Wheezing

See all Pictures & Images

What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting wheezing in detail may include:

• time pattern
  • When did the wheezing begin?
  • How long does it last?
  • Does it occur often?
  • Does it occur daily?
  • What time of day does it occur?
  • Is it worse at night or in the early morning?
• quality
  • What does the wheezing sound like?
  • Does it make breathing difficult?
  • Does it require stopping all physical activity?
  • Does it resolve without treatment?
• aggravating factors
  • What seems to cause it?
    • Eating certain foods?
    • Taking certain medications?
  • What makes it worse?
    • Exercise?
    • Stress?
    • Exposure to pollens, insects, dust, chemicals (perfumes, cosmetics)?
    • Exposure to cold air?
    • Cold or flu?
• relieving factors
  • What helps relieve it?
    • Rest?
    • Medications such as bronchodilators?
• other symptoms
  • What other symptoms are also present?
  • Is there a fever?
  • Is there coughing?
  • Is there swelling of the lips or tongue?
  • Is there panic or confusion?
  • Is there loss of voice?
  • Is there loss of consciousness?
  • Is there a bluish color to lips or nailbeds?
  • Is there nasal congestion?
  • Are there puffy, red eyes?
  • Is there an insect bite?
  • Has there been an episode of choking?
• additional information
  • Is there a history of asthma or allergies?
  • What medications are being taken?
  • Has there been exposure to tobacco smoke?
  • Has there been a recent illness?

• chest X-ray
• pulmonary function tests
• blood studies, possibly including arterial blood gases

Treatment:

Drugs to relieve narrowing of the airways, such as albuterol, are usually given by inhalation. Hospitalization may be required if the patient's breathing is particularly difficult or if close observation by medical personnel, intravenous medications, supplemental oxygen are required. In any case, the patient will need to be closely watched.

If a diagnosis is made related to wheezing (such as asthma or COPD), further action to treat and manage the condition would be needed.