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A wheeze is a clinical symptom of a continuous, coarse, whistling sound produced in the respiratory airways during breathing. [1] For wheezes to occur, part of the respiratory tree must be narrowed or obstructed (for example narrowing of the lower respiratory tract in an asthmatic attack), or airflow velocity within the respiratory tree must be heightened.
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]
Crackles are more common during the inspiratory than the expiratory phase of breathing, but they may be heard during the expiratory phase. Crackles are often described as fine, medium, and coarse. They can also be characterized as to their timing: fine crackles are usually late-inspiratory, whereas coarse crackles are early inspiratory.
Stertor (from Latin stertere 'to snore') is a term first used in 1804 [2] to describe a noisy breathing sound, such as snoring. [3] [4] It is caused by partial obstruction of the upper airways, at the level of the nasopharynx or oropharynx. [1] It is distinguished from stridor by its pitch. [4]
Cardiac asthma is the medical condition of intermittent wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath that is associated with underlying congestive heart failure (CHF). [1] Symptoms of cardiac asthma are related to the heart's inability to effectively and efficiently pump blood in a CHF patient. [ 2 ]
Stridor (from Latin 'creaking/grating noise') is an extra-thoracic high-pitched breath sound resulting from turbulent air flow in the larynx or lower in the bronchial tree. It is different from a stertor, which is a noise originating in the pharynx. Stridor is a physical sign which is caused by a narrowed or obstructed airway.
Other common symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), and chest pain. Exacerbations of symptoms may occur, these exacerbations occur more frequently in advanced or severe disease. [21] Systemic symptoms, including fevers, chills, night sweats, fatigue and weight loss may be seen with bronchiectasis. [21]
When the airways spasm or constrict in response to the irritating stimulus of the breathing tube, it is difficult to maintain the airway and the patient can become apneic. During general anesthesia, signs of bronchospasm include wheezing, high peak inspiratory pressures, increased intrinsic PEEP , decreased expiratory tidal volumes, and an ...