Wheezing is defined by Medline Plus as a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs during breathing when air travels through narrowed airways. Wheezing is most audible during exhalation but may also be heard lightly during inhalation. Wheezing is a sign that there is a problem that is disrupting normal breathing. There a number of conditions that can cause difficulty breathing.
Asthma
Asthma is a condition characterized the inflammation of the airways, as well as the extra production of mucus by the lungs. The inflammation of the airways causes them to narrow. This narrowing, combined with the excess mucus, makes breathing difficult. The exact cause of asthma is unknown, but it is believed to occur as a result of a combination of genetic factors and environmental triggers, such as airborne allergens and increased physical activity, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most common symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Other symptoms include chest tightness, chest pain and trouble sleeping due to coughing fits. Asthma is usually treated with a combination of quick-relief and long-term medications. Quick-relief medications consist of inhalers containing corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in the airways as quickly as possible. Long-term medications are usually taken every day and help prevent narrowing of the airways and resulting asthma symptoms.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is another condition characterized by the inflammation of the airways. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viral infections, such as a cold, that start in the nose and spread to the airways, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Chronic bronchitis is a gradually developing condition that is most often a result of smoking. Symptoms of bronchitis include wheezing, mucus-filled cough, burning in the chest, sore throat, fever, fatigue, shortness of breathing and swelling in the legs. Acute bronchitis usually clears up without treatment, but if the inflammation is caused by a virus, antibiotics may be prescribed. The first step in treatment for chronic bronchitis is to quit smoking. Medications that may be used to treat chronic bronchitis include bronchodilators, which are medications that open airways, and corticosteroids, which help reduce inflammation.
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a condition characterized by the widening and eventual destruction of the large airways in the lungs. The widening is caused by a chronic inflammation that is either congenital, which means present from birth, or acquired due to recurrent lung infections, obstruction of the airways or a tumor. Cystic fibrosis is the cause of bronchiectasis in half of all cases in the United States, according to Medline Plus. Symptoms of bronchiectasis usually develop gradually and include wheezing, breath odor, chronic cough, coughing up blood, fatigue, shortness of breath, paleness and weight loss. Daily drainage of lung secretions is an important part of treatment of bronchiectasis. Other treatment consists of breathing exercises, antibiotics and bronchodilators. Surgery to repair the lung may be needed if other treatment options are not effective.
