What should you know about chest congestion and wheezing?

Wheezing is a musical or whistling sound caused by air moving through narrowed breathing tubes. Acute bronchitis can cause swelling and mucus. Asthma often causes variable wheeze, cough and tightness. COPD may cause persistent airflow limitation and phlegm. Allergic rhinitis can increase throat drainage, while bronchiolitis is a concern mainly in young children. Anaphylaxis can rapidly narrow the airway after an allergen exposure and is an emergency.

Sit upright, keep calm and move away from smoke, dust or fumes. Follow your prescribed asthma or COPD action plan if you have one. Do not use a nebuliser or another person’s medicine without clinical instruction. Note the start time, triggers, fever, cough, phlegm and ability to speak or walk. A clinician may listen to your lungs and check oxygenation and airflow.

Seek emergency help if wheezing starts suddenly after food, medicine or a sting, or occurs with lip or tongue swelling, hives, faintness, blue lips or inability to speak normally. Urgent assessment is also needed for severe breathlessness, exhaustion, chest pain or rapidly worsening symptoms. Arrange prompt review for a first episode, persistent wheeze, fever, or a change from your usual lung symptoms.

Ask what may be narrowing your airways, whether you need a reliever or preventer plan, and how to recognise an attack. Mention allergies, smoking or vaping, previous episodes, current medicines and whether the wheeze is louder when breathing in or out.