Want to Know How to Stop Wheezing? Try These 6 Helpful Tips.

Allergies, infections, COPD, and other conditions can tighten the airways, producing the whistling sound known as wheezing when you breathe in or out. Since wheezing can indicate something more serious, see your doctor to rule that out — in the meantime, these tips may help reduce it.

How to Stop Wheezing at Home

These tips can help reduce wheezing, but they aren't a substitute for treatment — let your healthcare provider know about the condition so they can assess and treat it.

• Drink warm liquids — warm water and herbal teas help hydrate and break up stubborn mucus that can cause congestion and wheezing.
• Breathe in moist air — a hot, steamy shower with the doors closed, a humidifier, or a steam room can loosen mucus and ease breathing (avoid the dry, hot air of a sauna).
• Refrain from smoking — smoking (and secondhand smoke) irritates the airways and raises the risk of conditions like emphysema and chronic bronchitis that cause wheezing in COPD; smoke from grills and fireplaces can also contribute.
• Use the pursed-lip breathing technique — relax the neck and shoulders, breathe in through the nose for a count of two, purse your lips as if to whistle, and exhale slowly for a count of four; repeat as needed to keep airways open longer and slow breathing.
• Avoid exercising in cold, dry weather — cold, dry air can tighten the airways and trigger wheezing (exercise-induced bronchoconstriction), so consider exercising indoors instead.
• Add fruits and vegetables to your diet — foods rich in vitamins C, D, and E (such as broccoli, oranges, bell peppers, spinach, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, almonds, egg yolks, and dairy) may help improve respiratory symptoms.

What's the Takeaway?

Wheezing itself isn't dangerous, but it can signal a condition that is. Visit a pulmonologist like the team at Pulmonary Medical Consultants to have your condition assessed — call (281) 357-1300.