PharmEasy Blog

All You Need To Know About Wheezing!

Wheezing is caused when the airways of the lungs get constricted or narrowed. It causes a whistling sound when an individual exhales air and if the wheezing is severe, it can be heard when the individual exhales too. One of the important wheezing facts is that the labored breath can be accompanied by a feeling of chest tightening. Anyone can get wheezing but there are a few people who are more prone to it than others.  Risk factors like allergies, cancer, past or current smokers, hereditary illness, etc can make individuals prone to wheezing. Children are especially prone to wheezing for the first few years of their life but this does not imply that they have asthma. If the child has severe allergies and persistent wheezing, this could indicate asthma. Consulting the right doctor could enable you to find out the exact severity of your child’s wheezing and the precautions that need to be taken for your child’s health. Wheezing can be a symptom of bronchospasm, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), excess mucous secretion, swelling of the inner lining of airways, asthma, etc. It is important that one does not confuse asthma with wheezing. Asthma disables a person to breathe properly because of the constriction of the airways. An individual exposed to asthma triggers like pollen, dust, mold, viruses, etc finds breathing in and out difficult. The symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness of the chest, etc. There isn’t a proper cure for asthma but it is considered to be a manageable condition. Knowing more about wheezing facts includes requirement proper diagnosis and treatment. Doctors could prescribe anti-inflammatory or quick-acting medications or both depending upon your condition. Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed when there is excess mucous and inflammation in the small airways. Inhalers are quite common anti-inflammatory medication and children are generally given syrups to relieve the inflammation. Quick-acting medications include breathing tubes or bronchodilators. It helps relax the muscles which encircle the breathing tubes in your lungs. Home remedies can also aid in relieving the effects of wheezing. Home remedies include keeping the house atmosphere humid and warm (cold & dry weather can worsen wheezing). Some supplements and natural herbs can also alleviate the symptoms of a wheeze but consulting a doctor before doing so would be a good idea. If there are severe symptoms like non-stop coughing for more than an hour, severe shortness of breath even after using an inhaler, coughing grey or green phlegm or even blood, rush to the doctor immediately.A few of the major points under wheezing facts are that the major setback of wheezing is that it can have serious underlying conditions that have to be treated to avoid further complications. If there are symptoms of COPD or chronic asthma, individuals need long-term treatment. Short-term illnesses with wheeze usually disappear when a person gets well. Though it is difficult to completely avoid the allergens or allergy triggers around you, it would help if you can take preventive measures (like covering your nose during spring/autumn) for yourself and for your kids. It is advisable that you don’t discontinue the prescribed medicines without the consent of your doctor, as it can lead to damaging relapses. Following the doctor’s prescribed medication along with the home remedies would help keep wheezing under check and improve your symptoms. Keep reading about more wheezing facts to deal with it.  
Disclaimer:  The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

1