Wheezing

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Lungs

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing. It occurs when air flows through narrowed breathing tubes.

Sibilant rhonchi

Wheezing is a sign that a person may be having breathing problems. The sound of wheezing is most obvious when exhaling (breathing out), but may be heard when taking a breath (inhaling).

Wheezing most often comes from the small bronchial tubes (breathing tubes deep in the chest), but it may be due to a blockage in larger airways or in those with certain vocal cord problems.

• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Bronchiolitis
• Bronchitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Viral infection, especially in infants younger than 2 years old
• Pneumonia
• Emphysema (COPD), especially when a respiratory infection is present
• Smoking
• Insect sting which causes an allergic reaction
• Medications (particularly aspirin)
• Breathing a foreign object into the lungs
• Heart failure (cardiac asthma)

Review Date: 08/07/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.