Wheezing causes a sharp whistling sound caused by partial obstructions in one or more airways of the lungs. These include narrowing of the lung airways and other factors for blockages like mucus cause labored breathing.
This creates a wheezing sound while inhaling and exhaling. The sound is usually more common while breathing out. In medical conditions that cause limited airflow, a wheezing sound is usually not prominent. There are various minor to severe medical conditions that may manifest themselves through this symptom.
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that originates while inhaling and exhaling. This occurs due to inflammation of the airways of lungs, and other factors that cause blockages of the airways.
Symptoms
Wheezing is a symptom which can appear in many conditions. Hence you should check for other symptoms that may accompany it. These are the symptoms that commonly accompany wheezing:
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Cough
- Tightness in the chest
- Loss of voice
- Stuffy nose
- Inflammation of the lips or tongue
- A bluish tinge around the mouth and/or nails
Wheezing Causes
There are various medical conditions and lifestyle disorders that may be the underlying causes of wheezing. Let’s take a look at the most common wheezing causes:
Asthma
Asthma is an inflammatory condition wherein the airways of the respiratory system narrows down. Mucus may further block the airways, leading to breathing difficulties and aggravating the medical condition. This, then, further aggravates wheezing.
Allergies
Seasonal allergies due to foreign allergens like dust, pollen, pet dander, mites, insect stings, etc. may manifest through wheezing amongst other symptoms.
Anaphylaxis
This is a severe allergic reaction, generally caused by certain medications, foods and insect bites.
Bronchiectasis
A chronic lung disease in which mucus does not drain out as expected due to widening of bronchial tubes.
Cystic fibrosis
This health condition causes thickening of the mucus, causing lung function impairment.
Bronchiolitis
Another type of infection of the small airways in the lungs that leads to breathlessness and wheezing.
Respiratory syncytial virus
This is one of the factors behind bronchiolitis.
Pneumonia
Here, the air sacs swell up and get filled with pus and other fluids, making breathing difficult.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Digestive fluids may push back up into the esophagus due to digestive disorders. These fluids then may cause wheezing if there is an aspiration of gastric contents in the airways, or when irritation occurs caused by the gastric acid.
Obstructive sleep apnea
In this health condition, breathing gets disrupted at times during the night, causing shortness of breath and wheezing.
Vocal cord dysfunction
This disorder is associated with the movement of vocal cords, wheezing being one of its prominent symptoms.
Other causes:
- Irritation due to smoking (primary and secondhand smoking)
- Lung cancer
- Airway obstruction due to a large foreign object in the throat
Diagnosis
To diagnose the underlying cause of wheezing involves a combination of physical examination and investigation of medical conditions by medical tests. Let’s take a close look at the process:
Physical examination: Based on the symptoms that you are facing other than wheezing, the doctor will physically examine you thoroughly. In certain cases, wheezing may not clearly manifest itself. Using a stethoscope to check the pulse, heartbeats, and presence of chest congestion usually reveals sharp breathing sounds.
Investigation of medical conditions: Your doctor will inquire about your personal and family history of medical conditions. This will enable him/her to evaluate whether wheezing might be an underlying cause of any of these health conditions. It will help the doctor eliminate medical conditions that could have otherwise been a possible cause of the whistling sound while breathing.
Discuss with your doctor about the medications that you might be taking currently or may have taken in the recent past. There are certain drugs like aspirin and corticosteroids that are known to interact adversely and cause symptoms like wheezing. Do not miss carrying the documents for your medical history as the doctor is likely to check them for previous or existing medical conditions and medications.
Medical tests: Imaging tests like X-ray and CT (computer tomography) scans of the chest may be advised. This will enable the doctor to monitor the prevalence of blockages and other abnormalities in the chest that may cause the whistling sound.
Treatment
As discussed earlier in the article, there are an array of medical conditions that may manifest through wheezing. The treatment for this condition is determined by the medical condition causing it, its severity, etc. Below are the possible treatment options for such medical conditions.
- An inhaler may be advised to control inflammation of the airways and ensure chest decongestion.
- A bronchodilator medication to aid in breathing.
- Inhaled corticosteroids
- Antibiotics to treat bacterial infections
- A cool-mist humidifier or a steam vaporizer to open up the congestion in the lung airways.
Home Remedies
Treating the underlying condition is a must for treating the whistling sound. The following are some easy home remedies that can relieve the condition:
Steam inhalation: Steam unclogs the blocked airways and eases swellings.
Drink something warm: This relieves discomfort, irritation, and pain in the airways. It also loosens and drains out mucus of a sticky and thick consistency.
Quit smoking: Avoid smoking and also make sure that you stay away from passive smoking.
Do breathing exercises: Keep your lungs active with a few minutes of breathing exercises every day.
Load up on antioxidants: Have a daily diet that is rich in vitamin C and E to treat the whistling sound caused by asthma.
Herbs: Herbs like ginkgo biloba are recognized for relieving asthma-induced wheezing.
