm. In this group, forceful cough triggered both laryngospasms and fainting.

Asthma and allergies

People with asthma and respiratory allergies are more vulnerable to laryngospasm. Treating these allergies and carrying an asthma inhaler tin reduce the risk of future spasms. People with respiratory problems, including asthma, are more than vulnerable to laryngospasm while nether anesthesia.

Holding the breath
Holding the breath for v seconds, in through the nose and out through pursed lips, may stop a laryngospasm.

During a laryngospasm, a person should always try to remain calm. They should not gasp for air or try to gulp air in through their mouth. Panicking can make the spasm final longer and volition cause symptoms to feel more intense.

A few simple techniques may finish the spasm:

  • Hold the breath for 5 seconds, then breathe slowly through the olfactory organ. Breathe through pursed lips. Echo until the spasm stops.
  • Cut a harbinger in half. During an attack, seal the lips around the straw and breathe in only through the straw and not the nose. This technique encourages slower breathing that tin can assistance relax the vocal cords.
  • Push button on a pressure point near the ears. This indicate, known every bit the laryngospasm notch, can strength the vocal cords to relax. Locate the soft spot backside the earlobes and but in a higher place the jaw. Forcefully button down and in toward the throat. The pressure should be forceful plenty to be painful, and if it works, information technology should relieve the symptoms of laryngospasm immediately.

Other treatments focus on addressing the underlying cause of laryngospasms. For instance, people with anxiety disorders may do good from anti-anxiety medications or psychotherapy. Treating ulcers tin can reduce the severity of GERD, potentially stopping laryngospasms, likewise.

People who take frequent laryngospasms at dark may need to sleep with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Voice communication therapy may assistance in some cases, particularly when at that place is a neurological cause. When other treatments neglect, a botulinum toxin (Botox) injection can paralyze the vocal cords and prevent subsequent attacks.

Doctors can perform a battery of tests to decide the cause. They volition besides enquire questions about lifestyle, anxiety, and the conditions surrounding the spasm. Gastrointestinal testing, a CT scan of the sinuses, allergy testing, and trials of various medications tin assistance illuminate the cause.

People who have a history of laryngospasm should tell their doctor about their feel before undergoing anesthesia. Although extremely rare, if a laryngospasm does not stop later a minute or two, or if it causes a loss of consciousness, it should exist treated every bit a medical emergency. Call 911 or go to the emergency room.

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