What do wheezing lung sounds indicate?
James Stevens
Updated on April 22, 2026
Wheezing. This high-pitched whistling noise can happen when you’re breathing in or out. It’s usually a sign that something is making your airways narrow or keeping air from flowing through them. Two of the most common causes of wheezing are lung diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
How do you describe wheezing?
Definition. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound made while breathing. It’s often associated with difficulty breathing. Wheezing may occur during breathing out (expiration) or breathing in (inspiration).
Where are wheezes heard in the lungs?
Wheezes are usually louder than the underlying breath sounds, and are often audible at the patient’s open mouth or by auscultation over the trachea and occasionally at some distance from the patient. [26] Rhonchi, being low pitch, are best heard over the chest wall.
What does wheezing wheezing sound like?
Wheezing is a high-pitched, coarse whistling sound when you breathe. Many people with respiratory allergies know that wheezing often comes with hay fever season.
What is the best remedy for wheezing?
Effective home remedies for wheezing include:
- Steam inhalation. Inhaling warm, moisture-rich air can be very effective for clearing the sinuses and opening up the airways.
- Hot drinks.
- Breathing exercises.
- Humidifiers.
- Air filters.
- Identifying and removing triggers.
- Allergy medications.
- Allergy immunotherapy.
What does it mean when you have a low pitched wheezing sound?
Rhonchi These low-pitched wheezing sounds sound like snoring and usually happen when you breathe out. They can be a sign that your bronchial tubes (the tubes that connect your trachea to your lungs) are thickening because of mucus. Rhonchi sounds can be a sign of bronchitis or COPD.
What does it mean when your lungs make noise when breathing?
May be heard in patients with edema in the lungs or ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). These are extra sounds heard MORE than 0.2 second during a full respiration cycle May be seen in children with conditions such as croup or epiglottitis or anyone with an airway obstruction etc.
What are the causes of wheezing in the lungs?
1. Foreign object 2. Asthma 3. Chronic bronchitis Watch out: If you have a patient that is having an asthma attack and their wheezing suddenly stops (but they are obviously struggling for air), maintain a patent (clear) airway as best you can, give oxygen per facility policy and call for help. Their airway may have become severely blocked.
What does a wheeze sound like when you expire?
Also known as: Sonorous Wheeze or Rhonchi Auscultated mainly in expiration but may be present at anytime Sounds like a low-pitched whistling tune or whine with ONE type of sound quality May be heard in patients with COPD or pneumonia etc.