What do coarse lung sounds

Crackles are also known as alveolar rales and are the sounds heard in a lung field that has fluid in the small airways. The sound crackles create are fine, short, high-pitched, intermittently crackling sounds.

The cause of crackles can be from air passing through fluid, pus or mucus. It is commonly heard in the bases of the lung lobes during inspiration. The sound quality of fine crackles is similar to the sound of hair rubbed between your fingers near the ear and may be heard in congestive heart failure and pulmonary fibrosis. Coarse crackles are lower-pitched and moist-sounding, like pouring water out of a bottle or ripping open velcro.

This lung sound is often a sign of adult respiratory distress syndrome ARDS , early congestive heart failure, asthma and pulmonary oedema. Stridor is a continuous, high-pitched, crowing sound heard predominantly on inspiration, over the upper airway.

Stridor may be a sign of a life-threatening condition and should be treated as an emergency situation. It usually indicates the partial obstruction of the larger airways, such as the trachea or a main bronchus, and requires immediate attention. It is also the most common type of breath sound heard in children with croup, though it is important to differentiate between croup and a foreign body airway obstruction.

A pleural friction rub is caused by the inflammation of the visceral and parietal pleurae. These membranes are usually coated in a protective fluid, but when inflamed, they stick together and make a sound like a harsh grating or creaking. A pleural friction rub often causes a great deal of pain, and the patient will splint their chest and resist breathing deeply to compensate. We discuss what to do when an attack hits…. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.

Anyone can develop pneumonia, but certain groups of people…. The process of dying is complex, and a death rattle is an initial indication that death is approaching.

It occurs when a person is unable to clear…. Abnormal breath sounds: Causes and treatment. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Types of breath sounds Causes Diagnosis Treatment Seeing a doctor Breath sounds, also called lung sounds, are the noises that the structures in the lungs make when a person breathes in and out.

Types of breath sounds. Share on Pinterest Abnormal breathing often indicates an underlying medical issue. Share on Pinterest An X-ray may help to diagnose the cause of abnormal breathing. When to see a doctor. Share on Pinterest Seek emergency treatment for sudden or severe breathing difficulties. Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.

Related Coverage. What to do at home for an asthma attack Asthma attacks can be frightening, especially if a person is unprepared. These sounds are formed when air moves into closed spaces. This usually occurs in the smaller parts of the lungs, like the alveoli. These are tiny sacs of air and inflate and deflate with each breath. When these tiny sacs are damaged or weighed down with fluid or mucus, they can make a crackling sound as they attempt to fill with air. Rales are usually broken up into more specific types, based on the way they sound.

Types of rales include:. Listen to rales here on the Medzcool YouTube channel. It can be difficult to differentiate abnormal lung sounds from one another — and it can be just as tricky to find out what is causing these sounds. While both sounds can be caused by infections and fluid buildup in the lungs, there are a few conditions that are more unique to each sound. You may undergo imaging studies including:. If these abnormal lungs are detected, a healthcare professional will try to determine the exact cause.

Treatments will focus on relieving underlying chronic causes or clearing up short-term or acute infections. For example. Some examples of medications you may be instructed to take to either clear or open your airways include:. If you experience severe shortness of breath, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or a bluish tinge to your lips or fingernails, you should seek immediate medical care.

Breath sounds can provide a lot of information about the health of your lungs. Certain sounds are created by specific conditions. If you notice any unusual sounds when you breathe in and out or have ongoing respiratory problems, be sure to see a medical professional.

Stridor is a high-pitched, wheezing sound caused by disrupted airflow. Learn about types, stridor in children vs. Excess fluid in your lungs can cause bibasilar crackles. Learn more about the conditions that may cause this.