Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD, breathlessness caused by a dysfunction of the vocal cords).

Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) is very similar to bronchial asthma.

Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD), a disorder of the vocal cords which is often not properly identified, produces symptoms which are similar to those found in bronchial asthma. It is often therefore misdiagnosed as asthma, often over long periods of time, and is consequently not treated properly or effectively. Unlike the symptoms of bronchial asthma, the episodes of breathlessness which are typical of this condition may arise very quickly and are sometimes so intense that the patient experiences them as being life threatening. This, of course, has a very negative impact on the patient's quality of life.

Vocal Cord Dysfunction remains a condition which is not widely known.

VCD is certainly not a new clinical picture, however. The first descriptions of conditions of breathlessness like this can be found in the literature of the mid- nineteenth century. There remains a great deal of awareness and publicity work about this condition to be done in the future, however, because this condition, which is still not very widely known, can only be diagnosed at an early stage if the doctor making the diagnosis is familiar with the particular form of attacks of breathlessness which the patient is suffering.

What is meant by Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD)?

The name Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) does not really a very accurate description of the condition and it immediately suggests a speech disorder rather than a breathing disorder. This leads to a lot of confusion about the nature of the condition itself. ENT doctors will typically tend to think of it as being a disorder affecting the voice. Lung specialists on the other hand understand Vocal Cord Dysfunction as being a usually sudden attack of breathlessness which leads to constriction of the airways in the region of the neck and to breathlessness of varying levels of intensity. Patients affected by this conditions sometimes complain of feeling that they are not able to breathe deeply, and sometimes also that they have a feeling of breathlessness which is so severe that they feel as though they might die.

Professional care

Kenn

Dr.

Klaus Kenn


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