What is the fastest way to relieve wheezing?
Use a humidifier, take a steamy shower or sit in the bathroom with the door closed while running a hot shower. Moist air might help relieve mild wheezing in some instances. Drink fluids. Warm liquids can relax the airway and loosen up sticky mucus in your throat.
A bronchodilator -- albuterol (Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA), levalbuterol, (Xopenex) -- to help ease the wheezing as the infection clears. An antibiotic is usually not needed unless you have an underlying chronic lung problem or your doctor suspects a bacterial infection may be present.
Common causes include infection, an allergic reaction or a physical obstruction, such as a tumor or a foreign object that's been inhaled.
See a doctor if you develop wheezing that is unexplained, keeps coming back (recurrent), or is accompanied by any of the following signs and symptoms: Difficulty breathing. Rapid breathing. Briefly bluish skin color.
- Sit upright. This opens your airway. ...
- Slow down your breathing by taking long, deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose. ...
- Stay calm. ...
- Get away from the trigger. ...
- Drink a warm, caffeinated beverage, such as coffee or tea. ...
- Get medical help.
Mucinex is designed to treat symptoms, not the underlying problem. So, it shouldn't cause any harm to take it if you have asthma, and it may indeed help you feel better. But, by itself, it won't control your asthma.
Antihistamines do not work on the core symptoms of asthma, such as chest tightness and shortness of breath. They should not be used in the case of an asthma attack where you are struggling to breathe. A doctor can recommend the best acute treatment for you to have on hand, such as a rescue inhaler.
To diagnose what type of wheezing you have, your doctor will use a stethoscope to hear if it's loudest over your lungs or neck. Inspiratory wheezing often accompanies expiratory wheezing when heard over the lungs, specifically in acute asthma.
Albuterol is used to prevent and treat difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness caused by lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases that affect the lungs and airways).
Heart failure can cause fluid to build up in the lungs (pulmonary edema) and in and around the airways. This can cause shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing similar to the signs and symptoms of asthma.
What happens if wheezing is left untreated?
Increased Mucus
The more that accumulates, the tighter the airway becomes and the more prominent wheezing and coughing during asthma attacks become. Excess mucus can also increase the chances of infections such as pneumonia, and repeated infections can lead to lung damage.
OTC inhalers can be a temporary option for relieving mild asthma symptoms, like wheezing. Primatene Mist and Asthmanefrin are two similar inhalers you can buy without a prescription. The Vicks Sinus Inhaler provides a medication-free option for people looking to ease symptoms of a cold or the flu.

You should call your doctor if: You continue to wheeze and cough for more than 2 weeks, especially at night when you lie down or when you are active. You continue to cough for more than 2 weeks and have a bad-tasting fluid come up into your mouth.
Wheezing while lying down is a common symptom of conditions such as asthma. It can also be the result of anxiety at night, GERD, or obesity. Some people may have a combination of several conditions. For example, those with GERD and asthma may find that acid reflux triggers their asthma symptoms when lying down.
The air passages may also go into spasms, especially if you have asthma. This causes wheezing and trouble breathing even in people who don't have asthma. Bronchitis often lasts up to 14 days. The wheezing should improve with treatment during the first week.
Risk Factors for Wheezing
If your parent also struggles with allergies, asthma, or wheezes, then you will also be at a higher risk for this as well. Children in their first few years of life will also develop a wheeze. In most cases, this is not a serious case of wheezing and will usually go away on its own.
Call a healthcare provider right away when:
You have a cough that won't go away. You're wheezing when you breathe in or out, especially if this is different from your usual breathing pattern.
Mucus thinners, such as mucolytics, are inhaled medications that help thin the mucus in the airways so you can cough it out of your lungs more easily. The three main types of mucus thinners are hypertonic saline, mannitol (Bronchitol®), and dornase alfa (Pulmozyme®).
Hold the breath for 2-3 seconds. Use your stomach muscles to forcefully expel the air. Avoid a hacking cough or merely clearing the throat. A deep cough is less tiring and more effective in clearing mucus out of the lungs.
Wheezing or noisy breathing could be a sign that phlegm is blocking your lungs' airways or making them too narrow. Increased mucus in the lungs can block air passages, making it difficult for you to breathe in and out.
What medicine relaxes airways?
Bronchodilators are a type of medication that make breathing easier. They do this by relaxing the muscles in the lungs and widening the airways (bronchi). They're often used to treat long-term conditions where the airways may become narrow and inflamed.
- pollen.
- dust.
- pet hair.
- certain foods.
- insect stings.
- certain medications.
There are two main types of wheezing — inspiratory (when you inhale) and expiratory (when you exhale). It's easier to hear expiratory wheezing because your airways narrow more during this breathing phase. Sometimes, expiratory wheezing is loud enough to hear on its own.
Wheezing is the shrill whistle or coarse rattle you hear when your airway is partially blocked. It might be blocked because of an allergic reaction, a cold, bronchitis or allergies. Wheezing is also a symptom of asthma, pneumonia, heart failure and more.
Wheezing most often comes from the small breathing tubes (bronchial tubes) deep in the lungs. But it may be due to a blockage in larger airways or in people with certain vocal cord problems.
Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have coughing, difficulty breathing, or wheezing after using this medicine. Talk to your doctor or get medical help right away if: Your symptoms do not improve or they become worse after using this medicine.
Overuse of albuterol has been shown to cause dependence and other effects such as increased days with asthma symptoms, increased asthma attacks, and overall worsening of asthma. Dependence on albuterol metered dose inhalers can also cause hallucinations and aggressive behavior, but this may be caused by the propellant.
Adults and children older than 12 years of age—2.5 milligrams (mg) in the nebulizer 3 or 4 times per day as needed. Children 2 to 12 years of age—0.63 to 1.25 mg in the nebulizer 3 or 4 times per day as needed.
Mucinex is designed to treat symptoms, not the underlying problem. So, it shouldn't cause any harm to take it if you have asthma, and it may indeed help you feel better. But, by itself, it won't control your asthma.
Antihistamines do not work on the core symptoms of asthma, such as chest tightness and shortness of breath. They should not be used in the case of an asthma attack where you are struggling to breathe. A doctor can recommend the best acute treatment for you to have on hand, such as a rescue inhaler.
What over the counter medicine can I take for lung inflammation?
Anti-inflammatories and pain relievers: available over the counter to help with mild symptoms of lung inflammation, such as fever, body aches, and pain. Examples include acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen.
- Drink lots of water. Drinking lots of water can help loosen mucus so you can cough it up and out of your system. ...
- Using steam. Deep coughs caused by chest congestion can become more productive with the help of steam. ...
- Taking expectorant medicines that contain guaifenesin.
OTC Treatment
Expectorants like guaifenesin (Mucinex) can help to clear mucus and phlegm from the lungs and airways by breaking it up, making it easier to breathe in common respiratory infections like bronchitis, influenza, or the common cold.
Wheezing is a sensation that occurs when a person breathes through obstructed airways. Some people find that their wheezing gets worse when lying down. This can occur because lying down may adversely affect the ability of the chest to rise and fall, making it difficult to breathe.
As we sleep, our airways narrow which creates a little more resistance for the air coming in and out of our bodies. This can cause coughing, which tightens the airways further. Then your sinuses may drain, which can trigger an asthmatic response.
A type of asthma that gets worse at night is called nocturnal asthma. Environmental allergens, stress, hormonal factors, obesity, sinusitis, and more contribute to the worsening of asthma at night. People with nocturnal asthma develop symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, breathing difficulty, and coughing.
- Sit up straight. Sitting upright can help keep your airways open. ...
- Remain calm. Try to remain as calm as you can while you're having an asthma attack. ...
- Steady your breathing. Try to take slow, steady breaths during your attack. ...
- Move away from triggers. ...
- Call 911.