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What Causes Gurgling Sound While Breathing?

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Posted on Fri, 17 Apr 2015
Question: When I breathe there a gurgle sound, what do I do?
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It depends on your history

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

the right action is - of course - to visit your doctor for a clinical assessment because such sounds may denote anything from a mild respiratory tract infection to severe heart failure and pulmonary edema. I guess you're asking what you can do until you visit your doctor, right?

What you can do, depends on the condition that caused the sound, so I'll give you some common examples.

- if you're a COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patient then it's more likely that this sound is caused by a COPD exacerbation. If you've also had yellow or green sputum, increasing your inhaled regimen and taking antibiotics would be required. You've got to visit your doctor as soon as possible.

- if you have chronic heart failure, then this could be a sign of pulmonary edema (with shortness of breath and perhaps frothy pink sputum). Taking diuretics would help, but immediate medical attention is absolutely needed.

- if you're confined to bed, due to neurological problems which may include swallowing difficulties then this could be sign of aspiration. You should take antibiotics and have respiratory physiotherapy to avoid the consequences of aspiration pneumonia.

- if nothing of the above applies to you and you're an otherwise healthy person then it could be just a sign of a respiratory tract infection. Such infections may have variable severity depending on the area and the pathogen involved. If you don't have fever, then taking an expectorant mucolytic drug may help. If you have fever, you should visit your doctor soon.

So in conclusion, I've presented you with some common everyday practice conditions that may be involved. If your case fits any of the above, you have your answer!
If it doesn't, then please give me the details, so I could give you a more personalized answer.

I hope I've helped!
Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3810 Questions

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What Causes Gurgling Sound While Breathing?

Brief Answer: It depends on your history Detailed Answer: Hello, the right action is - of course - to visit your doctor for a clinical assessment because such sounds may denote anything from a mild respiratory tract infection to severe heart failure and pulmonary edema. I guess you're asking what you can do until you visit your doctor, right? What you can do, depends on the condition that caused the sound, so I'll give you some common examples. - if you're a COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patient then it's more likely that this sound is caused by a COPD exacerbation. If you've also had yellow or green sputum, increasing your inhaled regimen and taking antibiotics would be required. You've got to visit your doctor as soon as possible. - if you have chronic heart failure, then this could be a sign of pulmonary edema (with shortness of breath and perhaps frothy pink sputum). Taking diuretics would help, but immediate medical attention is absolutely needed. - if you're confined to bed, due to neurological problems which may include swallowing difficulties then this could be sign of aspiration. You should take antibiotics and have respiratory physiotherapy to avoid the consequences of aspiration pneumonia. - if nothing of the above applies to you and you're an otherwise healthy person then it could be just a sign of a respiratory tract infection. Such infections may have variable severity depending on the area and the pathogen involved. If you don't have fever, then taking an expectorant mucolytic drug may help. If you have fever, you should visit your doctor soon. So in conclusion, I've presented you with some common everyday practice conditions that may be involved. If your case fits any of the above, you have your answer! If it doesn't, then please give me the details, so I could give you a more personalized answer. I hope I've helped! Kind Regards!