Bronchial breathing is a noise produced during inhalation and exhalation, which in a person who does not suffer from any diseases of the pulmonary system is heard in the trachea, larynx and bronchi. This is physiological breathing. But it can also be pathological. In this case, breathing is heard outside these areas. Sometimes a painful process can be diagnosed even with an external examination. In pathology, the noise is caused by seals or the presence of cavities in the lungs, which will connect with the bronchi. Such processes require immediate relief. The course of the disease determines how long the therapy will continue and after what period of time the noises will disappear.
Types of abnormal breathing
If the respiratory process extends to the chest, we can say that it is pathological. This phenomenon is caused by diseases such as pneumonia, lung cancer and others. The pathology often manifests itself inrespiratory diseases that are chronic.
Pathological bronchial breathing may be accompanied by bronchospasm and other disorders. Each disease requires individually selected therapy. Antibiotics, bronchodilators and other drugs are used.
Bronchial breathing can vary in sound intensity depending on the size and degree of the area of induration. Breathing may be loud or quiet.
Loud breathing occurs in a large lesion. If the focus is small and deep, then breathing will be heard quietly.
Bronchial breathing can be:
- amphoric;
- metal;
- stenotic;
- mixed;
- vesicular.
Amphora species
This type of breathing manifests itself in the event of an area of lung damage with smooth walls. The hearth contains air. It communicates with the bronchus. This condition can be caused by a lung abscess after opening, as well as a tuberculous cavity.
Respiration in this case is characterized by rigidity. It is similar to a booming sound that mimics the passage of air through an empty container. Noise is heard both on inspiration and on expiration. Amphoric breathing can be heard provided that the diameter of the affected cavity is 5 mm or more. The duration of such breathing is quite long.
Metal look
This type of breathing is detected whenopen pneumothorax. The sound it produces is very loud. He has a high timbre. Something similar can be heard when hitting a metal object. Such bronchial breathing is heard when cavities appear in the lungs, which are large in size and have smooth walls. The superficial location of the foci is noted.
Stenotic appearance
This type of breathing is caused by a narrowing of the trachea or larynx, which can be observed in the presence of a tumor, edema, or a foreign body.
During the external examination, a stethoscope is used. Often, breathing is inherent in rigidity, and it is heard even without this device, even at a certain distance from a sick person. Such breathing is very similar to a groan, which is distinguished by a sharp long breath. A small amount of air passes through the lungs. The phenomenon can be observed for several days. In this case, everything depends on the severity of the disease and its development.
Mixed type
Vesiculo-bronchial, or mixed type of breathing is inherent in infiltrative tuberculosis or focal inflammation of the lungs. There is such bronchial breathing with bronchitis. Often this phenomenon is a symptom of chronic pneumosclerosis. In this case, the lesions are located very deep in the lung tissue. They are located at a great distance from each other. When inhaling, vesicular breathing is dried, and when exhaling, it is mixed.
The duration of this state can be from several days to several weeks, dependingon the duration of the illness. To alleviate the condition, the doctor prescribes bronchodilators or other means.
Vesicular breathing
Pathological increased vesicular breathing can be heard on both sides, on one side or in a certain area of the chest.
Bilateral breathing is always noted with shortness of breath of any origin. For example, it occurs in diseases of the lungs, heart, pathology of higher nervous activity, metabolic disorders, blood diseases, pulmonary embolism, etc.
A special form of vesicular breathing
There is a separate form of vesicular breathing, which in medicine is called "hard". Most often it is heard on both sides of the chest, but it can also be limited. The basis of its occurrence is a pathological process, manifested in local inflammatory swelling of the bronchial mucosa, their deformation in the chronic course of the disease, the accumulation of secretion and pus in them.
Vesicular breathing is heard during an attack of bronchial asthma. It refers to chronic inflammatory diseases. The disease causes increased activity of the bronchi and their sensitivity to certain allergens, which provokes spasms.
In this case, the movement of the air jet undergoes certain changes. Due to the fact that the lumen in the bronchi becomes unequal, vortex airflows. Vesicular respiration is characterized by roughness, unevenness and roughness. In this case, there is a lengthening of inhalation and exhalation. They are equal in duration.
Imitation of this phenomenon can be achieved by breathing through tightly pursed lips with a slight interruption.
Harsh breathing always indicates the presence of acute or chronic bronchitis. It almost always accompanies focal pneumonia, since this disease also affects the bronchi. Listening to such breathing in the region of the tops of the lungs can give rise to a diagnosis such as tuberculosis or local fibrosis.
An extended exhalation is also a variant of hard vesicular breathing. Its diagnosis is very important. It occurs when the emptying of the alveoli is difficult due to narrowing of the small bronchi.
This process can be observed in diseases such as bronchiolitis or emphysema in combination with bronchitis.
Breathing in bronchial asthma in children is also hard. Children have wheezing, coughing in the morning or at night, and obstructive syndrome.
Additional types of noise
When pathological processes take place in the body, side noises can be heard over the lungs, which join the main ones. They belong to the category of external noise. In this case, wet and dry rales, crepitus and pleural friction rub can be noted.
Occurrence of wheezing
Wheezing is very often diagnosed in diseaseschronic bronchi. In this case, hard breathing is noted, against the background of which a characteristic external sound is captured. Wheezing may be dry or wet.
The wet look is long and musical. Its appearance is caused by an unequal degree of narrowing of the bronchial lumen, which is provoked by the accumulation of mucus. In the process of breathing, wheezing foams a liquid of medium viscosity, after which bubbles form on its surface, which immediately burst. Wet rales are characterized by a fickle character. They disappear after the patient coughs.
Dry rales are heard during inhalation and exhalation. They are always accompanied by hard breathing. Wheezing is also observed in asthmatics.
Breathing in bronchial asthma is determined by increased production of mucus, swelling and thickening of the walls of the bronchi. The narrowing of their gaps causes difficult air ventilation. This entails the appearance of suffocation, wheezing, shortness of breath, hard bronchial breathing.
Crepitation
Crepitation accompanies hard abnormal breathing. This is a side noise, which is caused by the simultaneous sticking of a large number of alveoli. This sound is heard at the peak of inspiration. It is stable because it does not change after coughing.
Crepitation is inherent in people affected by lobar pneumonia. It can be replaced by moist rales after filling the alveoli with viscous mucus. The duration of this process can range from several days to several weeks. To get rid of crepitus, you shouldtreat the underlying disease.
Pleural rub
This sound often accompanies dry pleurisy and is the most striking symptom of this disease. Noise of the pleura is noted on inspiration and expiration. It is like the rustle of sheets of paper. This breathing will be noted in the patient throughout the disease until the cure. This phenomenon occurs in diseases of the respiratory organs of a chronic nature.
Conclusion
Bronchial breathing is a symptom of many pathological processes in the respiratory system. It may sound different. It all depends on the degree of damage to the bronchi and lungs.
As a rule, bronchial breathing disappears after the treatment of the underlying disease. Its persistence is explained by the transition of the disease to a chronic form. Therefore, at the first symptoms of damage to the bronchi or lungs, you should immediately contact a specialist. The doctor will prescribe the necessary examinations and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
