With each breath, air travels through the nose or mouth down the throat and through the larynx where a small flap allows air to enter the windpipe and keeps food and liquids out of the airways. Two smaller airways, known as bronchi, branch off from the windpipe and enter each lung. The bronchi continue to branch out to many smaller airways. Many conditions and diseases irritate the bronchi and cause bronchospasms.
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis, an infection of the lower respiratory tract, is most common in infants between the ages of 2 and 6 months, reports Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. In bronchiolitis, the bronchioles swell and limit the amount of air in the smaller airways.
Symptoms of narrowing of the airways may include cough and a change in breathing, which includes wheezing. Other possible symptoms of bronchiolitis include a runny nose, fever, irritability and vomiting. Bronchiolitis is most often caused by a virus, so antibiotics are ineffective for treatment. Comfort measures and treatment of symptoms depend on the age and medical history of the child and can include oxygen therapy, frequent nasal suctioning to clear breathing passages and increased fluid intake.
Exercise-induced Asthma
Of the estimated 300 million people around the world living with asthma, many experience increased symptoms related to exercise. Exercise-induced asthma presents with symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath and a tight chest within five to 20 minutes of exercise, says the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Possible causes of exercise-induced asthma include inhaling cold, dry air through the mouth instead of through the nasal passage, which warms and moistens the air before it reaches the bronchioles. Treatment for bronchospasms related to exercise may include medications for better asthma control and focusing on activities such as walking, leisure biking and swimming, which do not tend to cause asthmatic symptoms.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction to allergens such as bee stings, peanuts, shellfish and some medications. During a reaction, histamine and other substances are released which cause the airways to tighten, explains MedlinePlus from the National Institutes of Health.
Symptoms of airway constriction from anaphylaxis may include difficulty breathing, wheezing, blue-toned skin from low oxygen intake and rapid pulse. Possible complications include respiratory and cardiac arrest. With immediate intervention to restore normal air passage, the outlook for recovery from anaphylaxis is usually good.
Emphysema
Emphysema, a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, occurs as the bronchioles are destroyed. As emphysema progresses, there is a reduction in the number of tiny air sacs that help process oxygen into the blood for circulation throughout the body.
Possible symptoms of emphysema include wheezing, chronic coughing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Complications of emphysema include dangerously low oxygen levels, which may require hospital admission for breathing support, notes MayoClinic.com. Some medications may help patients better manage emphysema symptoms.
Member Comments