Wheezing: Causes, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Management

What is wheezing?

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that can come out when you breathe. It usually occurs because the airways in your lungs are partly blocked or swollen. Wheezes are commonly heard when you exhale, suggesting a mild blocked airway. Having wheezing can make it hard to breathe, and you might also feel tightness in your chest. Wheezing may be a symptom of an underlying health condition^1,2

Wheezing may be a symptom of any of the following:

Conditions that causes narrowing of the airways or swelling of lungs such as COPD, asthma etc

Your voice box gets partially closed during breathing

Lung infections such as Pneumonia, viral infections etc

Acid reflux where stomach acid flows back into the throat.

Inhaled small substances that may have blocked the airway

Sleep apnea- where your breathing frequently stops and starts during sleep

Allergic reaction to pollen, dust & chemicals

Risk factors of wheezing

You're more likely to experience wheezing if you have certain risk factors. Some of the common risk factors include^4-6:

Smoking

Lung cancer

History of allergies in the family

Early birth

Things that can trigger allergies, like pollen, mold, dust etc

Frequent contact with infection causing bacteria & germs (children)

Diagnosis

To understand why you're wheezing, the doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms for a better diagnosis. They may ask you questions like⁷

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?

Do you wheeze more during the day, or at night?

Do you smoke?

The doctor will also hear your breathing using a stethoscope. Once the physical examination is done, the doctor might recommend additional tests to confirm it.

Mild wheezing that might occur along with symptoms of a cold or upper respiratory tract infection usually resolves with time on its own³. But some symptoms may require immediate medical attention.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if you develop wheezing with any of the following signs and symptoms:
Difficulty breathing
Rapid breathing

Seek emergency care if wheezing:
Begins suddenly after taking medication or eating a food that might cause an allergy.
Is followed by severe difficulty in breathing
Occurs after any substance (such as food or any object) blocks your throat.
Causes bluish tinge to the skin

Management of wheezing

Depending on the conditions or factors causing wheezing, the treatment may vary. Taking your prescribed medications can offer faster relief. Along with medications, you can also take a few steps to manage wheezing⁷:

Drink warm liquids to loosen mucus

Avoid smoking and stay away from people who smoke

Use a humidifier to keep the air warm

Reduce exposure to allergens

Reference

Gong H. Wheezing and Asthma [Internet]. Nih.gov. Butterworths; 2017. Available from:Click here
Understanding the symptoms of wheezing. WebMD. [cited 2024 Feb 28]. Available from:Click here
Mayo Clinic. Wheezing Causes [Internet]. Mayo Clinic. 2018. Available from:Click here
Moore K Wheezing: Definition, causes, treatments, and more [Internet]. Healthline. 2016 [cited 2024 Feb 28]. Available from: Click here
Bozaykut. Evaluation of Risk Factors for Recurrent Wheezing Episodes. Journal of Clinical Medicine Research. 2013;
Crist AP, Anna Maria Hibbs. Prematurity-associated wheeze: current knowledge and opportunities for further investigation. Pediatric Research [Internet]. 2022 Dec 3;94(1):74–81. Available from: Click here
Wheezing. WebMD. WebMD; 2002. Available from: Click here