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Crackles are the clicking, rattling, or crackling noises that may be made by one or both lungs of a human with a respiratory disease during inhalation, and occasionally during exhalation. They are usually heard only with a stethoscope ("on auscultation"). Pulmonary crackles are abnormal breath sounds that were formerly referred to as rales. [2]
Respiratory sounds, also known as lung sounds or breath sounds, are the specific sounds generated by the movement of air through the respiratory system. [1] These may be easily audible or identified through auscultation of the respiratory system through the lung fields with a stethoscope as well as from the spectral characteristics of lung sounds. [2]
A death rattle is noisy breathing that often occurs in someone near death. [1] Accumulation of fluids such as saliva and bronchial secretions in the throat and upper airways is the cause. [ 2 ] Those who are dying may lose their ability to swallow and may have increased production of bronchial secretions, resulting in such an accumulation. [ 3 ]
Cheyne–Stokes respiration is a breathing pattern consisting of alternating periods of rapid and slow breathing, which may result from a brain stem injury. [12] Cheyne-Stokes respiration may be observed in newborn babies, but this is occasionally physiological (normal). Chest retractions may be observed in patients with asthma.
Agonal breathing is a severe medical sign requiring immediate medical attention, as the condition generally progresses to complete apnea and preludes death. The duration of agonal respiration can range from two breaths to several hours of labored breathing.
Shortness of breath out of proportion to effort being expended. [2] [7] Rapid, heavy or uneven breathing, or uncontrollable coughing. [10] Crackles, rattling or ‘junky’ feelings deep in the chest associated with breathing effort – usually progressively worsening with increasing shortness of breath and may be cause for a panic attack [2] [7]
Clinicians may be able to get a working diagnosis from abnormal movement or shape of the chest in cases such as pneumothorax or haemothorax; Listening to external breath sounds a short distance from the patient can reveal dysfunction such as a rattling noise (indicative of secretions in the airway) or stridor (which indicates airway obstruction)
This is a valuable tool in physical diagnosis used by medical personnel when auscultating the chest. Often, the patient does not have to speak for the provider to hear signs of bronchophony. Rather, the normal breath sounds are increased in loudness – referred to by doctors as "increased breath sounds" – over the affected area of the lungs ...