Upper Airway Concerns
Assistance for chronic cough and problems breathing due to blockage in your throat.
If you have had trouble breathing or a chronic cough and have been told it is not due to your lungs or your heart, it could be from a problem in your throat.
At Head & Neck Surgery of Kansas City, our board-certified ENTs (otolaryngologists) specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of upper airway issues.
If upper airway concerns are making exertion or even speaking difficult, schedule an appointment today. We’d love to help you better understand your problem.
Common Symptoms
Upper airway problems can develop suddenly or gradually over time. Common symptoms include:
- Noisy breathing, especially when breathing in
- Shortness of breath with activities or talking
- Chronic cough
- Constant throat clearing
How We Diagnose
Diagnosing an upper airway problem starts with a good understanding of your symptoms and medical history followed by an appropriate exam. We may recommend:
- Laryngoscopy to examine the vocal cords with a flexible camera
- Tracheoscopy to examine the windpipe below the vocal cords with a flexible camera
- Imaging studies such as X-ray or CT scan to look at the airway more closely
- Lab work if we suspect other underlying problems
Our goal is to understand why you are having the problem so we can find the way to a solution.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the cause of your condition. Options may include:
- Respiratory retraining therapy with a speech-language pathologist to control spasms in the throat or chronic cough
- Medications for acid reflux, inflammation, underlying infection, or neurological causes
- Surgery to remove any obstructing lesions or stretch the airway
- Tracheostomy to bypass an area obstruction
Other treatments, such as Superior Laryngeal Nerve Blocks for chronic cough, BOTOX injections for laryngospasms, various surgical techniques for subglottic and tracheal stenosis, and more may be offered, depending on your location and provider. We’ll help provide you with the available options so you can decide what is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your cough persists for longer than 8 weeks, it is called a chronic cough and should be evaluated further.
Yes — reflux is one of the most common causes of a chronic cough, but don’t worry we are here to help you stop coughing.
No —when we make noise with breathing in it is usually from upper airway above the lungs and can be from multiple sources, including the vocal cords and the windpipe. Typically, a good exam of the upper airway can help determine the cause and appropriate treatment options.
Sometimes — laryngeal spasms can be made worse by anxiety, but also typically respond well to respiratory retraining therapy with a speech language pathology and good reflux control.
A tracheostomy is the last resort when managing airway conditions. Our board-certified ENTs (otolaryngologists) will look to identify alternatives to a tracheostomy if possible, but will also provide the care needed to manage a tracheostomy long term if needed.
Breathe Easy
If you can’t stop coughing or just can’t catch your breath, our board-certified ENTs (otolaryngologists) would like to help. Schedule an appointment today.