This is going to sound like a mega-stupid question so i apologise in advance for my lack of intelligence.....what exactly is a wheeze? And also is it something that drs can only hear with a stethoscope or can it just be heard?? Being one of those who doesnt wheeze I have always been curious about this!
Em
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A wheeze is caused by air moving through narrowed airways. It is typically a noise of variable but high pitch that is heard mainly on breathing out, and can be heard from any area of the chest. It's heard more easily with a stethoscope, but can often be audible without as well.
In general, the more high pitched the wheeze, the tighter the airways, and the quieter the wheeze, the less air movement there is, but these are not hard and fast rules and aren't used by doctors for determining the severity of the attack without considering other factors too.
Hope this helps
Em
Any advice on explaining severe asthma to doctors and nurses?
switching to relvar from pulmicort
Seretide makes my cough worse…I think!
Cough-variant asthma
