Wheezing: When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you or your child have ever gone to the doctor with a cough, you may have been asked if you have noticed any wheezing. Wheezing is a shrill whistle or course grumble that occurs when there is swelling in the airways, making it more difficult to breathe.

Wheezing is a sign that someone is not breathing as well as they should. It could mean the person is not getting as much oxygen as they need. This article discusses different types of wheezing, including wheezing coughs, conditions that can cause wheezing, and when you should seek medical attention for wheezing.

What Wheezing Sounds Like

Wheezing is simply a whistling or grumbling sound made when breathing. It is typically heard when a person exhales (breathes out) and sounds like a high-pitched whistle. It can also occur on the inhale, which is especially common with a wheezing cough.

Wheezing is not simply loud breathing or the sound of congestion or mucus when you breathe. It is a sign of airway inflammation. Wheezing and wheezing coughs are typically accompanied by chest tightness.

Conditions where wheezing often occurs include:

• Asthma
• Croup
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• RSV (children)
• Other respiratory illnesses

Wheezing is usually a sign that there is a problem with the lungs. It is most often caused by swelling in the lower airway. It can be a medical emergency if not treated quickly.

What to Do

If you suspect your child is wheezing, contact her healthcare provider right away. If she has never wheezed before, she will likely need to be seen by her pediatrician so they can figure out what is wrong and how to treat her.

Treatment depends on the severity of the illness and how much difficulty she is having with her breathing.

If you feel that you are wheezing, contact your healthcare provider or seek medical attention. If you have a history of wheezing, then you should have a treatment plan in place and know what to do. If you follow your plan and it does not help, seek medical attention right away.

If you do not have any medications available to treat wheezing, sitting in a bathroom with the shower turned on as hot as it will get may help. Make sure you close the door and don't sit in the water, just sit in the bathroom and breathe in the steamy air.

If you have signs of a severe allergic reaction that occurs with the wheezing, such as tongue or lip swelling, vomiting, dizziness, rash or feeling like the throat is closing, call 911 or seek emergency medical attention right immediately.