Wheezing is a sign that someone is not breathing as well as they should.
It could mean the person is not getting as much oxygen as they need.
What Wheezing Sounds Like
Wheezing is simply a whistling or grumbling sound made when breathing.
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It is typically heard when a person exhales (breathes out) and sounds like a high-pitched whistle.
It can also occur on the inhale, which is especially common with a wheezing cough.
Wheezing isnotsimply loud breathing or the sound of congestion or mucus when you breathe.
It is a sign of airway inflammation.
Wheezing and wheezing coughs are typically accompanied by chest tightness.
It is most often sparked by swelling in the lower airway.
It can be a medical emergency if not treated quickly.
What to Do
If you suspect your child is wheezing, contact her healthcare provider right away.
Treatment depends on the severity of the illness and how much difficulty she is having with her breathing.
If you feel that you are wheezing, contact your healthcare provider or seek medical attention.
If you follow your plan and it does not help, seek medical attention right away.
COVID can present in many different ways depending on the person and the variant or strain of coronavirus.
In some people, COVID causes lung problems that can present as a wheezing cough.
If you experience a wheezing cough, talk to your healthcare provider.
If you or your child experience wheezing, call your healthcare provider for guidance.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
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US Department of Health and Human Services.
National Institutes of Health.Wheezing.
