Asthma symptoms are often similar to vocal cord abnormalities. As a result, many people find it difficult to distinguish the two conditions. So, how to distinguish?
The vocal cords are a pair of small muscles that are in the larynx. If it vibrates, both of these muscles will produce a sound. However, just like other tissues in the body, the vocal cords can also be damaged and susceptible to infections, tumors, or injuries.
The vocal cords can close uncontrollably while you are breathing. This is referred to as vocal cord abnormality or dysfunction. But there are also those who call it laryngeal dysfunction or paradoxical vocal cord movements.
Vocal cord dysfunction can sometimes occur quickly and may require hospital treatment. A malfunctioning of the vocal cords can happen to anyone, but women are more susceptible to attack.
Causes and symptoms of vocal cord abnormalities
Abnormalities in the vocal cords can be caused by many factors, such as exercise, making too much noise, chronic coughing, lumps or tumors in the vocal cords, stomach acid disease / GERD, vocal cord nerve disorders, allergies, stress, cigarette smoke, smoke or odors strong, or upper respiratory tract infections.
A person who experiences vocal cord abnormalities can usually be identified from a variety of symptoms, such as:
- Hoarseness.
- Wheezing (noise when breathing).
- Feeling choked or suffocated.
- Coughing often.
- Your throat feels lumpy.
- Hard to breathe.
- Difficult to breathe and exhale air.
Differentiating Vocal Cords with Asthma
The symptoms of vocal cord dysfunction mentioned above are the same as the symptoms of asthma. These two conditions can even occur together. As a result, distinguishing symptoms from one another is likely to be difficult.
However, unlike asthma, vocal cord dysfunction does not involve the lower respiratory tract and does not always occur due to an immune system reaction. Therefore, the treatment for both conditions is different.
To establish a diagnosis of vocal cord abnormalities, the doctor will conduct a series of physical examinations, as well as additional examinations in the form of an electrical test for the vocal cord nerves, laryngoscopy procedures, pulmonary function tests, complete blood tests, and X-rays.
Your doctor may also diagnose vocal cord abnormalities if:
- Respiratory (lung function) or other asthma test results are normal.
- Asthma medications have not been able to relieve symptoms.
- Inhaling feels harder than sighing.
Treatment of vocal cord abnormalities is tailored to the cause. However, most doctors will advise you to reduce speech or voice for some time, avoid cigarette smoke or dirty air, provide medicines to reduce irritation and inflammation of the vocal cords, or recommend vocal cords surgery if needed.
Vocal cord dysfunction is often associated with panic or anxiety attacks that require anti-anxiety drugs, speech therapy, and psychotherapy to prevent a recurrence. Therefore, treatment for vocal cord dysfunction caused by psychological factors often involves the help of doctors, speech therapists, and psychiatrists.
Immediately consult an ENT specialist or go to the emergency department if the vocal cord dysfunction is suffered making hoarseness accompanied by coughing up blood, unexplained pain, lumps in the throat, or difficulty swallowing. Also if the hoarseness does not disappear even after more than two weeks, or the sound disappears for several days.
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