Abnormal Breath Sounds: Causes, Treatment & Help

Breath sounds can be divided into pathological breath sounds or normal, or healthy breath sounds. Pathologic breath sounds may also involve side sounds from the lungs. Pathological breath sounds may also be referred to as stridor.

What are pathologic breath sounds?

Pathological breath sounds may also involve side sounds of the lungs. Pathological breath sounds may also be referred to as stridor. Pathological breath sounds can occur due to narrowing of the airways, specifically in the trachea. These abnormal breathing sounds are mostly perceived by humans as hissing or whistling. Pathological breath sounds known as stridor can be divided into inspiratory stridor (during inhalation, larynx, trachea, example: croup, pseudocroup) and expiratory stridor (during exhalation, lung diseases such as bronchial asthma). Healthy breath sounds, on the other hand, are a product for swirling air currents. They are usually silent or barely audible.

Causes

Causes of abnormal breath sounds may include constriction in the nose (sniffing), constriction in the throat (snoring), constriction in the larynx (whistling), and constriction in the trachea (humming) as part of stridor. Various diseases can be the cause of abnormal breathing sounds. Examples include bronchial asthma, chronic lung disease, bronchitis, aspirations and pseudocroup. Other causes of pathological breath sounds include hyperventilation and pathological disorders. Pulmonary accessory sounds, due to diseases of the respiratory organs, can also be the reason for pathological breath sounds. Furthermore, pathological breath sounds can also be divided into moist and dry sounds. The rattling that occurs with moist sounds is caused by increased secretions from the bronchial tubes and trachea. Dry sounds often appear as humming or whistling.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Bronchial asthma
  • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Bronchitis
  • Goiter
  • Diphtheria
  • Pseudocroup
  • Aspiration (swallowing)
  • Lung cancer
  • Heart failure

Diagnosis and course

To diagnose abnormal breath sounds require medical clarification, as the causes can be varied. After a thorough medical history, in which the doctor asks about the patient’s complaints and lifestyle habits (smoking!), a physical examination follows. If there are no obvious causes such as pneumonia or laryngitis, the physician will probably perform an X-ray examination to rule out narrowing of the airways (stridor). Depending on the cause of the breath sounds, the expected course can vary greatly:

Inflammatory diseases usually heal without consequences if treated properly and smoking is avoided, with which the breath sounds also disappear. If the cause is more serious (asthma, thyroid enlargement, tumor), the course depends on the underlying disease.

Complications

Pathological breath sounds, also known as stridor, occur mainly in various respiratory diseases. Accordingly, different complications result. One cause, for example, is inhalation of foreign bodies. Often, some stomach acid is also aspirated during belching. Normally, this triggers a strong irritation of the cough and the body is coughed up again. However, if the foreign body slips deeper into the airways, this can lead to dangerous complications. On the one hand, if the body is large enough, it can block the airways and lead to atelectasis or suffocation. If the body gets into the lungs, it can lead to inflammatory reactions, pneumonia is the result. In the worst case, the lungs may fail. Other diseases that lead to respiratory sounds are, for example, inflammatory diseases such as bronchitis or asthma. Bronchitis usually heals quickly. It forms dangerous complications especially in smokers who already suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An acute asthma attack usually stops after a few minutes. However, in some cases, a status asthmaticus may develop that requires immediate emergency medical treatment.In this case, the asthma attack persists for hours despite therapy. Diptheria can also cause breathing difficulties. In the worst cases, this leads to narrowing of the airways and suffocation. Other secondary diseases are also possible, but rare. These include, for example, damage to the heart valves or kidneys.

When should you go to the doctor?

Pathological breathing sounds can have various causes. A visit to the doctor is advised if the accompanying symptoms are cause for concern. For example, there may be accompanying shortness of breath, pain, or fever. Inspiratory or expiratory stridor is always cause for increased introspection. In general, it is better to have one visit to the doctor too many than one too few. If the abnormal breath sounds have been noticed in an infant, a pediatrician should be consulted immediately. The child could have a serious illness, bronchial asthma or an allergy. Swallowing objects blocking the airway is also a possibility. If there are strong breathing sounds and bluish tinting of the lips, alert the emergency physician immediately. Medical clarification of the triggering causes is also desirable in adults. If pathological breath sounds occur in the course of a severe cold or pharyngitis, they could be normal consequences of irritated airways and mucus. However, if there is the slightest suspicion of pneumonia, immediate action is indicated. This is especially true in the elderly or those who have been bedridden for a long time. A moist rattling is indicative of secretions in the lungs. In smokers, abnormal breathing sounds may indicate asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer. Longtime smokers should always seek medical attention if they experience unusual breathing sounds. Rales or whistling noises often require treatment.

Treatment and therapy

In the case of abnormal breath sounds, a doctor should be consulted immediately, because this symptom requires immediate medical examination. In doing so, the doctor will examine the patient in the most thorough manner. Especially the lungs and the respiratory organs are checked. Computer tomography and X-rays are the classic diagnostic tools. Further treatments depend on the causes of the abnormal breath sounds.

Outlook and prognosis

Various complications and problems can occur with pathologic breath sounds. They often occur during the course of a cold or flu and are a common symptom. They usually disappear on their own once the cold has subsided. If pneumonia or tonsillitis is present, a doctor should be consulted for treatment. These inflammations can usually be treated well and do not lead to further complaints. In the case of asthma, professional treatment by a doctor is necessary. In this case, the patient’s everyday life can be severely restricted, which reduces the quality of life. In case of inhalation of foreign bodies, an emergency doctor should be called in serious cases. Here, in the worst case, death can occur. X-rays are usually used for diagnosis. Treatment for abnormal breath sounds always depends on their cause. In some cases, surgical interventions are necessary. Smokers should refrain from smoking and take care of their lungs when they have pathological breath sounds. Also, people with this symptom should not stay in places with a dirty air, as this can increase the symptom.

Prevention

The prevention of pathological breath sounds is related to the prevention of all health measures for the respiratory organs. This includes absolutely abstaining from smoking. Living in fresh air and avoiding pollutants are other good ways to keep a healthy lung so that morbid breath sounds do not have to occur.

Here’s what you can do yourself

In the case of pathological breath sounds, the affected person should definitely refrain from smoking. Smoking severely damages the lungs and can increase the sounds. Improvement does not occur immediately when smoking is given up, but in the long run it can help to prevent and reduce the breathing sounds. The patient must take care of the health of his lungs in general. Staying in rooms with bad air should be avoided. The same applies to the air in large cities, which is heavily polluted by exhaust fumes.This also intensifies the pathological breathing sounds. Walks and spending time in the fresh air help here. Likewise, strong physical exertion and also enduring sporting activities should be avoided. In general, a healthy diet also has a positive effect on pathological breathing sounds. Inhalation with salt or essential oils can also have a positive effect. If the sounds are caused by inhalation of a foreign body, the patient can be tapped between the shoulder blades to remove the foreign body from the lungs. If the abnormal breathing sounds are due to work activity, this may have to be abandoned. In general, clarification by a physician is eimpfehlenswert.