The word "wheezing" is spelled as "wiːzɪŋ". The first syllable "whee" is pronounced as "wiː" with a long 'ee' sound, followed by the letter 'z' pronounced as 'z'. The second syllable "zing" is pronounced as "zɪŋ" with a short 'i' sound and a nasal 'ng' sound. The combination of 'ee' and 'z' creates the sound of wheezing accurately. It is a common symptom of respiratory problems such as asthma or allergies.
Wheezing is a term used in medicine to describe a high-pitched, whistling sound produced during breathing. It is typically caused by a narrowing or blockage of the airways, such as the bronchi or bronchioles, which are the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.
When a person wheezes, it is often an indication of some underlying respiratory condition, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or allergies. In these cases, the tightening of the airways causes air to flow more rapidly through a narrower space, creating the characteristic sound. Wheezing can also occur due to a respiratory infection, such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
The sound of wheezing can vary in intensity, duration, and pitch depending on the severity and cause of the airway obstruction. It is typically more noticeable during exhalation, but it can also occur during inhalation in some cases. Wheezing may be accompanied by other symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, or chest tightness.
Medical professionals often listen for wheezing sounds using a stethoscope, as it can help diagnose and monitor the progression of respiratory conditions. Treatment for wheezing primarily focuses on addressing the underlying cause. This can involve medications to open up the airways, like bronchodilators or corticosteroids, as well as avoiding triggers that worsen wheezing symptoms.
The act of breathing hard with noise, produced by obstruction of the air-passages.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "wheezing" originated from the Middle English term "wesen" or "wesenynge", which meant "to whistle or hiss". This Middle English term further evolved from the Old English word "hwēosan", which meant "to wheeze", "to puff", or "to blow". It is believed that "wheezing" is imitative in nature, attempting to imitate the sound produced when breathing becomes obstructed or restricted.