The most important thing to keep in mind is that wheezing is never normal.
In either instance, the breath does not easily move in and out of the lungs.
As air is forced through obstructed pathways, the whistling sound characteristic of wheezing occurs.
Brianna Gilmartin / Verywell
A number of issues can create an obstruction in the airways.
Three of the most common are asthma, COPD, and vocal cord dysfunction.
Asthma can be well controlled with proper care.
In the case of childhood asthma, children tend to “grow out of it.”
Symptoms cease with no lingering effects.
There is no cure for the irreversible damage to the lungs.
While COPD symptoms can be managed, the disease will continue to progress and become more debilitating with time.
Other symptoms may include shortness of breath and chest or neck tightness.
VCD’s symptoms are so similar to asthma that it is sometimes called vocal cord asthma.
Psychological factors are also thought to play a role in VCD in some patients.
Among these less common causes of wheezing are:
Is It Really Wheezing?
Nasal congestion can result in a sound that mimics a wheeze but isn’t.
And some children’s diseases (such as croup) result instridor, which some confuse with wheezing.
Stridor is distinct and often described as the sound a seal makes.
Genetic Disorders and Birth Defects
Wheezing is related to a variety of complicated disorders.
CFTR Mutation
Cystic fibrosis is one of the more common genetic diseases.
With CHF, the heart cannot adequately pump blood through the body.
Along with the wheezing, you may have a persistent cough that produces blood-tinged mucus.
Lifestyle Risk Factors
Some causes of wheezing cannot be controlled.
However, there are several modifiable factors that can lower your risk for conditions that cause breathing difficulty.
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