Laryngospasm: What causes it?

A laryngospasm (luh-RING-go-spaz-um) is a spasm that closes the vocal cords. These spasms can make it hard to talk or breathe for a short time.

The vocal cords are located inside the voice box, also called the larynx. The larynx is in the throat, between the base of the tongue and the top of the windpipe. The windpipe also is called the trachea. The vocal cords are two folds made up of muscle and soft tissue that act like a gate between the windpipe and mouth. When you breathe, the vocal cords open. When you talk, they come together and vibrate. The vibration creates the sound of your voice.

Laryngospasms are rare. When they happen, they often start suddenly. It can be scary when a laryngospasm makes it hard to breathe. But the spasms often go away within a minute or two. And although they can be alarming, these spasms typically are not life-threatening.

Laryngospasms can be caused by another medical condition. Sometimes they may be triggered by acid reflux. Acid reflux can cause a few drops of stomach acid to touch the vocal cords, setting off a spasm. Laryngospasms also may happen when a breathing tube, called an endotracheal tube, is removed from the throat after surgery.

Anxiety can sometimes cause vocal cord spasms, although this is less common. Rarely, laryngospasms may be caused by a neurologic condition, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS. In some situations, it might not be possible to pinpoint a specific cause of the spasms.

If you experience a vocal cord spasm, talk with a healthcare professional. You'll likely need an exam and possibly tests to check if you have a medical condition that could have caused the spasm.

If the cause is not clear, you may be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist, called an otolaryngologist. The specialist can use a mirror or small camera scope to look at your vocal cords.

When a medical condition is causing vocal cord spasms, treating that condition may help get rid of the spasms. For people who have laryngospasms where no specific cause can be found, working with a speech-language pathologist to learn breathing exercises can help. Those exercises, along with relaxation techniques, may make the spasms shorter and milder when they happen. The exercises and relaxation techniques also might help lower the number of spasms you have in the future.