Laryngospasm: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

In addition to the pain of heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, can sometimes lead to a condition known as laryngospasm. Laryngospasm refers to a temporary spasm of the vocal chords that can block your airway and leave you unable to speak or breathe. Find out more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of laryngospasm.

If you suffer from GERD, your esophagus is repeatedly being exposed to damaging stomach acids. In some cases, the stomach acid may even reach your larynx, which is even more prone to injury than the esophagus. If either your esophagus or larynx is injured, you may experience laryngospasm. Coughing due to an upper respiratory infection, which can push acid into the larynx, or being under general anesthesia during surgery may also increase your risk of developing laryngospasm.

People who experience laryngospasm are unable to breathe or speak and may wake up in the middle of the night because they feel like they’re suffocating. As the airways open, you can usually hear a high-pitched breathing sound. While an episode of laryngospasm typically only lasts one to two minutes, it can be extremely frightening.

In addition to having troubles breathing or speaking during these episodes, people who have laryngospasm often suffer from other symptoms related to GERD. These symptoms may include heartburn, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, coughing, or nausea.

In most cases, treating laryngospasm involves treating GERD as the underlying cause. GERD treatment may include diet and lifestyle changes, proton pump inhibitor therapy, or surgery.