They may also order blood tests to check for signs of underlying conditions. It is likely that a doctor will order other tests, including imaging tests such as a plain film X-ray or CT scan to look at the chest structures. They may also ask when the symptoms began and if anything relieves or provokes them. They may ask about any medication the person is taking or has taken recently. Some doctors also use other listening tools, such as computerized lung sound analysis. This will help to identify the type of abnormal breath sound and narrow down the potential causes. Share on Pinterest An X-ray may help to diagnose the cause of abnormal breathing.Ī doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the individual’s lungs and air passages as they breathe. Stridor can also be a symptom of inflammatory conditions, such as tonsillitis, epiglottitis, or croup (laryngotracheitis). A traumatic neck or chest injury involving the upper airway could result in a blockage too. A blockage may occur if a person breathes in a foreign object, chemical, or other harmful substance. Stridor: Stridor occurs in people with an upper airway blockage.Conditions such as acute bronchitis and COPD may cause rhonchi. There may also be inflammation and fluid in these airways. Rhonchi: Rhonchi occur due to conditions that block airflow through the large airways, including the bronchi.Wheezing: Wheezing is a common symptom of conditions that narrow the small airways in the lungs, such as asthma and COPD.Conditions such as pneumonia or left-sided heart failure may cause this buildup. Crackles: Crackles commonly happen as a result of fluid accumulation in the lungs.pulmonary edema, which may relate to congestive heart failure or end-stage renal diseaseĮach type of breath sound has specific causes:.an object stuck in the lungs or other airways.chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.bronchiectasis, an abnormal widening of the airways in the lungs.The type of breath sound may be different depending on the underlying condition.Ĭommon causes of abnormal breath sounds include: Problems in the lungs or other airways are generally the cause of abnormal breath sounds.

Crackling sound in lungs when exhale