Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses of WheezingHome Remedies and LifestyleOTC MedicationsPrescriptionsSpecial TherapiesComplementary/AlternativeFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes of Wheezing
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
OTC Medications
Prescriptions
Special Therapies
Complementary/Alternative
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no single treatment for wheezing, as there are multiple potentialcauses. It could be self-resolving or a sign of a serious condition. In some cases, measures such as sipping hot tea or quitting smoking may be enough to alleviate wheezing. In others, prescription medications such as corticosteroids or bronchodilators may be necessary.
If you develop unexplained wheezing, it’s recommended that you consult with your healthcare provider right away.
Laura Porter / Verywell
It can also be due to lifestyle factors or events such as smoking, taking certain medications, choking, or inhaling a foreign object.
Home remedies are rarely sufficient as standalone treatments for wheezing, but most aren’t likely to be harmful and may help to support more aggressive measures when necessary.
Hot Drinks
According to a 2010 review in theCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,caffeine acts similarly to the drug theophylline and may improve airway function, albeit modestly, for up to four hours in people with asthma.
Steam Inhalation
However, steam inhalation, while comforting, has not been shown to control symptoms of acute respiratory infections and may, in fact, allow an infection to progress if it is used in place of antibiotics.Before breathing over a pot of steamy water or stepping into a hot shower, check with your healthcare provider to make sure you won’t be doing more harm than good.
Breathing Exercises
Breathing exercisescan benefit people with wheezing of any sort. There are two exercises in particular that may be helpful.
A 2019 study inRespiratory Carereported that belly breathing and pursed-lip breathing are able to improve lung volume and slow the rate of breathing in people with COPD, but do not necessarily improve dyspnea.
Smoking Cessation
If you experience wheezing, kick the habit and make every effort to avoid secondhand smoke. If you have chronic or recurrent wheezing, speak with your healthcare provider about smoking cessation programs and aids, many of which are fully covered under theAffordable Care Act.
Vaping, marijuana smoking, and hookahs should also be avoided.
How to Complete a Smoking Cessation Program
Avoiding Triggers
Identifying triggers can sometimes be difficult. To home in on those that may play a role in your wheezing, keep a symptom diary detailing the events or substances that you’ve been exposed to, along with the dates and details of any breathing problems you may have experienced.
Over time, patterns may develop that you can share with anallergist, who is specially trained to identify allergy and asthma triggers.
Humidifiers and Air Filters
Some humidifiers are equipped with HEPA filters that can remove pollen, dust, and other irritants from the air. Alternatively, you can buy a separate multifilter air purifier equipped with both a HEPA filter and an activated charcoal filter.
Choose an air purifier that’s the appropriate size for the room it will be used in and has a fine particle rating of 2.5 (PM 2.5), meaning it can remove some of the finest airborne particles.
The 8 Best Air Purifiers for Allergies, Tested and Reviewed
Over-the-Counter Medications
OTC Bronchodilators
Common side effects of OTC asthma inhalers include:
Neither Asthmanefrin nor Primatene Mist should ever be used for any condition other than asthma. They cannot treat respiratory infections or COPD and can make these and other conditions worse if appropriate treatment is delayed.
OTC Antihistamines
Newer-generation antihistamines available over the counter are less sedating and can usually provide relief within 30 minutes. These include:
Antihistamines are particularly effective in reducing the frequency or severity of wheezing and shortness of breath in people withallergic asthma.
Should I Take Allegra, Claritin, or Zyrtec?
OTC Anti-Inflammatory Pain Relievers
Never give aspirin to a child or teenager with a viral infection or fever. This medication is known to lead toReye syndrome, a potentially severe condition that can cause swelling of the brain, liver damage, and even death.
How Asthma Is Diagnosed
Wheezing associated with asthma and COPD are commonly treated with prescription inhaled and oral bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and, in some cases, antihistamines.
Short-term use of bronchodilators as well as antibiotics to treat the underlying infection may also effectively treat bronchial infections and relieve symptoms.
Bronchodilators
Bronchodilatorsdeliver medications either directly to the lungs or into the bloodstream to open and relax narrowed airways. There are two types:
How Asthma Is Treated
Corticosteroids
Inhaled corticosteroids are often taken with long-acting inhaled bronchodilators to provide better control of COPD or asthma symptoms. There are also inhalers like Advair Diskus that combine corticosteroids, like fluticasone, with a long-acting bronchodilator, like salmeterol, for people with moderate to severe COPD.
Oral corticosteroidsare used for the short-term control of severe COPD and asthma symptoms and then gradually tapered off in favor of inhaled corticosteroids.
How COPD Is Treated
Antihistamines
For people with severe or chronic allergy symptoms, allergists will often prescribe antihistamines that are stronger or longer-lasting than their OTC counterparts.
These include:
The first-generation antihistamines (Palgic, Periactin, and Vistaril) can make you drowsy and are preferred if an allergy is keeping you up at night. The second-generation antihistamines (Clarinex and Xyzal) are less sedating and can be used during the day.
How Allergies Are Treated
Other Prescription Drugs
Depending on the underlying cause of wheezing, other drugs may be used to prevent or control symptoms.
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Wheezing associated with the chronic respiratory diseases COPD, cystic fibrosis, andbronchiectasisoften benefit from manual or mechanical therapies to ease breathing obstruction.
Surgery is rarely a treatment for wheezing. Even in instances where there is a structural defect, likevocal cord dysfunction, surgery is only considered after all other non-surgical options have failed to provide relief.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Alternative medicine practitioners may turn to any of several approaches to relieve wheezing or prevent spasms and constriction of the airways that lead to acute respiratory symptoms.
It’s important to note that most have little scientific evidence to support their use. If you decide to incorporate complementary medicine into your treatment plan, let your healthcare provider know so they can track any side effects and prevent drug interactions.
Aromatherapy
But despite the purported benefits, the inhalation of certain essential oils can worsen rather than improve respiratory symptoms in some people.
A 2018 study in theJournal of Asthma and Allergyfound that inhalation of eucalyptus and other oils containing pinene may increase airway inflammation, reduce the peak expiratory flow, and increase nasal congestion.
What Is the Proof That Aromatherapy Works?
Acupuncture
Acupuncture, which involves inserting slender needles into key points on the body for therapeutic purposes, has not been found to successfully relieve acute asthma symptoms.Even so, the perceived benefit of acupuncture has led many to explore this alternative therapy.
According to a 2011 study in theNew England Journal of Medicine,simulated “sham” acupuncture reduced the perception of chest tightness and breathing difficulty in people with asthma due to a placebo effect but did nothing to improve lung function or provide better asthma control.
Buteyko Breathing
The technique involves various steps including nasal breathing, reduced breathing (consciously reducing either the breathing rate or volume), and relaxation.
Although a 2013 study from the Philippines concluded that Buteyko breathing reduced the need for inhaled corticosteroids in people with asthma, the study was small (16 people) and used subjective questionnaires rather than lung function tests.
According to a 2020 review in theCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,the use of Buteyko breathing or other alternative breathing practices (likepranayama) did not translate to improvements in people with asthma.
Speleotherapy
Speleotherapy, an alternative therapy used in Central and Eastern Europe, is based on the hypothesis that the ongoing inhalation of salty air in caves and other subterranean environments can remodel airways and improve symptoms of asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Beyond the impracticality of the approach, little more than generalized claims currently support the use of speleotherapy for any medical condition.
A Word From Verywell
Chronic or recurrent wheezing should never be ignored or self-treated without a medical diagnosis. If you have new, persistent, or worsening wheezing, you should see a medical professional for appropriate evaluation and treatment. Ignoring symptoms like these can allow a respiratory condition to progress and worsen. With diseases like COPD, this can lead to irreversible lung damage and an increased risk of premature death.
Getting the correct diagnosis and treatment can go a long way toward protecting your lungs as well as your general health and well-being.
Learn MoreEssential Oils for Bronchitis
No. If you are having a severe asthma attack, you may not hear any wheezing.This is because so little air is moving through the air passages that it makes no noise. If symptoms don’t improve, it could be a life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical attention.Learn MoreComplications of Asthma
No. If you are having a severe asthma attack, you may not hear any wheezing.This is because so little air is moving through the air passages that it makes no noise. If symptoms don’t improve, it could be a life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical attention.
Learn MoreComplications of Asthma
Learn MoreCan Asthma Be Cured?
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Wheezing.Welsh EJ, Bara A, Barley E, Cates CJ.Caffeine for asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2010;(1):CD001112. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001112.pub2Little P, Moore M, Kelly J, et al.Ibuprofen, paracetamol, and steam for patients with respiratory tract infections in primary care: pragmatic randomised factorial trial.BMJ. 2013;347:f6041. doi:10.1136/bmj.f6041Mendes LP, Moraes KS, Hoffman M, et al.Effects of diaphragmatic breathing with and without pursed-lips breathing in subjects with COPD.Respir Care. 2019;64(2):136-44. doi:10.4187/respcare.06319Wylam ME, Sathish V, Vanoosten SK, et al.Mechanisms of cigarette smoke effects on human airway smooth muscle.PLoS ONE.2015;10(6):e0128778. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128778Gautier C, Charpin D.Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma.J Asthma Allergy. 2017;10:47-56. doi:10.2147/JAA.S121276Liao J, Ye W, Pillarisetti A, Clasen TF.Modeling the impact of an indoor air filter on air pollution exposure reduction and associated mortality in urban Delhi household.Int J Environ Res Public Health.2019;16(8). doi:10.3390/ijerph16081391U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.Summary review for regulatory action: Primatene Mist (epinephrine inhalant aerosol).Cleveland Clinic.Epinephrine inhalation aerosol.Chapman J, Arnold JK.Reye syndrome. In: StatPearls.Horvath G, Acs K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti‐inflammatory action: a review.Flavor Fragrance J.2015 Sep;30(5):331-41. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Gibbs JE.Essential oils, asthma, thunderstorms, and plant gases: a prospective study of respiratory response to ambient biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs).J Asthma Allergy.2019;12:169-82. doi:10.2147/JAA.S193211National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Asthma: In depth.Wechsler ME, Kelley JM, Boyd IO, et al.Active albuterol or placebo, sham acupuncture, or no intervention in asthma.N Engl J Med. 2011;365(2):119-26. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1103319Hassan Z, Riad N, Ahmed F.Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on patients with bronchial asthma.Egypt J Chest Dis TB. 2012;61(4):235-41. doi:10.1016/j.ejcdt.2012.08.006Santino TA, Chaves GS, Freitas DA, Fregonezi GA, Mendonça KM.Breathing exercises for adults with asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2020;3:CD001277. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001277.pub4Aĭrapetova NS, Rassulova MA, Antonovich IV, et al.The rationale for the combined application of cryomassage and silvinite speleotherapy for the rehabilitative treatment of the patients with bronchial asthma.Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult.2011;(5):12-7.Ueno-Iio T, Shibakura M, Yokota K, et al.Lavender essential oil inhalation suppresses allergic airway inflammation and mucous cell hyperplasia in a murine model of asthma.Life Sciences. 2014;108(2):109-115. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2014.05.018American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Signs of Asthma.Santino TA, Chaves GS, Freitas DA, Fregonezi GA, Mendonça KM.Breathing exercises for adults with asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;3(3):CD001277. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001277.pub4
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mount Sinai.Wheezing.Welsh EJ, Bara A, Barley E, Cates CJ.Caffeine for asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2010;(1):CD001112. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001112.pub2Little P, Moore M, Kelly J, et al.Ibuprofen, paracetamol, and steam for patients with respiratory tract infections in primary care: pragmatic randomised factorial trial.BMJ. 2013;347:f6041. doi:10.1136/bmj.f6041Mendes LP, Moraes KS, Hoffman M, et al.Effects of diaphragmatic breathing with and without pursed-lips breathing in subjects with COPD.Respir Care. 2019;64(2):136-44. doi:10.4187/respcare.06319Wylam ME, Sathish V, Vanoosten SK, et al.Mechanisms of cigarette smoke effects on human airway smooth muscle.PLoS ONE.2015;10(6):e0128778. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128778Gautier C, Charpin D.Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma.J Asthma Allergy. 2017;10:47-56. doi:10.2147/JAA.S121276Liao J, Ye W, Pillarisetti A, Clasen TF.Modeling the impact of an indoor air filter on air pollution exposure reduction and associated mortality in urban Delhi household.Int J Environ Res Public Health.2019;16(8). doi:10.3390/ijerph16081391U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.Summary review for regulatory action: Primatene Mist (epinephrine inhalant aerosol).Cleveland Clinic.Epinephrine inhalation aerosol.Chapman J, Arnold JK.Reye syndrome. In: StatPearls.Horvath G, Acs K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti‐inflammatory action: a review.Flavor Fragrance J.2015 Sep;30(5):331-41. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Gibbs JE.Essential oils, asthma, thunderstorms, and plant gases: a prospective study of respiratory response to ambient biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs).J Asthma Allergy.2019;12:169-82. doi:10.2147/JAA.S193211National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Asthma: In depth.Wechsler ME, Kelley JM, Boyd IO, et al.Active albuterol or placebo, sham acupuncture, or no intervention in asthma.N Engl J Med. 2011;365(2):119-26. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1103319Hassan Z, Riad N, Ahmed F.Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on patients with bronchial asthma.Egypt J Chest Dis TB. 2012;61(4):235-41. doi:10.1016/j.ejcdt.2012.08.006Santino TA, Chaves GS, Freitas DA, Fregonezi GA, Mendonça KM.Breathing exercises for adults with asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2020;3:CD001277. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001277.pub4Aĭrapetova NS, Rassulova MA, Antonovich IV, et al.The rationale for the combined application of cryomassage and silvinite speleotherapy for the rehabilitative treatment of the patients with bronchial asthma.Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult.2011;(5):12-7.Ueno-Iio T, Shibakura M, Yokota K, et al.Lavender essential oil inhalation suppresses allergic airway inflammation and mucous cell hyperplasia in a murine model of asthma.Life Sciences. 2014;108(2):109-115. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2014.05.018American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Signs of Asthma.Santino TA, Chaves GS, Freitas DA, Fregonezi GA, Mendonça KM.Breathing exercises for adults with asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;3(3):CD001277. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001277.pub4
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mount Sinai.Wheezing.Welsh EJ, Bara A, Barley E, Cates CJ.Caffeine for asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2010;(1):CD001112. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001112.pub2Little P, Moore M, Kelly J, et al.Ibuprofen, paracetamol, and steam for patients with respiratory tract infections in primary care: pragmatic randomised factorial trial.BMJ. 2013;347:f6041. doi:10.1136/bmj.f6041Mendes LP, Moraes KS, Hoffman M, et al.Effects of diaphragmatic breathing with and without pursed-lips breathing in subjects with COPD.Respir Care. 2019;64(2):136-44. doi:10.4187/respcare.06319Wylam ME, Sathish V, Vanoosten SK, et al.Mechanisms of cigarette smoke effects on human airway smooth muscle.PLoS ONE.2015;10(6):e0128778. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128778Gautier C, Charpin D.Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma.J Asthma Allergy. 2017;10:47-56. doi:10.2147/JAA.S121276Liao J, Ye W, Pillarisetti A, Clasen TF.Modeling the impact of an indoor air filter on air pollution exposure reduction and associated mortality in urban Delhi household.Int J Environ Res Public Health.2019;16(8). doi:10.3390/ijerph16081391U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.Summary review for regulatory action: Primatene Mist (epinephrine inhalant aerosol).Cleveland Clinic.Epinephrine inhalation aerosol.Chapman J, Arnold JK.Reye syndrome. In: StatPearls.Horvath G, Acs K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti‐inflammatory action: a review.Flavor Fragrance J.2015 Sep;30(5):331-41. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Gibbs JE.Essential oils, asthma, thunderstorms, and plant gases: a prospective study of respiratory response to ambient biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs).J Asthma Allergy.2019;12:169-82. doi:10.2147/JAA.S193211National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Asthma: In depth.Wechsler ME, Kelley JM, Boyd IO, et al.Active albuterol or placebo, sham acupuncture, or no intervention in asthma.N Engl J Med. 2011;365(2):119-26. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1103319Hassan Z, Riad N, Ahmed F.Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on patients with bronchial asthma.Egypt J Chest Dis TB. 2012;61(4):235-41. doi:10.1016/j.ejcdt.2012.08.006Santino TA, Chaves GS, Freitas DA, Fregonezi GA, Mendonça KM.Breathing exercises for adults with asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2020;3:CD001277. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001277.pub4Aĭrapetova NS, Rassulova MA, Antonovich IV, et al.The rationale for the combined application of cryomassage and silvinite speleotherapy for the rehabilitative treatment of the patients with bronchial asthma.Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult.2011;(5):12-7.Ueno-Iio T, Shibakura M, Yokota K, et al.Lavender essential oil inhalation suppresses allergic airway inflammation and mucous cell hyperplasia in a murine model of asthma.Life Sciences. 2014;108(2):109-115. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2014.05.018American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Signs of Asthma.Santino TA, Chaves GS, Freitas DA, Fregonezi GA, Mendonça KM.Breathing exercises for adults with asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;3(3):CD001277. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001277.pub4
Mount Sinai.Wheezing.
Welsh EJ, Bara A, Barley E, Cates CJ.Caffeine for asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2010;(1):CD001112. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001112.pub2
Little P, Moore M, Kelly J, et al.Ibuprofen, paracetamol, and steam for patients with respiratory tract infections in primary care: pragmatic randomised factorial trial.BMJ. 2013;347:f6041. doi:10.1136/bmj.f6041
Mendes LP, Moraes KS, Hoffman M, et al.Effects of diaphragmatic breathing with and without pursed-lips breathing in subjects with COPD.Respir Care. 2019;64(2):136-44. doi:10.4187/respcare.06319
Wylam ME, Sathish V, Vanoosten SK, et al.Mechanisms of cigarette smoke effects on human airway smooth muscle.PLoS ONE.2015;10(6):e0128778. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128778
Gautier C, Charpin D.Environmental triggers and avoidance in the management of asthma.J Asthma Allergy. 2017;10:47-56. doi:10.2147/JAA.S121276
Liao J, Ye W, Pillarisetti A, Clasen TF.Modeling the impact of an indoor air filter on air pollution exposure reduction and associated mortality in urban Delhi household.Int J Environ Res Public Health.2019;16(8). doi:10.3390/ijerph16081391
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.Summary review for regulatory action: Primatene Mist (epinephrine inhalant aerosol).
Cleveland Clinic.Epinephrine inhalation aerosol.
Chapman J, Arnold JK.Reye syndrome. In: StatPearls.
Horvath G, Acs K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti‐inflammatory action: a review.Flavor Fragrance J.2015 Sep;30(5):331-41. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252
Gibbs JE.Essential oils, asthma, thunderstorms, and plant gases: a prospective study of respiratory response to ambient biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs).J Asthma Allergy.2019;12:169-82. doi:10.2147/JAA.S193211
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Asthma: In depth.
Wechsler ME, Kelley JM, Boyd IO, et al.Active albuterol or placebo, sham acupuncture, or no intervention in asthma.N Engl J Med. 2011;365(2):119-26. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1103319
Hassan Z, Riad N, Ahmed F.Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on patients with bronchial asthma.Egypt J Chest Dis TB. 2012;61(4):235-41. doi:10.1016/j.ejcdt.2012.08.006
Santino TA, Chaves GS, Freitas DA, Fregonezi GA, Mendonça KM.Breathing exercises for adults with asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2020;3:CD001277. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001277.pub4
Aĭrapetova NS, Rassulova MA, Antonovich IV, et al.The rationale for the combined application of cryomassage and silvinite speleotherapy for the rehabilitative treatment of the patients with bronchial asthma.Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult.2011;(5):12-7.
Ueno-Iio T, Shibakura M, Yokota K, et al.Lavender essential oil inhalation suppresses allergic airway inflammation and mucous cell hyperplasia in a murine model of asthma.Life Sciences. 2014;108(2):109-115. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2014.05.018
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Signs of Asthma.
Santino TA, Chaves GS, Freitas DA, Fregonezi GA, Mendonça KM.Breathing exercises for adults with asthma.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;3(3):CD001277. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001277.pub4
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