{"id":49734,"date":"2022-03-08T09:30:46","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T14:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=49734"},"modified":"2025-11-29T17:13:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T22:13:44","slug":"wheezing-causes-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wheezing-causes-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"14 causes of wheezing\u2014and how to treat it"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever heard a whistling or rattling sound when you breathe? It could be wheezing, a sign that you\u2019re having difficulty getting air out of your lungs. Wheezing most often occurs when the small airways in the lungs (called bronchial tubes, or bronchioles) become blocked, constricted, or inflamed. Wheezing can happen because of respiratory conditions like asthma or pneumonia. But it can also be due to things like heart conditions, digestive issues, and even stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:6849,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;9&quot;:1,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}\" data-sheets-formula=\"=CONCATENATE(R[0]C[-2],R[0]C[-3],R[0]C[-1])\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wheezing is common and has many causes. In one study of adults aged 20-44, roughly <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20% reported wheezing<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the last year. Notably, babies, with their smaller airways, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are particularly prone.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In fact, nearly <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30% of babies will develop wheezing<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by a year of age. Some wheezing resolves without treatment. But chronic or serious cases need medical treatment. Here, what you need to know to breathe easier.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-does-wheezing-feel-like\">What does wheezing feel like?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wheezing is a shrill or high-pitched whistling sound made on inspiration or exhalation; however, it is much more common to occur with exhalation. This is called expiratory wheezing. When you wheeze, your chest may feel tight and breathing can be difficult. It feels like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inability to breathe out fully<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rapid, shallow breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"what-causes-wheezing\">What causes wheezing?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wheezing usually occurs when the air tubes in the lungs are inflamed. It can also occur when the muscles around the airways tighten, causing the airways to narrow. \u201cWhen a healthcare professional thinks of wheezing, they think of sounds coming from the lungs,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.tamu.edu\/care\/providers\/gabriel-neal.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gabriel Neal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, a clinical associate professor at Texas A&amp;M University College of Medicine. \u201cAnd that\u2019s generally only heard with a stethoscope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While wheezing-like sounds can emanate from the upper airways (like the nose or throat), the noise is most likely \u201ccongestion, snoring, or stridor,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaljewish.org\/doctors-departments\/jessica-hui-beckman\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jessica Hui<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, an allergy and immunology physician at National Jewish Health in Denver. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/stridor-versus-wheezing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stridor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a high-pitched but less musical sound than a wheeze and can result from viral infections like the croup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s unlikely that upper airway issues, such as post-nasal drip, sleep apnea (a sleep disorder where breathing stops and starts), or even allergies will result in wheezing. Ditto for vocal cord dysfunction, which occurs when the vocal cords shut when they should be open. Vocal cord dysfunction can occur due to viral infections, anxiety, or cigarette smoke, making it hard to get air into the lungs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPatients can usually decipher if the discomfort or noisy breathing is coming from the throat or in<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the chest,\u201d Dr. Hui adds. \u201cBut if it\u2019s a noise you\u2019re able to hear, it\u2019s more likely to be from the throat or upper airway, and not the lungs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the most common causes of wheezing are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asthma<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acute bronchitis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COPD<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reactive airway disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID-19<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pneumonia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bronchitis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lung cancer<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cystic fibrosis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congestive heart failure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GERD<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smoking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign object<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 id=\"respiratory-causes\">Respiratory causes<\/h3>\n<h4 id=\"1-asthma\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Asthma<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/asthma-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asthma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a chronic lung condition in which the lungs respond to certain triggers, such as exercise, smoke, allergies, or respiratory infections like the common cold, with swelling and wheezing. Other symptoms can include cough and chest tightness. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.liebertpub.com\/doi\/10.4187\/respcare.06714\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly 50% of people with asthma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> report wheezing as a symptom. If you experience wheezing at night, it could be a sign your asthma is not well-controlled.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"2-acute-bronchitis\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Acute bronchitis<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acute <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/bronchitis-treatment-and-medications#:~:text=How%20do%20doctors%20treat%20bronchitis,with%20any%20pain%20and%20inflammation.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bronchitis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a viral infection that inflames the bronchial tubes, which are the tubes that move air in and out of your lungs. In addition to wheezing, bronchitis can cause increased phlegm, chest tightness, a cough, fever, and chills. Unlike chronic bronchitis, which is long lasting, acute bronchitis generally comes on suddenly and runs its course in a few days to a couple of weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"3-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/copd-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COPD<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a group of progressively worsening lung diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD occurs when the tiny air sacs\u2014called alveoli\u2014that sit at the bottom of the bronchial tubes are destroyed and do not work well to exchange oxygen. Smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products causes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/8709-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">90% of COPD<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"4-reactive-airway-disease\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Reactive airway disease<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a medical condition similar to asthma. Sometimes, the body overreacts to a trigger (common ones include infections, allergens, cold air, and chemicals) causing swelling in the airways and an increase in mucus production. It can also cause the muscles around the airways to contract.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"5-covid-19\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. COVID-19<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID-19 is a viral infection that often affects the lungs; it causes airway inflammation and labored breathing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"6-pneumonia\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Pneumonia<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/pneumonia-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pneumonia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a viral or bacterial infection affecting the air sacs (alveoli). These air sacs become inflamed, fill with pus or fluid, and lead to breathing problems like wheezing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"7-bronchiolitis\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Bronchiolitis<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bronchiolitis is an infection of the small tubes (bronchioles) in the lungs. The infection produces swelling and mucus buildup, which causes to narrowed airways and wheezing. The most common culprit is a respiratory infection, particularly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/rsv\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">respiratory syncytial virus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (RSV), which is common in babies and young children.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"8-lung-cancer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Lung cancer<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/lung-cancer\/detection-diagnosis-staging\/signs-symptoms.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New onset of wheezing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is one of the most common symptoms of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/lung-cancer-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lung cancer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reports the American Cancer Society.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"9-cystic-fibrosis\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Cystic fibrosis<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wheezing is a common symptom in people with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/cystic-fibrosis-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cystic fibrosis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a genetic and progressively worsening lung condition characterized by thick mucus deep in the airways that causes difficulty breathing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"heart-issues\">Heart issues<\/h3>\n<h4 id=\"10-congestive-heart-failure\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Congestive heart failure<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/congestive-heart-failure-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congestive heart failure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (also called CHF or heart failure) occurs when the weakened or damaged heart doesn\u2019t effectively pump blood out to the body. Blood backs up into the lungs and leads to breathing problems. When wheezing is involved, CHF is called cardiac asthma. CHF generally affects the elderly; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1878501\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one third of these older CHF patients<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have cardiac asthma.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/chest-pain-causes-treatment\/\"><b>Causes of chest pain<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"gastrointestinal-issues\">Gastrointestinal Issues<\/h3>\n<h4 id=\"11-gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-gerd\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/gerd-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GERD<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, also called acid reflux, is when acid from the stomach contents comes up into the esophagus. This happens because the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach does not close tightly after food passes. \u201c[The acidic contents] can irritate the throat and sometimes even be inhaled into the lungs,\u201d says Dr. Hui. \u201cThis can cause respiratory symptoms like airway tightening, which can lead to wheezing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"lifestyle-causes\">Lifestyle causes<\/h3>\n<h4 id=\"12-smoking\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12. Smoking<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The chemicals in tobacco products are lung irritants. They inflame the airways and cause a buildup of mucus, both can cause wheezing. Young children who live with smokers and breathe in secondhand smoke are particularly susceptible to breathing problems. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America notes that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafa.org\/secondhand-smoke-environmental-tobacco-asthma\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40% of children who go to the emergency room because of asthma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> live with smokers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-quit-smoking\/\"><b>What happens when you quit smoking?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"13-stress\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13. Stress<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress and asthma can go hand in hand. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2077080\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of children who were exposed to high levels of stress had a three-fold increase in asthma symptoms in the weeks following the stress. Researchers suspect that stress may change the body&#8217;s inflammatory response to the irritants and allergens that often trigger asthma.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 id=\"14-foreign-body\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14. Foreign body<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wheezing can occur when a foreign body\u2014such as a piece of food or an object like a small toy\u2014gets inadvertently inhaled and lodged in the lungs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our allergies newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t<form class=\"form-wrapper\" data-newsletter-form=\"1\" data-subsource=\"Allergies Newsletter\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"dynamic-email\">Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" id=\"dynamic-email\" class=\"email\" required>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"submit-form-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to sign up\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"success-message\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"is-wheezing-serious\">Is wheezing serious?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wheezing is an indication that you\u2019re having problems breathing that can lead to a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical help if you or someone you\u2019re caring for has:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A severe problem breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passed out<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A bluish tint to skin (which indicates the body isn\u2019t getting enough oxygen)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wheezing that occurs suddenly, say after eating a particular food or taking a particular drug (this could signal a life-threatening anaphylaxis allergic reaction)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wheezing that occurs after ingesting a small object<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When is a call to the doctor warranted? If you hear or feel a wheeze, but breathing isn\u2019t labored and you don\u2019t experience any of the above symptoms, then make an appointment to see your physician. \u201cMy advice to patients is if you\u2019re super worried, go to the ER,\u201d Dr. Neal says. \u201cBut if you\u2019re not super worried and it doesn\u2019t seem like an emergency, it\u2019s still a good idea to reach out to your healthcare provider. Doctors know their patients best, and they can best tell you whether you need to come in and get seen or if you should head to the ER.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s also important to make an appointment with your provider if your wheezing never really improves or keeps coming back.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-stop-wheezing\">How to stop wheezing<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthcare providers will ask about your symptoms and diagnose wheezing by listening to your chest with a stethoscope. Other office tests, such as a spirometry reading in which you forcefully breathe out into a tube called a spirometer, can tell a physician how well your lungs are working. Depending on what your doctor may suspect is causing your wheezing, other tests, such as a pulmonary function test or a chest X-ray may be ordered.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medications<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What medications treat wheezing? Bronchodilators relax the airway muscles and are first-line treatment for wheezing. \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/albuterol-sulfate\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Albuterol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the classic rescue medication,\u201d notes Dr. Neal. It\u2019s a short-acting <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/bronchodilators\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bronchodilator<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> typically delivered via an inhaler or nebulizer (a machine that turns liquid medicine into a mist to be inhaled). It\u2019s considered a \u201crescue medication\u201d because it works quickly but doesn\u2019t give long-lasting results. Your provider may prescribe other bronchodilators or steroids to ease inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, treating the underlying cause of wheezing is an important component to controlling the symptoms. \u201cIf GERD is causing respiratory concerns, for example, then <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/heartburn-how-to-treat-nausea-and-stomachaches\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">treatment of the GERD<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is optimal,\u201d explains Dr. Hui. \u201cSometimes we find that the cause is multifactorial. The patient may have asthma, GERD, and stress\u2014in which case, it\u2019s important to address all contributing factors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"at-home-remedies-for-wheezing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At-home remedies for wheezing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are no at-home remedies for wheezing, but you can avoid what <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/asthma-attack-triggers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">triggers your asthma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Get vaccines to protect yourself against the flu and COVID-19. If GERD is an issue, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/gerd-diet\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">avoid foods that can lead to acid reflux<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as alcohol, chocolate, and tomato products, don\u2019t eat within three hours of bedtime, and sleep with your head propped up. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-treat-a-cold\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you have a cold<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or your child has the croup, increase fluid intake and use a humidifier to help thin mucus secretions. While these measures won\u2019t decrease inflammation in the lungs, they can ease congestion so you can move air in and out of your upper airway more easily. For persistent wheezing, it\u2019s best to get professional medical advice from a physician. If you have shortness of breath, visit an emergency department or call 911.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever heard a whistling or rattling sound when you breathe? It could be wheezing, a sign that you\u2019re having difficulty getting air out of your lungs. Wheezing most often occurs when the small airways in the lungs (called bronchial tubes, or bronchioles) become blocked, constricted, or inflamed. Wheezing can happen because of respiratory [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":50443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[10965,737,8905],"coauthors":[10462],"class_list":["post-49734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-asthma","tag-heart-health","tag-seasonal","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What causes wheezing and how can I treat it?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wheezing occurs when there&#039;s a blockage or inflammation in the airways. There are several respiratory, heart, GI, and lifestyle causes. 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