Wheezing meaning

What Causes Wheezing? The whistling sound happens when air moves through narrowed airways, much like the way a whistle or flute makes music. Many health problems can cause • Asthma . This condition, in which your airways narrow, swell, and make extra • Allergic reactions to • Bronchitis • COPD • Cystic fibrosis , which damages your • Obstruction of an airway because you’ve inhaled an object such as a coin • Lung cancer • Congestive heart failure • Pneumonia . This infection inflames the air sacs in your lungs, and they fill with fluid or pus. • Bronchiolitis. This lung infection inflames airways and causes • Emphysema, a lung condition that causes shortness of breath • Smoking or breathing in smoke • Respiratory syncytial virus . This can lead to bronchiolitis. • Gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD ) • Vocal cord problems • Sleep apnea Wheezing Risk Factors Anyone can have wheezing. It often happens in infants, possibly because of their smaller airways. It’s also common in children who have asthma or bronchiolitis. Adults who smoke or who have emphysema or When to See a Doctor Mild wheezing, the type that happens when you have a • • Fast breathing • Go to the ER if your wheezing: • Starts soon after you’re stung by a bee or just after you take • Comes with severe breathing trouble or bluish skin • Happens after you choke on a bit of food Diagnosing the Cause of Wheezing Your doctor will ask you questions like: • How long have you been wheezing? • Does it happen when you...

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...

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...

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

• Difficulty breathing • Rapid breathing • Briefly bluish skin color Seek emergency care if wheezing: • Begins suddenly after being stung by a bee, taking medication or eating an allergy-causing food • Is accompanied by severe difficulty breathing or bluish skin color • Occurs after choking on a small object or food In some cases, wheezing can be relieved by certain medications or use of an inhaler. In others, you might need emergency treatment. Self-care measures To ease mild wheezing related to a cold or URI, try these tips: • Moisturize the air. Use a humidifier, take a steamy shower or sit in the bathroom with the door closed while running a hot shower. Moist air might help relieve mild wheezing in some instances. • Drink fluids. Warm liquids can relax the airway and loosen up sticky mucus in your throat. • Avoid tobacco smoke. Active or passive smoking can worsen wheezing. • Take all prescribed medications. Follow the doctor's instructions. • Irwin RS. Evaluation of wheezing illnesses other than asthma in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 24, 2017. • Oo S, et al. The wheezing child: An algorithm. Australian Family Physician. 2015;44:360. • Kryger MH, et al., eds. Overlap syndromes of sleep and breathing disorders. In: Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier Saunders; 2017. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 24, 2017. • Wheezing. Merck Manual Professional Version. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec05/ch045/ch045...

Inflammation and narrowing of the airway in any location, from your throat out into your lungs, can result in wheezing. The most common causes of recurrent wheezing are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which both cause narrowing and spasms (bronchospasms) in the small airways of your lungs. However, any inflammation in your throat or larger airways can cause wheezing. Common causes include infection, an allergic reaction or a physical obstruction, such as a tumor or a foreign object that's been inhaled. All of the following conditions can lead to wheezing: • • • • Bronchiectasis (a chronic lung condition in which abnormal widening of bronchial tubes inhibits mucus clearing) • • • • • • • • • • • Medications (particularly aspirin) • • • • Respiratory tract infection (especially in children younger than 2) • Smoking • Vocal cord dysfunction (a condition that affects vocal cord movement)

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that can happen when you breathe. It’s caused by narrowed airways or inflammation. Wheezing is a symptom of a few different medical conditions. While some of these issues are temporary (like allergies), others can be quite serious and require medical attention. One of the most Lung issues Wheezing and breathlessness are two Vocal cord issues • wheezing • coughing • difficulty breathing Allergies Even if you don’t have asthma, allergies • • swollen • Heart conditions Digestive issues Lifestyle factors • worsen asthma symptoms • increase your risk of developing COPD • cause coughing and wheezing Because wheezing is almost always a symptom of an underlying condition, treating it usually involves treating the condition. When it comes to certain lung conditions, prescription anti-inflammatory medications can decrease inflammation and excess mucus in the airways. These medications typically come in the form of inhalers, but they’re also available as liquid medication used via Asthma Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be • quick-relief medications (used at the first sign of symptoms, such as wheezing) • controller medications (which work on easing swelling and mucus in airways) • Bronchitis Typically, bronchitis clears up on its own, but if you develop Mucolytic medications can help to thin mucus in the lungs so you can cough it up more easily. Wheezing is a high-pitched sound that occurs when you breathe. It’s caused by narrowed airways...