"Wheezing" or panting with crackles is a term for an exhalation or inhalation accompanied by a high-pitched whistling noise usually caused by secretory material in the bronchial or lung cavities. To stop the rattle it is necessary to clear the airways and facilitate the path of the air. Depending on the problem that causes it, the intervention of a specialized doctor may also be necessary.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Purify the Air
Step 1. Keep your environment clean
Eliminating airborne irritants can stop rattles, and consequent breathing difficulties, caused by external sources, so you should keep the air as clean as possible where you live and where you work.
- Dust, sweep, and vacuum your home and office regularly. You may need to work out every day if you have pets to keep coat and dead skin cells in check.
- Clean or replace the filters of heating and air conditioning systems. Use hypoallergenic filters to block the substances that irritate your breathing the most.
- Put a small air purifier into operation in the rooms where you spend the most time and especially in your office and bedroom.
- Don't smoke and don't share your space with smokers. You should also avoid going to industrial areas and where the air is heavily polluted.
Step 2. Wear a scarf in cold weather
Cold air can actually cause stress to the lungs and airways, which can trigger or worsen the rattle. If the temperature is cold enough that you can see your breath in vapor form, you should wrap a scarf around your nose and mouth before going out.
The scarf should warm the air before it reaches the airways. In addition, it can serve as an additional filter to keep out airborne viruses that spread in the cold winter months and cause flu and colds
Step 3. Avoid potential allergens and other triggers
Exposure to food and environmental allergens can cause wheezing, and mucus-producing foods can make it worse. Stay away from all this as much as possible.
- Foods that produce mucus include milk and dairy products, bananas and sugar.
- If you have trouble identifying your allergens, you may need to see your doctor to perform an allergy test.
- Treat seasonal allergies that can't be avoided with over-the-counter antihistamines. For more severe ones, it may be necessary to resort to more specific prescription drugs.
Step 4. Inhale the steam
Take a hot shower or run a vaporizer in the room you are currently in. When you breathe in steam, the heat can relax the tension in the airways, and the moisture can reduce the mucus that clogs them.
For the same effect, try boiling 1 liter of water and 8-10 drops of peppermint essence. When the water begins to evaporate, take it to a small closed room and breathe in the steam. Don't keep your face facing the steam, however, as you could burn yourself
Step 5. Stay away from strong and penetrating odors
These aren't a problem when the lungs are okay, but if the airways are irritated, they can clog them even more. Doing so can cause the rattle or make it worse.
The smell of chemicals, such as paint and detergents, can be the biggest culprit, but you should also avoid things like perfumes and highly scented soaps or shampoos
Part 2 of 4: Change the Power
Step 1. Follow a healthy and balanced diet
This will allow to keep the organism in the best conditions of health and to improve its functional capacities. This also means improving the health and functioning of the lungs and generally reducing the rattle.
Diet can be especially important if the respiratory problem is caused by asthma or anxiety. Proper nutrition relieves the stress to which the body is subjected and also has positive effects on the lungs and airways
Step 2. Stay hydrated
Drink more water than usual when the rattle begins. Instead of targeting 8 glasses a day, try drinking 10-12.
- Drinking water can thin and loosen mucus, making airway congestion and subsequent rattling less likely.
- Other moisturizing drinks, such as herbal teas and citrus juices, can also help, but you should avoid those that can produce more mucus (milk) and, in any case, those that can have dehydrating effects (alcohol and caffeine).
Step 3. Drink something hot
Hot drinks hydrate the body while performing a calming function of the airways, so they can release them and even stop the rattles.
- Herbal teas are some of the best solutions to the problem. Try sipping on ginger tea, chamomile tea, or a licorice root tea. Adding 1 tablespoon of honey to the drink can also relieve sore and sore airways and act as a mild antiseptic.
- Soups are another good choice and especially soupy ones. Creamy soups can't be of much help because the milk they contain promotes mucus production and reduces the passage of air.
- Coffee can also offer some benefit when consumed in limited quantities. Caffeine can dilate the airways, making breathing easier and putting an end to gasps. However, as it also has a dehydrating effect, drink a few cups of coffee a day and balance them with plenty of moisturizing fluids.
Step 4. Take fish oil capsules
Some research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids can strengthen the lungs. Obviously they are not a solution to ending the rattles immediately, but they can help solve the problem in the long run.
Fish oil capsules guarantee the omega-3 supply to your diet, but you can also achieve the same result through the consumption of fish - salmon, mackerel and sardines
Step 5. Try something spicy
If you've done this a few times during a cold, you probably already know that spicy foods can relieve it quickly. Similarly, eating foods that contain cayenne pepper can help reduce the rattle.
Pepper makes the body fluids active, so it pushes them harder and reduces mucus. This should make breathing easier
Part 3 of 4: Strengthening the Lungs
Step 1. Calm down
Your body will naturally be tense when breathing difficulties such as wheezing occur, and as a result, the lungs and throat may become blocked even more. Relaxing the mind and body can relieve tension and facilitate breathing by bringing it back to normal.
Almost any activity that relaxes you without straining your lungs can provide some benefit. For example, meditating, praying, listening to soothing music, or taking a hot bath could work wonders. Avoid activities such as smoking or drinking alcohol, as they can quickly calm the mind, but put stress on the body, so they will only make the wheezing worse
Step 2. Unlock the nose
Nasal breathing filters out more allergens from the environment and can ultimately reduce the rattle and related breathing difficulties. Before you start breathing through your nose, though, you'll need to unblock it.
- Calm your breathing as much as you can, then take a small breath (inhale and exhale) through your nose. If you can't breathe through your nose, use one corner of your mouth.
- Plug your nose by pinching it with your fingers, close your mouth and hold your breath. Gently shake your head up and down as you hold the air and continue until you feel a strong urge to breathe.
- When you inhale, clear your nose, but keep your mouth closed. Breathe gently through your nose, inhale and exhale, and resume normal breathing as quickly as you can.
- After two minutes you can repeat the exercise if your nose is still blocked.
Step 3. Warm up your chest and upper back
The rattle is associated with nerve and muscle tension in the chest, so warming up this area of the body can help you relax and reduce some of your breathing difficulties.
Keep a warm towel on your chest, upper back, shoulders, and neck for about 10 minutes. Repeat every 30 minutes for the duration of the symptoms
Step 4. Practice breathing slowly
Hyperventilation can cause wheezing or make it worse. If this is the symptomatology, learning to slow your breathing can prevent the lungs from hyperventilating and relieve the related breathing problem.
Take a few minutes to focus on your breathing. During this time it takes 13 to 16 seconds for each full breath (inhale and exhale). Breathe through your nose because doing it through your mouth can encourage faster breaths
Step 5. Practice canonical breathing exercises
These should help improve lung capacity and endurance. They can't stop the rattle right away, but over time, overall lung health should improve and lead to fewer episodes.
- Sign up for a yoga or mindful meditation class. In both you will find instructions for proper breathing and you should learn several exercises designed specifically to strengthen the strength of the lungs.
- Singing lessons may also include instructions and tips for how to improve lung capacity, so it may be another option to consider if yoga isn't for you.
Step 6. Strengthen your lungs with exercises
Cardiovascular exercises, in general, can improve the overall health of the body and over time strengthen lung capacity.
- Start gradually by incorporating light exercises into your daily routine. For example, you could start with a 30-minute walk each day. After a few weeks you can speed up and run in short strides. After a few more weeks you can move on to running.
- Working gradually is usually better than training hard right away. Moving on to more strenuous exercises without your lungs being prepared to handle the strain can actually make the breathing problem worse.
Part 4 of 4: Seeking Specialist Assistance
Step 1. Have the cause diagnosed
The rattle is just a symptom of another health problem. It is advisable to schedule an appointment with your doctor to determine the causes if the episodes have lasted for a few days.
- Your doctor will ask you questions about symptoms and triggers. He can also listen to the lungs with his stethoscope and may order a full breath test if you have never done any tests. It may also require other tests, including blood tests and a chest X-ray.
- Health conditions that can normally cause a rattle include asthma, allergies, bronchitis, other respiratory infections, and anxiety disorders.
Step 2. Treat the cause
Professional treatment for rattle varies according to the condition it is associated with. After diagnosis, work with your doctor to define the best treatment taking into account your specific health problem.
- The wheezing caused by asthma can be treated "urgently" with inhalations of bronchodilators and corticosteroids or with a combination of delayed coverage of the previous two and with pills for asthma control.
- The rattle caused by allergies can be avoided by avoiding all the allergens that create intolerance phenomena. The doctor may also prescribe antihistamine pills with a non-sedating effect.
- The specialist may prescribe inhalations of a bronchodilator to treat the rattle caused by bronchitis and also prescribe an antibiotic in case there is an ongoing bacterial infection.
- Patients for whom the respiratory problem is caused by anxiety should first seek treatment for this disorder. Anxiety disorder can be treated with medication, psychological therapy, or a combination of the two.
Step 3. Learn to recognize when emergency interventions are needed
When the rattle prevents breathing making it very difficult, you should seek emergency medical treatment. You should also do this if the disorder is accompanied by lethargy, dizziness, or a high fever.
