Simply Breath sounds are the noises produced by the structures of the lungs during breathing. These sounds can be heard using a stethoscope. This is called auscultation. Normaly breath sounds by placing the stethoscope on
- Chest
- Back
- Collarbone
- Rib cage
There are 3 types of Breath Sounds.
1.Normal breathing sounds
2.Decreased or absent breath sounds
3.Abnormal breath sounds
Absent or decreased sounds can mean
- Air or fluid in or around the lungs (such as pneumonia, heart failure, and pleural effusion)
- Increased thickness of the chest wall
- Over-inflation of a part of the lungs (emphysema can cause this)
- Reduced airflow to part of the lungs
There are several types of abnormal breath sounds. The 4 most common are:
1. Rales - Small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lungs. They are heard when a person breathes in (inhales). They are believed to occur when air opens closed air spaces. Rales can be further described as moist, dry, fine, and coarse.
2. Rhonchi - Sounds that resemble snoring. They occur when air is blocked or air flow becomes rough through the large airways.
3. Stridor - Wheeze-like sound heard when a person breathes. Usually it is due to a blockage of airflow in the windpipe (trachea) or in the back of the throat.
4.Wheezing - High-pitched sounds produced by narrowed airways. Wheezing and other abnormal sounds can sometimes be heard without a stethoscope.
Causes of abnormal breath sounds may
- Acute bronchitis
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Chronic bronchitis
- Congestive heart failure
- Emphysema
- Interstitial lung disease
- Foreign body obstruction of the airway
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary edema
- Tracheobronchitis
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