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Lung sounds are one of the things your provider listens for when they use a stethoscope on your chest or back. Air flowing smoothly through your airways creates normal (vesicular) lung sounds. Swelling, blockages or mucus in your airways can create abnormal lung sounds. These include rhonchi, wheezing, stridor, crackles (rales) and pleural rub.
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What are the most common causes of abnormal lung sounds?
Anything that narrows or blocks your airway can cause abnormal lung sounds. This keeps the air from flowing smoothly, creating vibrations and other noises. The most common causes of abnormal lung sounds include: Mucus in the airways in your lungs. Swelling or inflammation of your airways. Foreign object or a tumor blocking your airways. Inflammation of your pleura.
What do abnormal lung sounds mean?
The types of sounds your healthcare provider hears can help them diagnose diseases or learn more about your condition. For instance, they’re more likely to hear wheezing if asthma narrows your airways. But they’re more likely to hear stridor in a child with croup or if you have an airway blocked by swelling, a foreign object or a tumor. Where mucus or a blockage is located in your airways can also cause different sounds. For instance, mucus in your larger airways can cause rhonchi. Mucus in your small airways is more likely to cause crackles. Advertisement
How are abnormal lung sounds treated?
A provider will use your symptoms and any abnormal lung sounds they hear to help make a diagnosis. They may also need to order additional tests. How they treat you will depend on what’s causing the abnormal sounds. Some treatments might include: Inhaled medications, like corticosteroids. Epinephrine, if you’re having a severe allergic reaction. Surgery to remove blockages. Antivirals or antibiotics to treat infections.
Can I prevent abnormal lung sounds?
If an ongoing condition, like asthma or allergies, causes abnormal lung sounds, you may be able to prevent them by managing your condition. You can reduce your risk of respiratory infections by washing your hands and taking other steps to prevent the spreading of infectious diseases. Some causes of abnormal lung sounds can’t be prevented. Care at Cleveland Clinic Find a Primary Care Provider Schedule an Appointment
When should abnormal lung sounds be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?
Talk to a healthcare provider if you have concerns about sounds you hear when you breathe. If you have noisy breathing and are having trouble breathing, go to the nearest emergency room. A note from Cleveland Clinic Crackling, rattling, clicking or whistling — there are lots of words to describe lung sounds. Their differences can give your provider important clues about what’s happening inside your chest. Some causes of abnormal lung sounds are temporary and not cause for concern. Others can be serious. Your provider will use your other symptoms and, sometimes, additional tests to understand what abnormal sounds might mean. Then you can make a plan together to treat or manage the underlying condition. Medically Reviewed Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/04/2023. Learn more about our editorial process.
Nov 24, 2023 · Lung sounds are the noises a person makes as they breathe in and out, including sounds of regular breathing. However, wheezing, crackling, stridor, and other sounds can also occur, indicating an ...
Dec 20, 2023 · Treatment. Rhonchi and rales are lung sounds that can be heard with a stethoscope. Rhonchi are described as gurgling or bubbling sounds, while rales are described as crackling sounds. The sounds happen when air passes through accumulated fluids in the airways due to asthma, pneumonia, COPD, or other respiratory conditions.
May 7, 2024 · A breath sound, also known as a lung sound, is the sound produced by your lungs whenever you inhale and exhale. These may be heard on their own or with a stethoscope. There are normal breath sounds that your healthcare provider expects to hear. Abnormal breath sounds may indicate a respiratory illness, heart disease, infection, or other ...
Feb 22, 2023 · These sounds indicate something serious is happening in your lungs. Bibasilar crackles are a bubbling or crackling sound originating from the base of the lungs. They may occur when the lungs ...
Oct 27, 2023 · Bibasilar crackles are abnormal sounds from the base of the lungs. They indicate that something is interfering with airflow. Two issues often cause bibasilar crackles. One is the accumulation of ...
