A correlation between vocal cord dysfunction and asthma was drawn through a recent study from German researchers led by Betty Bisdorff of the Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine in Munich, Germany.
The study observed patients that exhibited strong asthma symptoms, as well as those who suffered from immense vocal cord dysfunction. It found that the symptoms and causes of both can be similar if not the same, causing some patients to be misdiagnosed one way or another.
Some of the symptoms of vocal cord dysfunction include difficulty breathing, throat tightness, hoarse voice, coughing, wheezing, and voice changes. Asthmatics will recognize some of these as they are also experienced by asthma sufferers. When it comes to diagnosing either of these diseases, the task can be challenging. Doctors will take symptoms, family history and in some cases, a spirometry into consideration.
"A significant portion of the general population with respiratory symptoms may have VCD-like symptoms, resulting in poor quality of life in those affected," the researchers said in their report. "This study provides valuable first insights into the prevalence and risk factors of VCD-like symptoms and might serve as a pilot for the future."
Regardless of what the doctors call it, or what they say about the causes of your symptoms, as the sufferer you will want to focus on the ways that you can lessen the triggers' impact on your system. To create a safe environment for you to live or work in, sometimes the best thing you can do is to implement products that assist in allergy prevention and asthma control. For more information on the items that might help you most, visit Allergy Be Gone today.
