Wheezing is a whistling noise on inhalation or exhalation that is high-pitched. It results from air passing through constricted breathing tubes within the lungs.
Wheezing is a whistling noise on inhalation or exhalation that is high-pitched. It results from air passing through constricted breathing tubes within the lungs. Those who have respiratory allergies know that wheezing often comes with hay fever season. It also happens because of respiratory infections such as acute bronchitis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are the common causes.
What causes Wheezing?
There might be many reasons mentioned or not mentioned, some causes of wheezing may include any of the following:
- Asthma
- Breathing a foreign object into the airways to the lungs.
- Damage and widening of the large airways in the lungs.
- Swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs.
- Swelling and mucus buildup in the main passages that carry air to the lungs.
- Acid reflux disease
- Heart failure
- Insect sting that causes an allergic reaction
- Certain medicines
- Pneumonia
- Smoking
- Viral infection, especially in infants younger than age 2
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially when a respiratory infection is present.
What does it show?
Wheezing signs that an individual might be experiencing breathing issues. Wheezing is heard most clearly while exhaling. Wheezing can also be heard while inhaling.
Wheezing is usually from the small air passages (bronchial tubes) inside the lungs. But it can result from a narrowing in larger airways or in individuals with some problems of the vocal cords.
When to seek medical help?
Contact at Ganesh Diagnostic Centre or best imaging centre near you to book a test for wheezing problem-
- If it occurs for the first time.
- Occurs with significant shortness of breath, bluish skin, confusion, or mental status changes.
- Keeps occurring without explanation.
- Is caused by an allergic reaction to a bite or medicine.
- Trouble breathing
- Fast breathing.
- Skin that briefly turns blue.
- After you choke on a bit of food.
How to diagnose wheezing issues?
To diagnose this condition, you need to go for the imaging tests at Ganesh Diagnostic and imaging center. Imaging tests such as-
- X-rays to get a picture of your lungs
- Lung function tests to see how well they’re working
- Blood test to check your oxygen levels (Those that are too low could signal a lung problem.)
Your doctor may ask you a series of questions to find the reason behind wheezing, questions such as-
- Do you wheeze more during the day, or at night?
- Does rest help control it?
- Do you wheeze when you breathe in, or out, or both in and out?
- Do you smoke?
- How long have you been wheezing?
- Does it happen when you exercise?
- Do certain foods seem to cause your wheezing?
- Do you wheeze all the time?
How to control wheezing?
There are many ways of controlling wheezing at home such as-
- Keep the air humid. Utilize a humidifier, take a warm, steamy shower, or stay in the bathroom with the door closed when taking a hot shower.
- Have a warm drink. It calms your airways and thins sticky mucus.
- Don't smoke. And stay away from people who do.
- Obey the orders of your doctor. Have your medicines exactly as instructed.
- Freshen the air. Utilize an air cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. This will reduce allergens that tend to cause asthma attacks.
Breathing Exercises for Wheezing
You can breathe easier if your lungs work better. These can help:
- Pursed-lip breathing: Take air in through your nose. Take out for two seconds, lips pursed like whistling.
- Belly breathing. Breathe in through your nose: Place your hands on your belly and notice how it rises. Breathe out through your mouth for at least two to three times longer than you breathed in.
Conclusion
Wheezing could be an acute or chronic health issue. It is important to understand the cause of wheezing. You can control this at home but if not in control you need to go for lung screening tests. Lung screening tests such as -
- Lung cancer package (Book Now)
- HRCT Lungs (Book Now)
- PFT (Book Now)
- X- Ray PFT (Book Now)
- Lung Expert: Pulmonologist (Book Now)
- LiquiCore Lung Panel (Book Now)
To help in diagnosing, your doctor may ask a series of questions from you. It is important to understand when medical care is needed or not.
FAQS
Q. What is Wheezing?
Wheezing refers to a whistling sound on inhalation or exhalation that is high-pitched.
Q. What are the tests that help in diagnosing wheezing issues?
At the best diagnostic centre in Delhi, the Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre, here are many tests performed to diagnose issues like Lung cancer package, PFT, X0- ray PFT etc, click here to know all other lung related tests at Ganesh Diagnostic.
Q. Do dairy products cause Asthama?
There is no connection between dairy products and asthma but if you’ve allergic to a particular dairy product, it might trigger asthma.
