Home Remedies for Wheezing - Natural ways to Manage Wheezing

What Is Wheezing?

Wheezing is the rattling or whistling sound produced by breathing. The coarse sound is due to the partial obstruction of the airways. Some wheezing can be heard by the human ear, but the doctor can only hear some with the help of a stethoscope. Wheezing can be heard while inhaling and exhaling but will be more obvious when the patient breathes out. The tone of wheezing depends on the area of the obstructed respiratory tract. When the upper respiratory tract gets obstructed, the wheezing gets more hoarse. The wheezing sound will be more musical in case of lower respiratory tract obstruction. The sound may resemble that of a wind instrument like the clarinet.

Anyone from infants to older adults can develop wheezing. Those with asthma (obstruction of the respiratory tract) can develop wheezing frequently. It can be common in babies due to their smaller airways. Adults with emphysema (a lung disease causing coughing and shortness of breath) or heart failure are most prone to wheezing. The risk may increase if the adult is a smoker.

What Are the Causes of Wheezing?

Wheezing can be due to problems related to the lungs, vocal cords, digestive tract, or heart. It can also be due to allergies or lifestyle changes. Some of the major causes are:

1. Asthma: Asthma is a condition where the respiratory passages become inflamed or swollen. This may be due to the accumulation of extra mucus. Asthma can lead to obstruction of the respiratory passages, causing breathing difficulty.

2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD): COPD is a group of lung diseases leading to the obstruction of the airway passages. It is obvious to develop in chronic smokers.

3. Bronchitis: Bronchial tubes carry air to and from the lungs. Bronchitis is the inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes. The patient may present symptoms like productive coughing with discolored mucus.

4. Bronchiectasis: Bronchiectasis is the widening of the airways of the lungs. It may be due to infections and may lead to the development of mucus.

5. Bronchiolitis: Bronchiolitis is an inflammatory condition due to viral infections. It is common in infants and young children. It mainly occurs during the cold or winter season.

6. Pneumonia: It is a bacteria or viral infection by which the air sacs get inflamed, leading to the accumulation of fluid within. Coughing, breathing difficulty, and fever are the main symptoms of pneumonia.

7. Aspiration: Breathing foreign materials can cause an obstruction within the system, leading to wheezing. It is a common cause of wheezing in small kids.

8. Cystic Fibrosis (CF): CF is a life-threatening condition that causes damage to the respiratory and digestive systems. It is an inherited condition and may show symptoms like cough, infected lungs, fatty stools, unexplained weight gain, etc.

9. Lung Cancer: Lung cancers can rarely cause wheezing.

10. Smoking: The risk of COPD and emphysema increases with smoking, leading to an increased risk of wheezing.

11. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): RSV is a contagious virus that is responsible for many seasonal respiratory infections. It is the major cause of respiratory disease in children. It enters the body through the nose, eyes, or mouth.

12. Vocal Cord Dysfunction: Vocal cord dysfunction or paradoxical vocal fold movement is the incorrect opening and closure of the vocal cords. As a result, the vocal cord closes while inhaling or exhaling, and this leads to wheezing.

13. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): GERD is the acid reflux or regurgitation of acidic content from the stomach to the tube connecting the stomach and the mouth. It can lead to wheezing.

14. Allergy: Allergy is the reaction of the immune system to an allergen or a foreign body. This is the main cause of wheezing. In addition, an allergic reaction that occurs within seconds after interaction with an allergen is called anaphylaxis. This is a serious problem.

15. Heart Failure: Left heart failure can cause cardiac asthma. Cardiac asthma leads to wheezing or coughing.

What Are the Causes of Wheezing in Children?

Wheezing is common in young children having colds or chest infections. Therefore, not all coughing and wheezing is an indicator of asthma. The possible causes of wheezing in children are:

• Colds and viral infections.

• Choking.

• Croup (upper airway infection).

• Bronchiolitis.

• Secondhand smoke.

• Allergy.

• Asthma.

• Whooping cough.

• Pneumonia.

How to Treat Wheezing at Home?

There are many ways to manage wheezing at home.

• Drinking Warm Liquids: Drinking warm water or herbal tea can break up stubborn mucus accumulated in the windpipe. Staying hydrated will also help.

• Inhaling Moist Air: A vaporizer helps inhale moist air or steam. It relieves congestion and breaks up mucus, making it easier to breathe. Using a humidifier or taking a steamy shower may also help. Trying out the hot and dry air of a sauna is not recommended.

• Avoiding Tobacco Smoke: Smoking irritates the lungs and causes inflammation. In addition, secondhand smoke causes more danger to both adults and children. Avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke will help to reduce the development of respiratory illness. Care should be taken to avoid inhaling smoke from fireplaces and other nontobacco sources, which can cause wheezing in respiratory patients.

• Breathing Exercises: Pranayama, or breathing exercise, is a part of yoga that brings physical and mental health. Pranayama helps in relaxing the airways in asthmatic patients. Practicing yoga and Pranayama helps expand the lung capacity and relax the airways. It also helps improve the function of breathing.

• Drinking Herbal Tea: Certain herbal teas like green tea, ginger tea, or eucalyptus tea can relieve asthma, wheezing, and coughing. The benefits add up if the herbal tea is consumed warmly.

• Air Purifier: Using an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter helps eliminate the allergens in the house. This is useful for those patients having allergies or sensitivity to specific substances.

How to Treat Mild Wheezing in Kids at Home?

Mild coughing and wheezing can be treated at home. But if the same persists for longer, it is important to consult the pediatrician. Some homecare suggestions are:

• Comforting the Child: Coughing and wheezing may frighten the child. Therefore, it is important to keep the child calm. Breathing gets harder when the child is upset.

• Offering Frequent Drinks: If the child has a cold or a blocked nose, drinking liquids in small amounts but frequently may be helpful.

• Avoiding Exposure to Smoke: Avoiding exposure to tobacco and nontobacco smoke will also help cure breathing problems in children. Adults should not smoke in the house, car, or anywhere close to the child.

The following are the key points to be remembered when the child develops wheezing or coughing.

• Viral infections like flu, cold, bronchiolitis, or croup will not be cured with the help of antibiotics.

• Over-the-counter cough syrups may not be suitable for infants and younger kids and should only be given as per the pediatrician's advice.

• If the symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it is necessary to consult the child’s doctor.

When to See the Doctor?

It is important to seek medical help if a person develops wheezing for the first time, wheezing gets more frequent or gets accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:

• Fever.

• Coughing.

• Shortness of breath.

• Chest pain.

• Chest tightness.

• Loss of voice.

• Tongue or lip swelling.

• Rapid breathing.

• Foot or leg swelling.

• Bluish tinge on the skin around the mouth, nails, or other parts.

Conclusion

Mild wheezing can be managed at home by taking proper care to remove the causative factor. Adapting adequate lifestyle changes and treating the underlying health conditions can also prevent wheezing and other respiratory illness. In addition, yoga and Pranayama techniques will also cure the problem. Children should be given utmost care to prevent the worsening of the condition.