Why does wheezing occur in bronchial asthma

Inhaling warm, moisture-rich air can be very effective for clearing the sinuses and opening up the airways. Peppermint essential oil may have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. Research from suggests that it may relax the muscles of the respiratory system, which could help to relieve wheezing and other respiratory problems.

Peppermint essential oils can be purchased from drug stores or online. If a steam bath does not appeal to you, a sauna room or hot shower can also help loosen congestion. Gently tapping on the back or chest and breathing deeply can help the steam work even better. A study found that eating one tablespoon of honey twice a day, along with other treatments, helped to relieve throat congestion.

Some people find that peppermint or other menthol teas work well. A person can try experimenting with different teas to find one that helps. Breathing exercises may help with COPD, bronchitis , allergies, and other common causes of wheezing. A study found that certain yoga-inspired breathing techniques could help with breathing difficulties related to bronchial asthma, including wheezing.

Breathing exercises often include deep, regular inhalations and exhalations. A doctor or respiratory therapist can help with deciding the most effective breathing techniques.

A person may find that they have trouble breathing during a panic attack. Deep breathing exercises can also assist here. It may help to try slow breathing, focusing on breathing deeply into the stomach, and counting breathes.

During the dry winter months, wheezing often gets worse. A humidifier in the bedroom can help loosen congestion and reduce the severity of wheezing. Air humidifiers can be found at some supermarkets or online stores. Many conditions that cause wheezing can get worse when the air is polluted or in response to allergens. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

Top of the page. Topic Overview Wheezing is a whistling noise that occurs when the bronchial tubes , which carry air to the lungs, narrow because of inflammation or mucus buildup. Wheezing also is more likely to occur in children who: Are male. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Request Appointment. Symptoms Wheezing. Definition Causes When to see a doctor.

Products and services. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Irwin RS. Evaluation of wheezing illnesses other than asthma in adults. Accessed March 24, Oo S, et al. Control is classified as. Impairment refers to the limitations symptoms place on daily life. Impairment due to asthma is determined by asking.

Other factors, such as measures of lung function, how often nighttime awakenings occur, responses to standardized questionnaires, and what drugs are used to treat asthma, are also used to determine the severity, control, and impairment of asthma. Risk refers to the likelihood of future asthma attacks, decreases in lung function, and side effects related to the drugs taken to control asthma.

Doctors monitor risk with spirometry measurements which measure lung function over time as well as factors such as how often the person needs to receive certain oral corticosteroids or to be hospitalized to control asthma symptoms.

Doctors confirm the diagnosis by doing breathing tests pulmonary function tests Pulmonary Function Testing PFT Pulmonary function tests measure the lungs' capacity to hold air, to move air in and out, and to absorb oxygen. Pulmonary function tests are better at detecting the general type and severity The most important of these tests are measures of the amount of air a person can blow out in one second.

These tests are done before and after giving the person an inhaled drug, called a beta-adrenergic drug or beta-adrenergic agonist , that reverses airway narrowing. If test results are significantly better after the person receives the drug, asthma is thought to be present. If the airways are not narrowed at the time of the test, a challenge test can help confirm the diagnosis. In a challenge test, pulmonary function is measured before and after the person inhales a chemical usually methacholine, but histamine, adenosine , or bradykinin may be used that can narrow the airways.

The chemical is given in doses that are too low to affect a person with healthy lungs but that cause the airways to narrow in a person with asthma. Repeatedly measuring lung function over time allows doctors to determine the severity of the airway obstruction and the effectiveness of treatment.

To test for exercise-induced asthma, an examiner uses pulmonary function tests to measure how much air the person can exhale in 1 second before and after the person exercises on a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Pulmonary function tests Pulmonary Function Testing PFT Pulmonary function tests measure the lungs' capacity to hold air, to move air in and out, and to absorb oxygen.

The interstitial space consists A chest x-ray is usually not helpful in diagnosing asthma. Doctors use chest x-rays when considering another diagnosis. However, a chest x-ray is often obtained when a person with asthma needs to be hospitalized for a severe attack. Allergy testing is appropriate when there is a suspicion that some avoidable substance for example, exposure to cat dander is provoking attacks. Skin testing Skin testing Allergic reactions hypersensitivity reactions are inappropriate responses of the immune system to a normally harmless substance.

However, an allergic response to a skin test does not necessarily mean that the allergen being tested is causing the asthma. The person still has to note whether attacks occur after exposure to this allergen. If doctors suspect a particular allergen, a blood test that measures the level of antibody produced in response to the allergen the radioallergosorbent test [RAST] can be done to determine the degree of the person's sensitivity to the allergen.

Because people who are having a severe asthma attack commonly have low blood oxygen levels, doctors may check the level of oxygen by using a sensing monitor on a finger or ear oximetry. In severe attacks, doctors also need to measure levels of carbon dioxide in the blood Arterial Blood Gas ABG Analysis and Pulse Oximetry Both arterial blood gas testing and pulse oximetry measure the amount of oxygen in the blood, which helps determine how well the lungs are functioning.

Arterial blood gas tests are invasive However, carbon dioxide levels can sometimes be monitored in the person's breath using a sensor placed in front of the nose or mouth. Doctors may also check lung function, usually with a spirometer a mouthpiece and tubing connected to a recording device that is used to measure air flow in the lungs or with a peak flow meter.

Usually, a chest x-ray is needed only when asthma attacks are severe, in order to rule out other serious conditions such as a lung collapse. Older people are more likely to have other lung diseases that also cause shortness of breath such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is persistent narrowing blocking, or obstruction of the airways occurring with emphysema, chronic obstructive bronchitis, or both disorders.

Often, in these people diagnosis involves a brief trial of drugs that are used to treat asthma to see whether the person's condition improves. Most of the drugs used to treat an asthma attack can be used often in lower doses to prevent attacks.

See also Asthma An array of drugs can be used to prevent and treat asthma in adults or in children see also Treatment of Asthma in Children Treatment Asthma is a recurring inflammatory lung disorder in which certain stimuli triggers inflame the airways and cause them to temporarily narrow, resulting in difficulty breathing.

Doctors may use the term "rescue treatment" to describe treatment of an acute attack and "maintenance treatment" to describe treatments aimed at preventing attacks. Most of the drugs used to prevent asthma attacks are also used to treat an asthma attack but in higher doses or in different forms.

Some people need to use more than one drug to prevent and treat their symptoms. Anti-inflammatory drugs suppress the inflammation that narrows the airways.

Anti-inflammatory drugs include corticosteroids which can be inhaled, taken by mouth, or given intravenously , leukotriene modifiers, and mast cell stabilizers. Bronchodilators help to relax and widen dilate the airways. Bronchodilators include beta-adrenergic drugs both those for quick relief of symptoms and those for long-term control , anticholinergics, and methylxanthines. Immunomodulators, drugs that directly alter the immune system are sometimes used for people with severe asthma, but most people do not need immunomodulators.

These drugs block substances in the body that cause inflammation. Education about how to prevent and treat asthma attacks is beneficial for all people who have asthma and often for their family members.

Proper use of inhalers is essential for effective treatment. People should know. Some people use a handheld peak flow meter to evaluate their breathing and determine when they need intervention, before their symptoms become severe. People who experience frequent, severe asthma attacks should know how to reach help quickly. Peak expiratory flow the fastest rate at which air can be pushed out of the lungs can be measured using a small handheld device called a peak flow meter.

This test can be used at home to monitor the severity of asthma. People with moderate to severe asthma, particularly those who need daily treatment to control symptoms, often use a peak flow meter to take measurements and compare them to their personal best to help identify signs of worsening asthma or the onset of an asthma attack.

All people with asthma should have a written treatment action plan that was devised in collaboration with their doctor. Such a plan allows them to take control of their own treatment and has been shown to decrease the number of times people need to seek care for asthma in the emergency department.

An asthma attack can be frightening, both to the person experiencing it and to others around. Even when relatively mild, the symptoms provoke anxiety and alarm. A severe asthma attack is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate, skilled, professional care. If not treated adequately and quickly, a severe asthma attack can cause death. An acute attack in a person whose asthma has been controlled by drugs is called an exacerbation or flare-up.

People who have a mild asthma attack are usually able to treat it without assistance from a health care practitioner. Typically, they use an inhaler to deliver a dose of a short-acting beta-adrenergic drug such as albuterol , move into fresh air away from cigarette smoke or other irritants , and sit down and rest.

They can use the inhaler 3 times 20 minutes apart if needed.