Types of Breath Sounds

Alcohol, caffeine, stimulants, and AFib Alcohol. If you have AFib, pre-dinner cocktails, or even a few beers while watching a football game could pose a problem. Research shows that a moderate to high alcohol intake increases a person’s risk for an AFib episode.

Getting rid of crackles requires treating their cause. Doctors usually treat bacterial pneumonia and bronchitis with antibiotics. A viral lung infections often has to run its course, but your doctor may treat it with antiviral medications. With any lung infection, you should get plenty of rest, stay well-hydrated, and avoid lung irritants.

Rales are abnormal lung sounds characterized by discontinuous clicking or rattling sounds. They can sound like salt dropped onto a hot pan or like cellophane being crumpled. What about crackles? Crackles and rales mean the same thing. Refer to our 'crackles' page for more information on fine vs coarse crackles, along with patient recordings for each.

Rhonchi are continuous low pitched, rattling lung sounds that often resemble snoring. Obstruction or secretions in larger airways are frequent causes of rhonchi. They can be heard in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, or cystic fibrosis.

Stridor is an abnormal, high-pitched, musical breathing sound. It is caused by a blockage in the throat or voice box (larynx). It is most often heard when taking in a breath.

Breath sounds simply explained. Extensive library of sounds, with lessons, including multiple types of wheezes, crackles (rales), rhonchi, vesicular, bronchial and voiced sounds.

High-pitched breath sounds are often classified as wheezing. The sounds made are often described as having a musical or squeaky quality to them. It may sound like a person is whistling when breathing. While high-pitched wheezing most often occurs when breathing out, it can also sometimes occur when breathing in.