Wheezing is the shrill whistle or coarse rattle you hear when your airway is partially blocked. A high-pitched whistling sound made while breathing. Inflammation and narrowing of the airway in any location, from your throat out into your lungs, can result in wheezing.
The most common causes of recurrent wheezing are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which both cause narrowing and spasms (bronchospasms) in the small airways of your lungs.
However, any inflammation in your throat or larger airways can cause wheezing. Common causes include infection, an allergic reaction, or physical obstruction, such as a tumor or a foreign object that’s been inhaled.
It might be blocked because of an allergic reaction, a cold, bronchitis or allergies. Wheezing is also a symptom of asthma, pneumonia, heart failure and more
All of the following conditions can lead to wheezing:
- Allergies
- Anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction, such as to an insect bite or medication)
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis (a chronic lung condition in which abnormal widening of bronchial tubes inhibits mucus clearing)
- Bronchiolitis (especially in young children)
- Bronchitis
- Childhood asthma
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) exacerbation — worsening of symptoms
- Emphysema
- Epiglottitis (swelling of the “lid” of your windpipe)
- Foreign object inhaled: First aid
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Heart failure
- Lung cancer
- Medications (particularly aspirin)
- Sleep apnea, obstructive (a condition in which breathing stops and starts during sleep)
- Pneumonia
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — especially in young children
- Respiratory tract infection (especially in children younger than 2)
- Smoking
- Vocal cord dysfunction (a condition that affects vocal cord movement)
Self-treatment of Wheezing
Drinking fluids, using a humidifier or taking a steamy shower may help reduce wheezing. Avoiding tobacco smoke and wearing a mask when around dust, fumes, or gases may also help.