09/06/2026
If others can hear your breathing, take note. Itās time to take action. š©»
That is very suggestive of a narrowing in your airway, the pitch of the sound, whether it happens with an inhaler vs an exhale, can help me as a laryngologist localize the obstruction it to your lungs vs upper airway.
One condition I identify and treat as a laryngologist is called idiopathic subglottic stenosis. This is a chronic, inflammatory, progressive scarring condition of the upper trachea. It is most commonly presents in Caucasian females, otherwise healthy, ages 30-50. Itās often misdiagnosed as asthma or anxiety. Often women will present when symptoms have worsened leading to significant shortness of breath, noisy Darth Vader breathing (stridor), and difficulty with mucus trapping.
Their airway can often be described as ābreathing through a strawā by the time a proper diagnosis is made. This can be an airway emergency. Medical gaslighting to the extreme. š”
Currently the mainstay is surgical dilation with in office steroid injections showing promise for reducing inflammation. Most likely itās etiology is immune dysregulation but research into this is ongoing. Unfortunately, rates are high for recurrence making this truly a chronic condition.
Questions about iSGS? If concerned you may have this drop a comment šand Iāll try to connect you with a laryngologist near you.
Comment āconsultā and youāll learn how to see me in person or virtually.
