When you go for a sick visit or your annual checkup at your doctor's office, they will likely listen to your chest through a stethoscope. Part of what they're listening for is the sounds your lungs ...

If you have COPD, the sounds made by your lungs can help your doctor evaluate the state of your airways and whether your treatment is working. Types of COPD lung sounds include wheezing, crackling, ...

As part of a comprehensive lung exam, a doctor may try to listen for various sounds by tapping your back and chest with their hand, which is a test called percussion. If the percussion produces a drum ...

Vesicular breath sounds are a type of breath sound. They are often soft, low-pitched sounds. Having vesicular breath sounds is normal, but changes in those sounds can be a sign of a lung condition. As ...

Adventitious breath sounds are abnormal sounds resulting from unusual airflow through the lungs. They can be due to conditions, such as asthma or bronchitis. Anything that changes the normal airflow ...

If you notice a whistling, rattling, or crackling sound when you breathe, it may be your lungs asking for attention. These sounds can be early warning signs of asthma, infection, or pollution-related ...

As with palpation, make sure your hands are warm before you begin percussion. Start at the back and check each side to compare the quality of the sensation. It is key to keep the wrist loose and the ...

Chest auscultation has long been considered a useful part of the physical examination, going back to the time of Hippocrates. However, it did not become a widespread practice until the invention of ...