Laryngospasm: What causes it?

Laryngospasm is a brief spasm of the vocal cords. It can be frightening because it temporarily interrupts speech and breathing. Often the cause can't be determined. But it can be associated with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Laryngospasm is unrelated to bronchospasm, which occurs in asthma.

A laryngospasm happens suddenly and usually lasts 30 to 60 seconds. During this time, you may experience great difficulty breathing through the upper airways in your voice box (larynx). Your vocal cords eventually relax without causing serious problems. Unfortunately, there's no effective medication to relax the vocal cords more quickly.