Wheezing Health Article

Definition

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound associated with labored breathing.

Description

Wheezing occurs when a person tries to breathe deeply through air passages (bronchia) that are narrowed because of muscle contractions or filled with mucus as a result of: allergy, infection, illness, or irritation. Wheezing is experienced by 10-15% of the population.

Wheezing most commonly occurs when a person is exhaling. It is sometimes accompanied by a mild sensation of tightness in the chest. Anxiety about not being able to breathe easily can cause muscle tension that makes the wheezing worse.

Causes & symptoms

Wheezing is the symptom most associated with asthma. It can be aggravated by dry air and high altitude. A 2001 study also found a connection between nighttime wheezing/asthma and gastroesophageal reflux, or the flow of stomach acid backward into the lower part of the esophagus. Wheezing can be caused by:

• exposure to allergens (food, pollen, and other substances that cause a person to have an allergic reaction)
• fumes
• ice-cold drinks, or very cold air
• medication
• strenuous exercise
• weather changes
• foreign objects trapped in the airway
• cystic fibrosis and other genetic disorders
• respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, bronchitis, congestive heart failure, and emphysema

The symptoms of wheezing are: labored breathing, whistling sound upon breathing, shortness of breath, and a tight or heavy feeling in the chest.

Medical emergencies

Breathing problems can be life-threatening. Immediate medical attention is required whenever a person:

• turns blue or gray and stops breathing
• becomes extremely short of breath, and is unable to speak
• coughs up bubbly pink or white phlegm
• seems to be suffocating
• develops a fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
• wheezes most of the time, and coughs up gray or greenish phlegm

Diagnosis

A family physician, allergist, or pulmonary specialist takes a medical history that includes questions about allergies, or unexplained symptoms that may be the result of allergic reactions. If the pattern of the patient's symptoms suggests the existence of allergy, skin and blood tests are performed to identify the precise nature of the problem.

A pulmonary function test may be ordered to measure the amount of air moving through the patient's breathing passages. X rays are sometimes indicated for patients whose wheezing seems to be caused by chronic bronchitis or emphysema.

Treatment

Patients whose wheezing is related to asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or a severe allergic reaction may benefit from alternative medicine but they must continue to have their condition monitored by a conventional physician.

Mild wheezing may be relieved by drinking plenty of juice, water, weak tea, and broth. This helps to replace fluids lost because of rapid breathing and loosen mucus in the air passages. Ice-cold drinks should be avoided. A vaporizer can help clear air passages. A steam tent, created by lowering the face toward a sink filled with hot water, placing a towel over the head and sink, and inhaling the steam, can do likewise.

Herbal remedies

Several herbal remedies exist for the treatment of wheezing and asthma.

• Baical skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) decoction relieves wheezing.
• Coltsfoot tea may relieve wheezing.
• Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) tincture eases breathing.
• Elecampane (Inula helenium) can help to clear mucus.
• Garlic (Allium sativum) can ease asthma symptoms.
• German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) infusion can relieve wheezing.
• Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) eases asthma symptoms.
• Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) root eases asthma symptoms.
• Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) tea in a vaporizer relieves wheezing.
• Nettle (Urtica dioca) infusion relieves wheezing.
• Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) relaxes muscle spasms leading to a reduction in wheezing.
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) infusion relieves wheezing.

Ayurvedic treatment

Wheezing can be alleviated by drinking licorice tea. The tea is prepared by steeping one teaspoon of licorice (Yashti madbu) root in one cup of water, adding 5-10 drops of mahanarayan oil just before drinking. The patient should take one sip every 5-10 minutes. A remedy for breathlessness is a mixture of onion juice (one quarter cup), black pepper (0.125 tsp), and honey (1 tsp).

Mustard seeds have bronchial system healing properties. Brown mustard oil may be massaged onto the chest. A mustard tea (one quarter teaspoon each ground mustard seed and pippali or black pepper) with honey may be drunk two or three times daily or sipped throughout the day. Another mustard remedy is taking brown mustard oil (1 tsp) with natural sugar (1 tsp) two or three times daily.