Conditions we treat

Upper airway disorders can be tricky. Many of them share overlapping symptoms — a persistent cough, a tight throat, or trouble breathing can have several different root causes. Getting the right diagnosis requires careful, expert evaluation. That is why our clinicians are specially trained in differential diagnosis, the process of systematically sorting through possible conditions to pinpoint exactly what is going on with you. Without this skill, it is easy for these disorders to be mislabeled or missed entirely, leaving patients without effective treatment for months or even years.

 

Below are some of the upper airway conditions we specialize in:

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• Chronic cough: A cough that lasts eight weeks or longer. Chronic cough is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — upper airway complaints. It can stem from many sources, including airway irritation, reflux, or nerve sensitivity, and often requires a thorough workup to identify the true cause.

• Induced laryngeal obstruction (ILO): Previously known as vocal cord dysfunction, ILO occurs when the vocal cords close inappropriately — especially during breathing in. This can cause sudden episodes of throat tightness, noisy breathing, or the sensation of not being able to get air in. It is frequently mistaken for asthma.

• Dysfunctional breathing: An altered breathing pattern that develops over time, often in response to stress, anxiety, or a past respiratory illness. Symptoms include erratic breathing, frequent sighing, yawning, and a persistent feeling of not getting enough air — even when lung function tests come back normal.

• Globus sensation: The persistent feeling of a lump or tightness in the throat that does not go away — even though nothing is physically blocking the airway. Globus can be caused by muscle tension, reflux, anxiety, or other upper airway dysfunction.

• Upper airway hypersensitivity: When the nerves of the upper airway become overly sensitive, even minor triggers — a cold breeze, a strong smell, or talking — can set off coughing, throat tightening, or breathing difficulty. This is an often-overlooked driver of chronic symptoms.

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