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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Throat spasm
Answered by
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Throat spasm
by goggie, Sep 02, 2003 12:00AM
I am a normally healthy person who had a sudden attack of my throat closing up very suddenly in my offic. My throat felt itchy like I needed to clear it which I tried to do which then turned into a cough which then seemingly turned into a spasm. I felt about to pass out when the episode subsided. The ER doctor thought it might be VCD as a reaction to something. I do work in an old building which they are constantly working on. Right now they are doing masonry work. After reading this web site I wonder if somehow concrete dust came through my fresh air vent that is above my head and I inhaled at the wrong time? I ate nothing out of the ordinary and was fine at home and during the drive to work - did not stop anywhere in between. Do have Post nasal drip and TMJ which I also read it sometimes connected. I have an appointment with an ENT shortly. My family Dr. gave me an "epi pen" to carry just in case of another attack - I wonder if it will help. Any ideas on why this would happen? I now have a hot pain that seems to radiate in my chest, but this could be due to anxiety I have experience since the attack. I would appreciate any feed back - did visit cantbreathesuspectvcd web site and it was helpful.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Sep 09, 2003 12:00AM
, Sep 09, 2003 12:00AM
It is understandable that the attack that you have described could cause you to experience anxiety.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) is a condition that can mimic asthma. However, VCD is not helped by asthma medicines. While inhaling the vocal cords should open to let air into the lungs. With VCD the vocal cords close together during inhalation. This makes it difficult for air to get into the lungs. Upper respiratory infections, fumes, odors, cigarette smoke, singing, emotional upset, postnasal drip and exercise may trigger VCD. The concrete dust may or may not have been a trigger for you. Sometimes the trigger is not known. Testing needs to be done while you are having symptoms. Breathing tests may be normal, but the “breathing in” or inspiratory part, also called a flow volume loop will show little airflow while you are inhaling. A laryngoscopy is a procedure that may be done by the ENT using a camera at the end of a flexible tube to see how your vocal cords open and close. VCD is treated by a speech therapist that will instruct you in open throat breathing techniques. Counseling can help you identify and deal positively with chronic stress, which may be an underlying factor in VCD. Please read our Vocal Cord Dysfunction MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/vocal.html for more information. It is important for you to be evaluated by a doctor to determine the diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Postnasal drip (PND) is drainage from the nose and sinuses dripping down the back of the throat. There could be several reasons for this drainage. One is an allergic reaction to inhaling something. A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold. A third reason is chronic sinusitis. Postnasal drip can cause breathing difficulty as a result of irritation of the throat and lungs. This may explain the hot pain that seems to radiate in your chest. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily. This will thin the phlegm so that it moves more easily. A nasal wash helps remove phlegm from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily reduce the postnasal drip and lessen breathing difficulty. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases nasal swelling and phlegm production. This may prevent the postnasal drip and breathing difficulty. To get the most out of a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) is a condition that can mimic asthma. However, VCD is not helped by asthma medicines. While inhaling the vocal cords should open to let air into the lungs. With VCD the vocal cords close together during inhalation. This makes it difficult for air to get into the lungs. Upper respiratory infections, fumes, odors, cigarette smoke, singing, emotional upset, postnasal drip and exercise may trigger VCD. The concrete dust may or may not have been a trigger for you. Sometimes the trigger is not known. Testing needs to be done while you are having symptoms. Breathing tests may be normal, but the “breathing in” or inspiratory part, also called a flow volume loop will show little airflow while you are inhaling. A laryngoscopy is a procedure that may be done by the ENT using a camera at the end of a flexible tube to see how your vocal cords open and close. VCD is treated by a speech therapist that will instruct you in open throat breathing techniques. Counseling can help you identify and deal positively with chronic stress, which may be an underlying factor in VCD. Please read our Vocal Cord Dysfunction MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/vocal.html for more information. It is important for you to be evaluated by a doctor to determine the diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Postnasal drip (PND) is drainage from the nose and sinuses dripping down the back of the throat. There could be several reasons for this drainage. One is an allergic reaction to inhaling something. A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold. A third reason is chronic sinusitis. Postnasal drip can cause breathing difficulty as a result of irritation of the throat and lungs. This may explain the hot pain that seems to radiate in your chest. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily. This will thin the phlegm so that it moves more easily. A nasal wash helps remove phlegm from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily reduce the postnasal drip and lessen breathing difficulty. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases nasal swelling and phlegm production. This may prevent the postnasal drip and breathing difficulty. To get the most out of a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
Member Comments (1)
by christia, May 05, 2008 08:16AM
A related discussion, Swollen larynx with spasms resulting in no air was started.
