Bronchial breathing is a noise made during inhalation-exhalation, which in a person who does not suffer from any diseases of the pulmonary system is heard in the trachea, larynx and bronchi. This is physiological breathing. But it can also be pathological in nature. In this case, breathing is heard outside of these areas. Sometimes a painful process can be diagnosed even with an external examination. In pathology, noise is caused by seals or by the presence of cavities in the lungs that connect to the bronchi. Such processes require immediate relief. It depends on the course of the disease how long the therapy will last and after what period of time the noises will disappear.
Types of pathological breathing
If the respiratory process extends to the chest, we can say that it is pathological in nature. Such a phenomenon is caused by diseases such as pneumonia, cancer of the lungs and others. Often, pathology is manifested in diseases of the respiratory system, which are chronic.
Pathological bronchial breathing can be accompanied by spasms of the bronchi and other disorders. Each disease requires individually selected therapy. Antibiotics, bronchodilators and other drugs are used.
Bronchial breathing may vary in sound strength, which depends on the size and extent of the area of compaction. Breathing may be loud or quiet.
In a large lesion, loud breathing occurs. If the focus is small and located in depth, then breathing will be heard quietly.
Bronchial breathing may be:
- amphoric;
- metal;
- stenotic;
- mixed;
- vesicular.
Amphoric look
This type of breathing manifests itself in the event of an area of damage to the lungs with smooth walls. The hearth contains air. It communicates with the bronchus. This condition can be caused by an abscess of the lungs after opening, as well as a tuberculous cavern.
In this case, stiffness is inherent in breathing. It is like a booming sound that mimics the passage of air through an empty container. Noise is heard both on inspiration and on exhalation. Amphoric breathing can be heard provided that the diameter of the affected cavity is 5 mm or more. The duration of such a breath is quite long.
Metal look
This type of breathing is detected with open-type pneumothorax. The sound is very loud. It has a high timbre. Something similar can be heard when you hit a metal object. Such bronchial breathing is heard when there are large cavities in the lungs that have large sizes and smooth walls. Marked surface location of the foci.
Stenotic view
This type of breathing is caused by a narrowing of the trachea or larynx, which can be noted in the presence of a tumor, edema, or the presence of a foreign body.
During an external examination, a stethoscope is used. Often stiffness is inherent in breathing, and it can be heard without this device even at a certain distance from a sick person. Such breathing is very similar to a moan, which is characterized by a sharp long breath. A small amount of air passes through the lungs. The phenomenon may occur for several days. In this case, it all depends on the severity of the disease and its development.
Mixed type
Vesicular-bronchial, or mixed breathing is inherent in infiltrative tuberculosis or focal pneumonia. There is such bronchial breathing with bronchitis. Often this phenomenon is a symptom of chronic pneumosclerosis. In this case, the foci are located very deep in the lung tissue. They are located at a great distance from each other. When inhaling, vesicular breathing is dried, and when exhaling, mixed.
The duration of this condition can be from several days to several weeks, depending on the duration of the disease. To alleviate the condition, the doctor prescribes bronchodilators or other drugs.
Vesicular breathing
Pathological enhanced vesicular breathing can be heard on both sides, on the one hand, or in a specific area of the chest.
Bilateral breathing is always noted with shortness of breath of any genesis. For example, it occurs in diseases of the lungs, heart, pathology of higher nervous activity, metabolic disorders, blood diseases, pulmonary embolism, etc.
A special form of vesicular breathing
There is a separate form of vesicular breathing, which in medicine has been called "hard". Most often, it is audible on both sides of the chest, but can also be limited. The basis of its occurrence is a pathological process, manifested in local inflammatory swelling of the bronchial mucosa, their deformation in the chronic course of the disease, the accumulation of secretion and pus in them.
Listened to vesicular breathing with an attack of bronchial asthma. It refers to chronic inflammatory diseases. The disease causes an increased activity of the bronchi and their sensitivity to certain allergens, which provokes spasms.
In this case, the movement of the air stream undergoes certain changes. Due to the fact that the lumen in the bronchi becomes uneven, vortex air flows form. Roughness, unevenness and roughness are inherent in vesicular breathing. At the same time, lengthening of inspiration and expiration is noted. They are equal in duration.
An imitation of this phenomenon can be achieved by breathing through tightly compressed lips with a slight interruption.
Hard breathing always indicates the presence of acute or chronic bronchitis. It almost always accompanies focal pneumonia, since this disease also affects the bronchi. Listening to such breathing in the region of the apices of the lungs may give rise to a diagnosis such as tuberculosis or local fibrosis.
An option for hard vesicular breathing is an extended exhalation. His diagnosis is very important. It occurs when the emptying of the alveoli is difficult due to the narrowing of the small bronchi.
Such a process can be observed in diseases such as bronchiolitis or pulmonary emphysema in combination with bronchitis.
Breathing with asthma in children is also stiff. Children have wheezing, coughing in the morning or at night, as well as obstructive syndrome.
Additional types of noise
When pathological processes occur in the body, side sounds can be heard over the lungs, which join the main ones. They belong to the category of external noise. In this case, wet and dry rales, crepitus and pleural friction noise can be noted.
Wheezing
Wheezing is often diagnosed with chronic bronchial diseases. In this case, hard breathing is noted , against which a characteristic external sound is captured. Wheezing can be distinguished by dryness or humidity.
Wet look differs in length and musicality. Its appearance is caused by an unequal degree of narrowing of the bronchial lumen, which is provoked by the accumulation of mucus. In the process of breathing, wheezing foams a medium-viscosity liquid, after which bubbles form on its surface, which immediately burst. Wet wheezing is inherently unstable. They disappear after coughing up the patient.
Dry rales are heard during inhalation and exhalation. They are always accompanied by hard breathing. Wheezing is also observed in asthmatics.
Breathing in bronchial asthma is determined by increased mucus production, swelling and thickening of the walls of the bronchi. The narrowing of their gaps causes obstructed ventilation. This entails the appearance of suffocation, wheezing, shortness of breath, hard bronchial breathing.
Crepitus
Crepitus accompanies hard pathological breathing. This is a side noise that is caused by the simultaneous sticking of a large number of alveoli. Such a sound is heard at the peak of inspiration. It is stable because it remains unchanged after coughing.
Crepitus is inherent in people affected by lobar pneumonia. It can be replaced by wet rales after filling the alveoli with viscous mucus. The duration of this process can be from several days to several weeks. To get rid of crepitus, the underlying disease should be treated.
Pleural friction noise
Such a sound often accompanies dry pleurisy and is the most striking symptom of this disease. Pleural noise is noted on inspiration and exhalation. It looks like the rustle of sheets of paper. This breathing will be observed in the patient throughout the disease until cure. This phenomenon occurs with chronic respiratory diseases.
Conclusion
Bronchial breathing is a symptom of many pathological processes in the respiratory system. In its sound, it can be different. It all depends on the degree of damage to the bronchi and lungs.
As a rule, bronchial breathing passes after treatment of the underlying disease. Its resistance is due to the transition of the disease into a chronic form. Therefore, with the first symptoms of damage to the bronchi or lungs, you should immediately contact a specialist. The doctor will prescribe the necessary examinations and prescribe the appropriate treatment.