Wheezing - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment - Avicenna Health

Patient History:

Have you ever heard a whistling sound come off your or your baby's chest?

Have you ever felt worried or get panic from this sound?

Do you wonder if you should consult a doctor every time you hear it?

Go ahead and answer all of your questions by reading our new article about wheezing.

Definition of wheezing:

Wheezing: is a whistling sound that occurs during breathing; it is usually caused by narrowed airways and is most apparent when exhaling (breath out)

Wheezing is a symptom that indicates respiratory tract problems most often like asthma, allergy, and others.

How much time does it last?

The persistence of wheezing depends on the continuation of the causing disease itself.

For example: if the leading cause is an allergic response, wheezing can improve as soon as you stop the exposure to the allergen.

If the leading cause is respiratory tract disease, wheezing often improves by managing the disease itself.

Accompanied signs and Symptoms:

A variety of symptoms can be accompanied by wheezing, such as:

• Fever 
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Rapid breathing
• Swollen lips or tongue 
• Bluish face or skin
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

Causes: 

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the most common causes of wheezing, but other respiratory and cardiac causes should be put into consideration, like:

• Allergies and severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis 
• Bronchitis and bronchiolitis 
• Pneumonia 
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• Smoking
• Vocal cord dysfunction
• Lung cancer
• Cystic fibrosis
• Pulmonary edema
• Heart failure
• Heart defects 
• Heart myopathies
• Some kind of medication like aspirin in addition to penicillin allergy
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

When to see a doctor? 

Wheezing can sometimes indicate a severe problem so that it requires a medical consultation most of the time.

Accompanying signs and symptoms that indicate a severe problem:

- Difficulty breathing

- Rapid breathing

- Bluish face and skin

- Swollen lips or tongue

Call 911 if: 

• You think your wheezing is caused by an allergic reaction to an insect bite or medication.
• Your wheezing occurs suddenly 
• You cannot get enough air
• Your wheezing occurs after chocking on a small foreign body

Diagnosis:

Physical exams are the most important to determine wheezing.

A doctor often uses a stethoscope to hear the whistling sound if it is not well-heard by ears.

However, the patient's medical history is also essential to guide for possible diagnosis.

Blood tests are often required routinely, while imaging procedures like x-ray or CT-scan may be done to roll out some cases like pneumonia, bronchitis, masses, or foreign bodies that may block your airways.

Lung functions tests are sometimes performed to assess the lungs' health.

Management:

As we have mentioned before, wheezing can be a symptom of many lung diseases. And to manage this symptom, you need to control the causing disease itself.

Asthma is an example that can be managed under the supervision of a doctor by using a bronchodilator or inhaled corticosteroids.

On the other hand, Bronchitis is often managed by prescribed antibiotics for bacterial infection cases and bronchodilator in other cases.

Home remedies like drinking hot fluid or using a humidifier to keep the air moist, in addition to avoiding smoking, can help relieve the condition.

And remember, if you have any concerns about non-emergent health conditions, you may schedule a telemedicine consult with the Avicenna Health provider for an individualized consultation.

References:

• mayoclinic.org
• webmd.com
• medscape.com
• medlineplus.gov
• healthline.com
• clevelandclinic.org