When is wheezing a problem

Doctors first ask questions about the person's symptoms and medical history and then do a physical examination. What doctors find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause and the tests that may need to be done see table Some Causes and Features of Wheezing Some Causes and Features of Wheezing Wheezing is a high-pitched, whistling sound that occurs during breathing when the airways are partially blocked.

Doctors determine whether the wheezing is occurring for the first time or has occurred before. If the person has had wheezing before, they determine whether current symptoms are different in nature or severity. Whether any conditions such as an upper respiratory infection, exposure to an allergen, particular seasons of the year, cold air, exercise, or feeding in infants trigger it or make it worse.

Other symptoms that can provide clues to the diagnosis include shortness of breath Shortness of Breath Shortness of breath—what doctors call dyspnea—is the unpleasant sensation of having difficulty breathing.

People experience and describe shortness of breath differently depending on the cause It is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor. The function of a cough is to clear material from the airways and to protect Doctors ask about the person's history of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.

During the physical examination, doctors check the person's temperature and heart and breathing rates. Doctors look for signs of respiratory distress and examine the lungs, particularly how well air moves in and out and whether wheezing seems to affect all of the lungs or only part. A doctor is usually able to detect wheezing by listening with a stethoscope as the person breathes. Loud wheezing can be heard easily, sometimes even without a stethoscope. To hear mild wheezing, doctors may need to listen with a stethoscope while the person exhales forcefully.

A persistent wheeze that occurs in one location in smokers may be due to lung cancer. Doctors also examine the heart, nose and throat, limbs, hands, feet, and skin. Tests are done to assess severity, determine diagnosis, and identify complications. They usually include the following:. Sometimes measurement of gases oxygen and carbon dioxide and acidity pH in an artery arterial blood gas analysis Arterial Blood Gas ABG Analysis and Pulse Oximetry Both arterial blood gas testing and pulse oximetry measure the amount of oxygen in the blood, which helps determine how well the lungs are functioning.

Arterial blood gas tests are invasive The outlook for people who wheeze depends on the exact cause of their symptoms. Chronic asthma and COPD often require long-term treatment. Make sure to tell your doctor if your wheezing reoccurs or worsens. This often means that you need a more aggressive treatment plan to prevent complications. Read this article in Spanish.

Try these six tips for relief. Allergies and asthma share some symptoms and often occur together. The same substances that cause allergies can trigger asthma symptoms. Inspiratory and expiratory wheezing occur when you inhale or exhale, respectively.

Here's what causes these conditions, how they differ, and how to…. Abnormal breath sounds can indicate a lung problem, such as an obstruction, inflammation, or infection. Learn about breath sounds and what they may….

Learn more about measuring your peak flow rate and 7 meters on the market. Pulmonary function tests PFTs are a group of tests that measure how well your lungs work.

Learn about the different types. Spirometry is an important test for your lung health. Learn what to expect from the test and how to interpret your results. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Wheezing—a high-pitched, whistle-like sound made when you breathe—is the result of air moving through narrowed airways. Asthma is the most common reason this occurs, but it's not the only possible cause. Wheezing could be a sign of numerous conditions, from minor issues like breathing in cold air to some extremely serious ones such as COPD or a severe allergic reaction. The most important thing to keep in mind is that wheezing is never normal.

If you notice it when you inhale or exhale, and particularly if it persists or worsens, you should consult a doctor to find out what is restricting your airway. Narrowing of the airways also referred to as a blockage or obstruction usually occurs in the small bronchial tubes.

In some cases, it may be caused by problems with the larger airways including the trachea or bronchi or the vocal cords.

In either instance, the breath does not easily move in and out of the lungs. As air is forced through obstructed pathways, the whistling sound characteristic of wheezing occurs. A number of issues can create an obstruction in the airways.

Three of the most common are asthma, COPD, and vocal cord dysfunction. Most wheezing is related to bronchial asthma and typically occurs in what is called the "yellow zone" of the disease the middle range, when it is getting worse but before it becomes a serious medical issue. At that point, wheezing is often accompanied by other typical symptoms of asthma , including:.

There are many different types of asthma , and many different ways for this chronic lung disease to manifest. Asthma can be well controlled with proper care. In the case of childhood asthma, children tend to "grow out of it. COPD is a progressive inflammatory disease in which the lungs become increasingly inflamed.

This leads to symptoms such as a persistent cough , excessive phlegm , tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and wheezing. In others, you might need emergency treatment. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised.

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Symptoms Wheezing. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Show References Irwin RS. Evaluation of wheezing illnesses other than asthma in adults. Accessed March 24, Oo S, et al.