At any age, breathing should take place naturally, without extraneous noise, wheezing, effort. The unconscious process of breathing should be calm, silent. Any changes and the appearance of extraneous wheezing and whistles during inhalation or exhalation become the first signal of disease. Why violations begin, what this can testify to and how to treat, you can read about this in the article.
Adult whistling
Whistling sounds that are not characteristic of the normal breathing process appear due to a reduction in the openings of the airways. When the air with effort passes through the nasopharynx, trachea, lungs or bronchi, on inhalation, and more often on exhalation, an uncharacteristic whistling when breathing appears, heard by others.
In adults, there are several causes of narrowing of the airways:
- result of injury;
- swelling or swollen lymph nodes;
- pharyngitis;
- emphysema;
- swelling of the walls of the larynx;
- spasms of the muscles of the bronchi;
- pneumonia;
- obstruction of the respiratory tract by sputum, a small foreign object.
There is also a whistle in the throat when inhaled by smokers. Resins settle on the thin walls of blood vessels, make them hard and brittle. They atrophy and become like tubes covered with a hard coating inside.
To take a deep breath, an adult needs to make an effort, and air, passing through obstacles, creates a whistling sound.
Whistling when breathing in children
In children, the respiratory system up to a year is completely different from adults. For them, the appearance of uncharacteristic wheezing and whistling when inhaling is considered normal, if there is no simultaneous increase in temperature, the child is active, he has a good appetite and no moods.
In the period from one year to seven years, the appearance of extraneous noise during breathing often accompanies the development of:
- allergic reactions;
- the presence of an irritant in the respiratory tract;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia
- possible heart disease.
Common causes
In children, the most common causes of coughing and breathing with a whistle are influenza viruses, sinusitis, and syncytial virus. After contact with a sick person, the virus is transferred to the hands and mucous membranes of the eye and nose.
Inflammatory diseases of the bronchi are seasonal in nature. Between November and March, the number of children with bronchitis exceeds all indicators. The characteristic signs of inflammation are wheezing and coughing, which goes away after 5-10 days.
Determining the source of respiratory failure in children
Pediatricians are guided by the rules for determining the source of respiratory failure:
- Whistling when inhaling, coughing, sputum production indicate inflammation in the lower part of the bronchi.
- A whistling breath, a hoarse cough with a clear effort or sinking of the skin in the area of the ribs and collarbone can be a sign of croup, pharyngeal infection. With a child's tracheitis, the symptoms are the same.
- If during a child’s inspiration a quiet whistle is heard, but there is no cough, fever, he feels normal, then the cause may be a small object or a piece of solid food in the respiratory system.
It is difficult for pediatricians to determine in time whether there is inflammation in the respiratory system. If children do not have a high temperature, then they actively behave, and diagnosing hard breathing becomes problematic.
Bronchial asthma: a common cause of respiratory failure
A common cause of wheezing for children and adults is bronchial asthma. The disease can be acquired or congenital. If parents suffer from allergic attacks in the family, then it is likely that the child will develop asthma with age.
There are many allergens around that can cause not only difficulty breathing, but also swelling of the mucous membrane: animal hair, dust, exhaust fumes. Allergens are absorbed into the skin, enter the mucous membranes along with the air stream, into the esophagus with food, and, as a result, there is swelling and spasm of the muscles of the bronchi. This leads to a sharp contraction of the muscles, and breathing becomes intermittent and wheezing.
Additional wheezing or whistling with a deep breath in the chest occurs due to sputum plugs, which are the result of inflammation. Viscous sputum clogs the bronchi, resulting in sharp, intermittent breaths. There is cyanosis of the face, lips, fingers, weakness, dizziness. Such conditions are critical and require urgent medical attention.
Children are more likely than adults to suffer from atopic asthma, which is a result of respiratory irritation by an allergen. Frequent respiratory diseases, contact with chemical compounds cause non-atopic asthma in children. In any case, it does not pass by itself and requires a consultation with a pulmonologist.
Note! If an adult or child breathes shallowly, wheezing and whistling are heard, the skin has become white with spots or a bluish tint, it is worth immediately contacting the nearest hospital.
Diagnostics
Before starting treatment, it is necessary to consult a therapist for an adult, and the pediatrician should examine the child. Methods of fluoroscopy will help to quickly diagnose the cause of whistles and wheezing during breathing in the lungs of an adult and a child. X-rays are not always able to reliably detect small bones or other foreign objects. For adults, computed tomography and bronchoscopy are more informative, they will help to identify where a foreign object is located or what part of the lungs and bronchi are inflamed.
If the cause was not identified on the x-ray, then you need to consult a ENT doctor. By examining the nasopharynx and throat, it will help rule out inflammation or confirm the presence of an acute inflammatory process that caused swelling of the mucosa and uncharacteristic whistling sounds.
When examining and identifying the causes of whistles and wheezing in the lungs, adults and children do allergy tests, an analysis for tuberculosis, an analysis of sweat for the presence of chloride compounds in it. If all the above research methods have not revealed deviations or signs of the course of the inflammatory process, then the doctor will prescribe an ultrasound of the heart and fluorography. It is possible that blueness of the skin and respiratory failure cause developing heart disease.
Appropriate treatment
After the diagnosis has been made, you can proceed to the treatment methods corresponding to the identified cause. It is necessary to treat wheezing not only based on the results of a clinical study, but also depending on the number of attacks of respiratory failure and their duration. If the cause of respiratory failure was bronchitis (code for ICD-10 - J20.0), then antibiotics and expectorant drugs will bring quick relief. If during the course of treatment the whistling in the lungs has not passed, the doctor may prescribe a course of drugs that expand the bronchi. They are also suitable for treating asthma attacks in children and adults. They are released in the form of aerosol sprays, tablets, injections.
Treatment for asthma and a chronic form of bronchitis
If wheezing and its pathological disturbance are caused by asthma or a chronic form of bronchitis, a course of treatment with drugs to expand the bronchi will be prescribed for a long time. It is necessary to take into account the speed of the drug, which will help relieve symptoms. If whistling while breathing in an adult, pills work well. They are easy to take, but it is worth considering that the effect occurs after the absorption of the active substance in the blood. Medications in the form of inhalation aerosols are convenient for use for both children and adults: the drug is sprayed with a light touch of a cloud of small drops, and together with air it enters the respiratory tract when inhaling. The action begins in a few minutes, breathing becomes even, quiet. The effect can last up to 8 hours, which virtually eliminates the possibility of forgetting to take a new dose and face a new attack.
Acute edema of the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs helps to remove drugs that activate the excretory functions of the kidneys (diuretics), a means to expand the bronchi in combination with the heart. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the treatment regimen and not to stop taking them for several days after the disappearance of symptoms in order to consolidate the therapeutic effect.
Massage for treatment
Well established chest massage as a method of influencing the focus of inflammation. Light movements in a circle will help facilitate sputum discharge, relax, increase blood flow. If you apply this method alternately with breathing exercises, then its effectiveness will increase several times. Use ointments with a warming effect is strictly prohibited. This can increase swelling, as well as lead to a worsening of the condition. The skin of children is very sensitive to external irritants, and a burn from the ointment may also be added to attacks of suffocation.
Important!
It is necessary to take into account the circumstances in which a whistle appeared during inhalation. It is also important to monitor the general condition of the person. If the whistle during inspiration in an adult or a child becomes quieter, the skin turns pale, a person becomes lethargic, lethargic or, conversely, restless, you need to call an ambulance. These may be signs of deterioration, and in this case, every minute of delay causes significant harm to the whole body.
Alternative methods of treatment
Only medications and compliance with the prescribed treatment regimen can relieve constant attacks of suffocation, acute inflammatory processes. If the inflammation has turned into a protracted, chronic disease, there is no temperature, then you can consult your doctor about the possibility of using alternative methods of treatment.
Before using alternative methods in the treatment of chronic protracted inflammatory processes of the respiratory system, you must make sure that there is no allergy to one of the components of infusions and decoctions. Prescriptions for children should be agreed with a pediatrician or pulmonologist to rule out allergies or worsening conditions. The following recipes can be applied:
- 3 tbsp honey take 250 ml of carrot juice. Honey is thoroughly stirred in a glass of juice, they drink 5 times a day for 1.5 tablespoons.
- In 170 g of fresh berries of viburnum add 8 tsp. grind honey with a spoon into a homogeneous mass. Apply 2 tsp. after meal.
- Wash raisins with running water, pour water at a rate of 1: 1. Cook for 10-15 minutes. Cool boiled raisins and take 1 tsp. twice a day.
- Hawthorn berries, clover flowers, oregano, coltsfoot take 2 tbsp. Pour herbs and berries into a thermos, pour 450 ml of hot water, leave for 10 hours. Infusion to drink 2 tbsp. 5 times a day. This recipe is for adults only.
- Whistling, wheezing and coughing will help relieve inhalation with infusion of pine buds and potato peelings.
- A classic recipe for treating adults and children with various respiratory diseases is honey radish. In the middle radish, make a recess, which must be filled with honey. Let it brew for 5 hours, then drink the resulting syrup for 3-4 tbsp. twice a day. Every day, the radish should be fresh.
- A daily intake of 15 g of propolis or perga will help strengthen immunity.
Inflammation Prevention
The use of drugs in the treatment of severe inflammatory processes is undoubtedly high. In order to less often run into a hospital and live a healthy and fulfilling life, it is necessary to adhere to some recommendations:
- to strengthen immunity in the autumn-winter period with nutritious nutrition, walks in the fresh air, hardening;
- monitor the cleanliness of the house so that the dust does not provoke spasms and asthmatic asthma attacks;
- permanently exclude foods that cause an allergic reaction from food;
- reduce the time spent near the allergen to a minimum, for example, during the flowering period of plants and herbs on the street;
- do not use perfume with a pungent odor, detergents and powders with a strong odor;
- After contact with a sick person or allergen, wash hands and face with soap.
Be careful!
Annoying symptoms of a violation of the natural process of breathing should always alert an adult, and especially parents of young children. This can be either a residual phenomenon after an untreated respiratory illness, or an alarming signal of the development of a serious pathology. Do not postpone a visit to the doctor and rely on your own strength. It is easier to follow preventive measures and prevent the development of inflammatory processes than to deal with the consequences for months. Be healthy!