Laryngospasm is a pathological process that is characterized by an unexpected contraction of the laryngeal muscles. This contraction is unconscious. Often, laryngospasm in adults can occur simultaneously with tracheospasm. This condition is accompanied by a simultaneous contraction of the smooth muscles of the trachea. Seizures of this type are very dangerous, causing people to panic.
Pathogenesis
Now, thanks to research, several main causes of laryngospasm in adults have been identified:
- changing the reactivity of the human body;
- increased excitability of the neuromuscular reflex apparatus of the larynx;
- a sharp deficiency in the patient's body of vitamin D and calcium s alts;
- violations of the normal material exchange.
The disease can appear on the background of chorea, dropsybrain, spasmophilia, rickets, bronchopneumonia, psychological trauma.
In addition, laryngospasm in adults often appears reflexively with pathological changes in certain organs: trachea, pharynx, lungs, pleura, larynx, gallbladder. In addition, with sensitization of the body due to pathologies of an infectious type, with the influence of a number of medicinal components on the nasal mucosa, for example, adrenaline.
So, the main causes of the disease in adults are as follows:
- Metabolic disorders.
- Calcium and vitamin deficiency.
- Presence of certain diseases.
- Various birth injuries.
- Severe fright, cough, psychological trauma.
- Respiratory system disorders.
- Allergy.
- Swelling, inflammation or irritation of the larynx.
- Aneurysm.
- Severe stress or nervous breakdown.
Etiology
Laryngospasm also has a number of other primary sources of occurrence:
- The effect of air that contains irritating components (such as dust).
- Infringement of tumor type formations.
- The effect of all kinds of drugs through lubrication on the larynx.
- Inflammatory and edematous process in the larynx.
- Various diseases: eclampsia, tetanus, unrest, tabes dorsalis, hysteria.
- Irritation of the recurrent laryngeal or vagus nerve (aneurysm, tumor, goiter).
Clinical picture in this pathology
With laryngospasm in adults, difficulty, wheezing, noisy inhalation, cyanosis or pallor of the skin epithelium may suddenly appear, there is an attachment of the auxiliary muscles of the respiratory system, tension in the muscle groups of the neck.
Another attack of laryngospasm is most often characterized by a head thrown back, an open mouth, a thready pulse, the appearance of a cold sweat, even stopping breathing from time to time.
In the future, due to carbon dioxide accumulated in the body, there is a strong irritation of the center of respiration, it is restored. An attack of laryngospasm when coughing in adults in simpler cases is not long in time and eventually comes down to a few seconds, ends with an elongated breath, then rhythmic and deep breathing begins, in some cases instant sleep. During laryngoscopy during laryngospasm, you can see how the vocal folds are pressed tightly to each other and even lie one on top of the other, while the right vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage often goes beyond the left one.
When do seizures recur?
In this case, attacks can be repeated periodically several times a day, mainly during daylight hours. Also among the causes that can cause laryngospasm are the following diseases: various pathologies of the pleura, pharynx, gallbladder, larynx, trachea; chorea; spasmophilia.
Adult laryngospasm is a serious disorder that can have a variety of causes. The doctor, whose consultation is mandatory, can determine the origin of the pathology.
Symptoms of this disease
The very first symptom of laryngospasm in adults is a noisy breath, characterized by severe difficulty. Against the background of this symptom, skin cyanosis is formed (especially in the area of the lips), which causes tension in the muscles of the neck. Symptoms during seizures: the patient's mouth is constantly quite wide open; there is excessive sweating; thready nature of the pulse; due to the rapid increase in the content of carbon dioxide in the human body, irritation of the respiratory center occurs, and the respiratory function itself becomes stable.
When laryngospasm becomes severe, in addition to the main clinical picture, the following signs are added: convulsive syndrome, which spreads throughout the entire muscle skeleton; fainting; there is a release of foam from the oral cavity; the patient may experience involuntary intestinal emptying of the bladder and intestines; cardiac arrest.
In patients with hysteria
In adults, the symptoms of laryngospasm are quite specific. A hysterical illness is characterized by a simultaneous course with convulsions of the limbs, esophagus, and pharynx. In patients with hysteria and other neuroses, laryngospasm may occur when a laryngeal mirror is inserted into the pharynx, but such an attack itself passes quickly. Sometimes it resembles epilepsy. If the case is less severe, laryngospasm may be characterized by short-term narrowing of the glottis, prolonged inspiration with a distinctive whistle,blue or pale, noisy breathing, sobbing, rapid shortness of breath.
Emergency care for adult laryngospasm is very important.
Pathology can take place along with tracheospasm, in which the smooth muscles of the membranous posterior region of the trachea also contract. Especially dangerous is laryngospasm due to the possible death from asphyxia with an excessively long attack. Just for this reason, you need to know what a set of first aid measures exists for laryngospasm.
An attack in adults can be characterized by facial flushing and severe coughing.
Supposed pathological complications
If the seizures are severe and long enough, severe convulsions can occur because of this. In the absence of the necessary timely assistance, a simple attack can be fatal due to the onset of suffocation. All close people, precisely because of such a danger, should be familiar with the preventive complex and the rules for providing assistance against the background of laryngospasm. However, although the syndrome has severe manifestations, deaths are more often recorded in weak patients. That is why you need to strengthen your immunity.
How to relieve laryngospasm in an adult?
First Aid
The first and most important manipulations in the provision of ambulance against the background of laryngospasm in adult patients are expressed as follows: you need to put the patient on a flat hard surface; then allow air to enterlungs, moreover, having removed outer clothing from a person; create conditions for fresh air to enter, ventilate the room where the patient is located (ventilate the room). Eliminate the influence of possible irritants and ensure complete silence. The attack can be influenced by splashing water on the face, causing a gag reflex. Then you need to call an emergency.
Ambulance specialists for laryngospasm in adults will take the necessary measures for the victim, it will be as follows: injections with calcium gluconate are administered intravenously; intubation or tracheotomy is used if all previous measures are ineffective; an indirect cardiac massage is done when the organ stops; oxygen therapy is being carried out.
Medication treatment
How is laryngospasm treated in adults with medicines? If the disease occurs due to insufficient content of vitamin D and calcium in the body, you need to adjust the diet, as well as follow a diet. If the attacks become more frequent, then taking warm baths and internal use of a solution of potassium bromide perfectly contributes to the removal of exacerbation. It is important to understand that in adults, getting rid of laryngospasm is corrected and controlled by a specialist individually. An effective method of counteracting frequent attacks is inhalation using pharmaceuticals or mineral water. The drug is prescribed by a doctor:
- inhalation of ammonia vapors by the patient;
- anticonvulsant drugs are introduced into the body (chloral hydrate enema - from 0.3 to 0.5 grams per glasswater).
If cases are prolonged, warm baths are used.
Twice a day, a teaspoon of a solution of potassium bromide (0.5%) is used internally.
Dosages
The dosages of the listed funds for children are determined by age. Both adult patients and children should take products with a high concentration of calcium, they are also prescribed physiotherapy procedures (ultraviolet irradiation), hardening of the patient's body and long walks in the fresh air. In addition, you need to take in as many fresh vegetables and dairy products as possible.
Traditional medicine
Attacks of laryngospasm can be eliminated through the methods of traditional medicine. The main criterion when choosing a drug is safety and efficacy.
Inhalations. If frequent attacks occur, they can be eliminated with the help of soda inhalations: for procedures, soda (two tablespoons) must be added to hot water (a glass of boiling water). Inhale effective therapeutic steam for at least fifteen minutes, this method is used for one month.
Inhalation can be done while sitting in a bathtub filled with steam. For these purposes, it is necessary to fill a basin or bath with boiling water, wait until the steam spreads throughout the room. To enhance the effect, you need to add herbs such as thyme, sage, mint to the bathroom. In this case, the inhaled steam will be therapeutic. When coughing, inhalations can be done through Ambrobene.
Tincture. wine herb altincture facilitates breathing and eliminates many causes of laryngospasm. To cook it, you need: thyme; larynx herb; a sprig of rosemary; mint leaves; mariannika grass; grated ginger root; ground red pepper; fortified red wine (one liter). All herbs are mixed, poured with warmed wine, then they insist for two days, filter and drink 50 milliliters before going to bed. The course of treatment is repeated with a break for a month.
Pine resin. It is advisable to dissolve in the mornings and evenings in the mouth pine resin (fresh). The procedure is preferably carried out on an empty stomach. For an adult, the amount should be equal to one teaspoon. Also, resin can be dissolved in warmed milk and drunk every day at night.
Chamomile. A simple and common chamomile tea will strengthen the nervous system and the body as a whole. With laryngospasm, it is recommended to brew a drink not with plain water, but with hot milk.
Heated milk. Give the patient warm milk every evening, adding a spoonful of honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, propolis or cloves (to your taste).
Each of these components helps to soften the respiratory tract, the body is strengthened. Any recipe of traditional medicine is aimed primarily at eliminating the root cause of the pathology, and not its consequences.
Prevention measures
In the treatment of laryngospasm, prevention is one of the most important steps. It is recommended to carry out all necessary measures constantly, even if the attacks are weakened.or absent altogether. They include: consumption of dairy products; taking vitamins; ventilation of premises; balanced diet.
We looked at the symptoms and treatment of laryngospasm in adults.
