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Breath sounds

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Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Lungs
Lungs
Breath sounds
Breath sounds

Alternative Names    Return to top

Lung sounds; Breathing sounds

Definition    Return to top

Breath sounds are the noises produced by the structures of the lungs during breathing.

See also: Wheezing

Considerations    Return to top

The lung sounds are best heard with a stethoscope. This is called auscultation.

Normal lung sounds occur in all parts of the chest area, including above the collarbones and at the bottom of the rib cage. Using a stethoscope, the doctor may hear normal breath sounds, decreased or absent breath sounds, and abnormal breath sounds.

Absent or decreased sounds can mean:

There are several types of abnormal breath sounds. The 4 most common are:

Rales are small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lung. They are believed to occur when air opens closed air spaces. Rales can be further described as moist, dry, fine, and coarse.

Rhonchi are sounds that resemble snoring. They occur when air is blocked or becomes rough through the large airways.

Wheezes are high-pitched sounds produced by narrowed airways. They can be heard when a person breathes out (exhales). Wheezing and other abnormal sounds can sometimes be heard without a stethoscope.

Stridor is a wheeze-like sound heard when a person breathes out (exhales). Usually it is due to an obstruction of airflow in the windpipe (trachea) or in the back of the throat.

Causes    Return to top

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Nasal flaring and cyanosis are emergency symptoms. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath can be an emergency condition. Seek immediate medical care if you have any of these symptoms.

Contact your health care provider if you have wheezing or other abnormal breathing sounds.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit    Return to top

Your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history and your breathing.

Questions may include:

The health care provider usually discovers abnormal breath sounds. You may not even notice them.

The following tests may be done:

Update Date: 11/12/2007

Updated by: Andrew Schriber, M.D., F.C.C.P., Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, New Jersey. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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