5 Home Remedies for Vocal Cord Dysfunction That Can Stop Future Vocal Cord Attacks
Key takeaways:
Vocal cord dysfunction is a condition where the vocal cords close instead of opening when a person breathes. This can cause a choking sensation, loud pitched breathing, and difficulty breathing.
There’s no cure for vocal cord dysfunction. But you can manage vocal cord dysfunction at home with muscle relaxation and breathing techniques.
You can lower the number of vocal attacks you experience with allergy and reflux medications and by avoiding smoke and other things that irritate the lungs.
Table of contents
Vocal cord dysfunction is a condition where the vocal cords close instead of opening when you take a breath. Normally the vocal cords relax so that air can flow from your nose and into your windpipe. From there, the air goes to your lungs so that you can breathe. Vocal cord dysfunction is also called inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO).
People with vocal cord dysfunction experience difficulty breathing, high-pitched breathing (stridor), and choking sensations during vocal cord attacks. These vocal cord attacks happen from time to time and can last several minutes. Episodes can be very frightening, even though they aren’t life-threatening.
There’s no cure for vocal cord dysfunction. But there are treatments that can help you get through attacks quickly and safely. There are also treatments that can lower the number of attacks you experience. The good news is that vocal cord treatment can be done at home. Also, medications that can help with vocal cord dysfunction are usually available over the counter.
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Here are six ways to manage your vocal cord dysfunction at home.
1. Use rescue breathing
Rescue breathing helps relax the vocal cords into their natural shape during a vocal cord attack.
It’s important to learn and perfect your rescue breathing technique so that you can use it during an attack. During an attack, you may feel the need to take in big breaths, but this can worsen an attack. Instead, you want to focus on exhaling.
There are several methods of rescue breathing:
Panting: Exhale several short breaths without taking a breath in, like a dog on a hot day. Then take a short breath in through your nose. Repeat until your attack stops.
Pursed breathing: Take a long, slow breath out through pursed lips. Make sure you keep breathing out until you feel like all the air has left your lungs. Then take 2 short sniff breaths through your nose. Repeat until your attack stops.
4 + 2 breathing: Slowly breathe out for a count of 4, and then breathe in normally for a count of 2. Repeat until your attack stops.
All of these methods work by lengthening the time you spend exhaling. This can help activate the muscle that pulls your vocal cords apart so air can get into your windpipe.
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2. Learn muscle engagement and breathing techniques
Tiny muscles control how your vocal cords move. You don’t have much voluntary control over these muscles, not like you do over your arms or legs.
But you do have control over other muscles in your head and neck. You can train these muscles to be more active during your natural breathing cycle. This can help counteract the effects of the muscles spasming around your vocal cords during attacks. Also, certain breathing techniques can encourage the muscles around your vocal cords to stay in a relaxed position. This can prevent future vocal cord attacks.
It’s important to learn how to use these skills the right way. Using incorrect breathing techniques and activating the wrong muscles can make vocal cord dysfunction worse. Make sure to work with a speech therapist to learn how to do these things the right way, and then keep practicing them at home. Most people need two to four therapy sessions to master these skills.
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3. Get reflux under control
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as heartburn, is a well-known trigger for vocal cord dysfunction.
When you’re experiencing heartburn, acid moves from your stomach into your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. Your windpipe and vocal cords sit right in front of your esophagus.
When acid passes up your esophagus, it irritates the lining of your gut, setting off pain signals within your body. The muscles around your vocal cords can sense this distress and may spasm, setting off a vocal cord attack.
Not everyone with reflux (heartburn) develops vocal cord dysfunction. And not everyone with vocal cord dysfunction has reflux . But if you have both, getting your heartburn under control can improve your vocal cord dysfunction and prevent future vocal cord attacks.
There are several things you can do to help get your reflux under control:
Diet: Focus on a reflux-friendly diet and avoid foods and drinks that worsen heartburn, like greasy and spicy foods.
OTC medications: You can also try taking an over-the-counter (OTC) reflux medication, which can keep your symptoms under control.
Other medications: And talk with your healthcare provider about whether any of your medications could be making your heartburn worse. They might have suggestions for medication swaps that won’t trigger heartburn. But keep in mind that you shouldn’t stop taking your medications without your provider’s approval.
4. Treat your allergies
Allergies, like heartburn, is another medical condition that can trigger vocal cord attacks. Whether you have seasonal or year-round allergies, getting your allergies under control can help ease your vocal cord dysfunction and stop future attacks.
You can try OTC allergy medications to get your allergies under control. Popular options include intranasal steroid sprays and non-sedating antihistamines like loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), or fexofenadine (Allegra). There are also steps you can take to lower the amount of indoor allergens in your home. These include cleaning techniques, mattress and pillow covers, and using air purifiers.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you’re not sure where to start. They can help you come up with an action plan based on your specific allergies.
5. Avoid smoke and other airway irritants
Breathing in certain things can irritate your airways and cause your vocal cords to spasm. This can happen to anyone, even if they don’t have vocal cord dysfunction. But people with vocal cord dysfunction are particularly vulnerable to developing spasms and attacks when exposed to respiratory irritants. You want to avoid these things as much as possible.
The most common airway irritants include:
Cigarette smoke (including secondhand smoking)
Pipe and cigar smoke
Smoke from fireplaces, open fires, and wood-burning stoves
Perfumes
Fumes from cleaning supplies, especially bleach and ammonia
Chemical fumes
Some spices, especially black or cayenne pepper
Smoke from frying oil
The bottom line
Vocal cord dysfunction is a condition where the vocal cords close instead of opening. This stops air from getting into the windpipe and leads to symptoms like choking and trouble breathing. There’s no cure for vocal cord dysfunction. But there are treatments to help stop vocal cord attacks and to lower your risk of having more. At-home treatments for vocal cord dysfunction include breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and allergy and reflux medications.
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References
Christensen, P. M., et al. (2015). ERS/ELS/ACCP 2013 international consensus conference nomenclature on inducible laryngeal obstructions. European Respiratory Review.
DukeHealth. (2023). Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD).
Nemours. (2022). How to do rescue breaths for vocal cord attacks | Nemours Children’s Health. YouTube.
Pitchenik, A. E. (1991). Functional laryngeal obstruction relieved by panting. Chest.
Rameau, A., et al. (2012). Multidisciplinary approach to vocal cord dysfunction diagnosis and treatment in one session: A single institutional outcome study. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.
