Inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO)

Normally, when you breathe in, your vocal cords open like curtains to allow air into your lungs. In people with inducible laryngeal obstruction ("ILO"), the vocal cords either stay shut or open only a little. The vocal cords are soft and flexible, so some air can get through, but it is much harder to breathe. ILO is sometimes confused with asthma, because it can cause many of the same symptoms.