Wheezing sound

With a bodily process as essential as breathing, it's certainly concerning when you notice a change — even if it's just a slight difference in how it sounds, like a wheeze. If you're wheezing when breathing out, it's a sign that air in your airway isn't flowing as optimally as it usually does, likely because the airway is narrowed or partially blocked. "Wheezing isn't always a significant cause for concern, but it can indicate an underlying health issue in some cases — a few of which are very serious — so it's important to know when wheezing needs to be evaluated," says Dr. Rodney Folz, a pulmonologist at Houston Methodist. What causes wheezing? "Wheezing occurs when there's an obstruction in the airway that is affecting airflow," says Dr. Folz. "This obstruction could be due to the airway muscles becoming spastic in response to an allergen, the airway lining becoming inflamed and narrowed or even mucus or foreign objects physically blocking airflow. There are a handful of illnesses and underlying conditions that can contribute to such obstructions." The most common causes of wheezing are: • Asthma, either allergic or exercise-induced • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) • Bronchitis • Pneumonia • Upper respiratory viral illness, such as a cold, the flu or COVID-19 "Asthma is the most common cause of wheezing in younger adults, while COPD is the more common cause in older adults age 50 and beyond," says Dr. Folz. Other, much less common causes of wheezing include...

What Are the Symptoms of Wheezing? The symptoms of wheezing include a musical or whistling sound and labored breathing, particularly when exhaling; sometimes they're accompanied by a feeling of tightening in the chest. You can hear Call Your Doctor About Wheezing If: • You are wheezing and do not have a history of asthma or an • Wheezing is accompanied by a fever of 101° or above; you may have a respiratory infection such as acute • Your cough worsens, and you produce more, thicker or yellow, green, or blood-tinged mucus; you may need antibiotics for bronchitis or pneumonia. • You have lost weight Get emergency medical help immediately (Call 911) if: • You have • You begin wheezing suddenly and • You • You also have • You have a bluish tint to your

Wheezing Lung Sounds Introduction Welcome to our website's wheezing page. On this page we provide a description of wheezing, including its clinical significance. We then compare common high-pitched wheezes to rhonchi (lower-pitched wheezes) using audio recordings and text. Finally, we provide links to the wheeze lung sound training lessons available on this website. Our wheezing lesson can be found Wheezing Welcome to our website's wheezing page. On this page we provide a description of wheezing, including its clinical significance. We then compare common high-pitched wheezes to rhonchi (lower-pitched wheezes) using audio recordings and text. Finally, we provide links to the wheeze lung sound training lessons available on this website. Wheezing is a sign of breathing problems. Wheezing sounds are most often apparent during exhaling a breath. They may also be sometimes heard when the patient inhales. Basics of Lung Sounds The goal of this basic course in lung sounds is to improve auscultation observational skills. We focus on describing important breath sounds and in providing recordings of each. Many students find that waveform tracings aid in learning lung sounds; we have included dynamic (moving cursor) waveforms with each lesson. The anatomy pages use illustrations to reveal an example of each lung sound (anatomy not yet available on smartphones). Lesson List Intermediate Lung Sounds The goal of this intermediate course is to expand your observational skills when auscul...

Inspiratory wheezing refers to wheezing that happens when you breathe in, and expiratory wheezing happens when you breathe out. Both types indicate an issue with your breathing and can occur with other symptoms. A wheeze is a high-pitched whistling sound heard during breathing. Though it often happens when you exhale, wheezing can also occur when you inhale (inspiration). Wheezing is usually a sign of narrowing airways or a blockage in the vocal cords. However, there are other causes of this condition. If you’re wheezing and also find it difficult to breathe, seek immediate medical attention. There are two types of Expiratory wheezing often indicates narrowing in the small airways or a mild blockage in all or part of your airway, known as an Expiratory wheezing may indicate that your Inspiratory wheezing occurs when you inhale. You can have either expiratory wheezing, inspiratory wheezing, or both. To diagnose the type of wheezing, a doctor typically uses a stethoscope to hear if it’s loudest over your Inspiratory wheezing often accompanies expiratory wheezing when heard over the lungs, specifically in an You may experience additional symptoms along with wheezing. You may feel If you see someone who is wheezing, it may look like they are breathing faster or deeper, or breathing heavily. You might be able to notice flaring of the nostrils or “pulling” of the skin above the collarbone or in between the ribs. Wheezing is often caused by inflammation in your throat or lungs. T...

Wheezing is a sensation that occurs when a person breathes through obstructed airways. Some people find that their wheezing gets worse when lying down. This can occur because lying down may adversely affect the ability of the chest to rise and fall, making it difficult to breathe. Lying down may also cause problems with mucus drainage from the nose, which Wheezing is a common symptom of asthma, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. In this article, we will take a closer look at the potential causes of wheezing when lying down and their treatments. We will also provide tips on how to sleep while experiencing this symptom. Share on Pinterest Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman/Getty Images Asthma is a chronic condition that affects The symptoms of nocturnal asthma can include: • chest tightness • shortness of breath • coughing • wheezing According to the United Kingdom charity, Doctors can prescribe preventive inhalers to improve breathing. People can use these regularly to maintain reduced asthma symptoms. Emergency inhalers can help with sudden and sometimes severe symptoms. Those with allergies may find that identifying and removing the allergen helps, along with taking an antihistamine. OSA is a serious medical condition that causes a decrease or abrupt halt in airflow while sleeping. This occurs due to the relaxation of the pharyngeal muscles and soft tissues, which are located at the back of the throat. This blocks the airways, di...

Wheezing is the shrill whistle or coarse rattle you hear when your airway is partially blocked. It might be blocked because of an allergic reaction, a cold, bronchitis or allergies. Wheezing is also a symptom of asthma, pneumonia, heart failure and more. It could go away on its own, or it could be a sign of a serious condition. Overview What is wheezing? Wheezing is the shrill, coarse whistling or rattling sound your breath makes when your airway is partially blocked. Some wheezes can only be heard with a stethoscope, but often they can be heard with the human ear. Wheezing is more obvious when you breathe out (exhale), but can also be heard when you breathe in (inhale). The tone of the wheeze can vary depending on which part of the respiratory system is blocked or narrowed. Narrowing in the upper respiratory system may make for a hoarser wheeze. Lower obstructions may have a more musical tone, similar to a how a wind instrument like a clarinet might sound. Anyone – from infants to elderly adults – can develop wheezing. Children with asthma often develop it. Wheezing is also quite common in infants; it’s estimated that up to 25% to 30% of infants develop wheezing in their first year of life. Wheezing may be more common in babies because of their smaller airways. Also, children under two are susceptible to a common, but easily treatable condition called bronchiolitis. This is caused by a viral respiratory infection and inflammation. In adults, smokers and people with emphys...