Wheezing - The Hallmark Asthma Symptom

Wheezing is a common asthma symptom. It is characterized by a sound, similar to that of a high-pitched whistle, that is heard as you breathe through your mouth or nose. It is most commonly heard when someone exhales, but may also occur when inhaling. Wheezing occurs when the small airways deep in your chest narrow and air has a harder time flowing through them as a result.

One reason this narrowing occurs is due to the inflammatory response that is part of asthma. Wheezing could also be caused by non-asthma conditions, such as a blockage of the bronchial tubes or certain vocal cord problems.

Learn More:

• Asthma Symptoms Overview
• What Happens in the Lungs When You Have Asthma?
• What Wheezing Sounds Like

What It Means

Wheezing is a sign that something is wrong, and it should not be ignored. This is especially true if it occurs frequently, or if it gets worse as time goes on. Wheezing is the main symptom associated with asthma, especially in children. When it occurs with these other symptoms, your doctor may suspect that asthma is at the root of your problems:

• Chronic cough, especially at night
• Difficulty breathing
• Feeling of tightness in the chest

Further testing and an assessment of your family medical history will be required to confirm the diagnosis.

Learn More:

• How Asthma is Diagnosed
• Spirometry Pulmonary Function Testing

When to Contact a Doctor

If wheezing is a new problem and you have not yet been diagnosed with asthma, then you should definitely see a doctor to get checked out. When you visit the doctor, try to bring as much information as possible. Keeping a symptom diary can be helpful in seeing when and where wheezing occurs. For example, is it happening after you come into contact with animals? When you go outdoors in the winter time? During or following strenuous exercise?

All of the above are what are known as asthma triggers, or things that set off asthma symptoms. Identifying that there are triggers, and then starting to avoid them, will help you prevent more severe problems from occurring in the future.

Besides keeping track of when and where you wheeze, you may also want to take notes about the following:

• How long the wheezing lasts
• Whether it goes away on its own or if treatment is needed
• What the wheezing sounds like

The important thing to remember is that wheezing is a sign that something in your airways is not working as it should. If you've never been diagnosed with asthma, then this is a sign that you should call your doctor. If you are being treated for asthma and still wheezing, it's likely that your treatment isn't working adequately. When asthma is under control, you should not experience wheezing.

If you have an Asthma Action Plan, check it to see what actions to take for wheezing. If you don't have one yet, work with your doctor to help you develop one as soon as you are feeling better. And be sure to talk with your doctor as soon as possible about what steps to take now to relieve the wheezing.

Learn More:

• How to Keep a Symptom Diary
• Asthma Triggers Overview
• Tips for Talking With Your Doctor

^{Source: Kaufman, David. "Wheezing." MedlinePlus. 08 07 2006 . US National Library of Medicine. 20 Dec 2007 <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003070.htm>}