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Breath Sounds

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Definition

Breath sounds are the noises produced by the structures of the lungs during breathing. See also: Wheezing



Alternative names

Lung sounds; Breathing sounds



Causes

Acute bronchitis Asthma Bronchiectasis Chronic bronchitis Emphysema Interstitial lung disease Foreign body obstruction of the airway Pneumonia Pulmonary edema Tracheobronchitis



Definition

Breath sounds are the noises produced by the structures of the lungs during breathing.

See also: Wheezing

Alternative names

Lung sounds; Breathing sounds

Causes

Considerations

The lung sounds are best heard with a stethoscope. This is called auscultation.

Normal lung sounds occur in all parts of the chest area, including above the collarbones and at the bottom of the rib cage. Using a stethoscope, the doctor may hear normal breath sounds, decreased or absent breath sounds, and abnormal breath sounds.

Absent or decreased sounds can mean:

  • Air or fluid around the lungs
  • Increased thickness of the chest wall
  • Over-inflation of a part of the lungs (emphysema can cause this)
  • Reduced airflow to part of the lungs

There are several types of abnormal breath sounds. The 4 most common are:

  • Rales
  • Rhonchi
  • Stridor
  • Wheezing

Rales are small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lung. They are believed to occur when air opens closed air spaces. Rales can be further described as moist, dry, fine, and coarse.

Rhonchi are sounds that resemble snoring. They occur when air is blocked or becomes rough through the large airways.

Wheezes are high-pitched sounds produced by narrowed airways. They can be heard when a person breathes out (exhales). Wheezing and other abnormal sounds can sometimes be heard without a stethoscope.

Stridor is a wheeze-like sound heard when a person breathes out (exhales). Usually it is due to an obstruction of airflow in the windpipe (trachea) or in the back of the throat.

When to contact a medical professional

Nasal flaring and cyanosis are emergency symptoms. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath can be an emergency condition. Seek immediate medical care if you have any of these symptoms.

Contact your health care provider if you have wheezing or other abnormal breathing sounds.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history and your breathing.

Questions may include:

  • When did the breathing sound start?
  • How long did it last?
  • How would you describe your breathing?
  • What makes it better or worse?
  • What other symptoms do you have?

The health care provider usually discovers abnormal breath sounds. You may not even notice them.

The following tests may be done:

Content provided by:

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Review Date: 11/12/2007

Reviewed By: Andrew Schriber, M.D., F.C.C.P., Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, New Jersey. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.11/12/2007

Breath Sounds Videos

Breath Sounds Articles

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    ... will be evaluated such as shortness of breath, fatigue and excess sputum production. Your doctor will evaluate lung sounds and listen for wheezing or decreased breath sounds.

  • Asthma Symptoms in Adults

    ...ommon sign of asthma. When an asthmatic breathes in air that has pollutants in it, the muscles around the lungs can constrict causing him to cough. This can be seen when he walks across a fresh ...

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Images provided by Google

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Conversations On Breath Sounds

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      ... your body gets at using the oxygen you breathe in. Read More

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      ...ollapse with aerobics! I get so out of breath and then I have to stop. But if that's true, I will try to add a few more minutes on each time I do it. Do you think that will help? Read More

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      ... it!!!!  I'm washing clothes--that sounds better. I'll check back in later--have a great day--love you all.   Read More

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      LOL doing laundry, washing laundry...sounds like fun to me!  Sue it's really odd..it's all down my left arm..no idea what went wrong there! LOL Read More

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Breath Sounds Blogs

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Virtually every parent has some anxiety about their infant's breathing during those first few months. It's not a pleasant topic, but SIDS is a fear of most parents. Now there is a monitor that will track your baby's movement and sounds so you can have...

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