Add to Favorites List Listen to This Page Download Real Audio Player WHEEZING Wheezing is a whistling, musical or puffing sound made as air is forced through narrowed or swollen airways. It is a sign of a restricted airway. If a person's airways become so narrowed that enough air cannot move in and out of the lungs, a medical emergency can result. Often wheezing is worse when breathing out or exhaling. Some of the causes for wheezing are: asthma an allergic reaction to airborne allergens a bad cold or lower respiratory infection, such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis objects, like food, stuck in the windpipe inhalation of irritants such as cigarette smoke or environmental factors like soot or dust chronic lung diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis a collapsed lung and lung cancer Try these self-care tips for temporary relief: use a humidifier that is thoroughly cleaned as directed by the manufacturer inhale the steam from a warm shower use breathing medications as directed avoid the use of over-the-counter inhalers, such as Primatine Mist, unless specifically recommended by your provider avoid airborne allergens such as molds and pollens avoid cigarette smoke and fumes from harsh chemicals cover your mouth and nose if you go out into the cold air get a flu vaccine every fall and get a pneumococcal vaccine if you have a chronic illness or are age 65 years or older Seek immediate medical evaluation for wheezing with signs of: shortness of breath with restlessness, confusion, and anxiety fast and irregular breathing weak, shallow, or slow breathing (less than 12 breaths per minute) bluish tinge around the lips or an inability to speak because it is difficult to breathe Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. HIL File SYMP5186.rf2 VRS# 5186 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1998, 2002-2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC All rights reserved.

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