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I am hearing my breathing sound when I exhale hard. Is it normal?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have a small question about exhaling breath sounds. I always listen to my body and make sure everything is as it should. I have mild eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), which makes my nose a little stuffy when in dry environments or the humidity is low. Two weeks ago, I was to hiatal hernia surgery. They did check my lungs and did not say anything. But, I notice that if I listen to my breathing when I forcefully exhale there is a little sound. I am not sure if it is squeezing or whistling. I cannot hear it if I breathe normally in and out. It also depends on my head elevation, either up or down. Should exhale air sound like air coming out? Will it change on the head position?

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anshul Varshney is a highly skilled Critical Care Physician specializing in nephrology, pulmonology, and rheumatology. He is committed to providing advanced, life-saving care to critically ill patients while addressing complex medical conditions affecting the kidneys, lungs, and immune system. His holistic and multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive treatment tailored to individual patient needs.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. We are here to help you. When you listen silently, you can hear the exhalation sound, and that is absolutely normal. A few people have that sound in excess, and that can happen due to nasal polyps, obesity, and breathing disorders. So, if you have any of the above, then it is a concern. Otherwise, generally while in silence everyone hears their own breathing sound.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

When you say exhalation sound, is that noise behind the air is coming out? If someone has wheezing, then the strange exhaling sound heard while breathing normally or when breathing rapidly and hard? I can only hear this sound when I am talking hard breath with the open mouth.

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anshul Varshney is a highly skilled Critical Care Physician specializing in nephrology, pulmonology, and rheumatology. He is committed to providing advanced, life-saving care to critically ill patients while addressing complex medical conditions affecting the kidneys, lungs, and immune system. His holistic and multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive treatment tailored to individual patient needs.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, that is the normal exhaling sound. When it is loud, and everyone can hear it coming out from your lungs, it is called as wheezing. In people who have wheezing, due to any abnormality, they have sounded more than normal breathing, one can appreciate. In fact, it is like if you have heard people with asthma. If you want to know the actual thing, thenask your colleagues or your family members that do they notice any labored breathing out of you? If you do it really, then people must have noticed. This will give you a clear idea.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At February 6, 2017
Reviewed At July 4, 2023

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anshul Varshney is a highly skilled Critical Care Physician specializing in nephrology, pulmonology, and rheumatology. He is committed to providing advanced, life-saving care to critically ill patients while addressing complex medical conditions affecting the kidneys, lungs, and immune system. His holistic and multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive treatment tailored to individual patient needs.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Anshul Varshney is a highly skilled Critical Care Physician specializing in nephrology, pulmonology, and rheumatology. He is committed to providing advanced, life-saving care to critically ill patients while addressing complex medical conditions affecting the kidneys, lungs, and immune system. His holistic and multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive treatment tailored to individual patient needs.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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