What type of lung sounds are typically heard in COPD?

In patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), wheezing is commonly observed due to the narrowing of the airways caused by inflammation, excessive mucus production, and bronchoconstriction. Wheezes are high-pitched sounds that occur mainly during expiration as air struggles to flow through constricted air passages. This characteristic sound is often a hallmark of conditions like asthma and COPD, where airflow is compromised.

While other lung sounds such as rhonchi and crackles may be present in COPD patients, particularly with the presence of mucus, it is the wheezing that is distinctly associated with the obstructive nature of the disease. Stridor, on the other hand, is a high-pitched sound resulting from upper airway obstruction and is not typical in COPD cases. Thus, recognizing wheezes in COPD not only helps in identifying the condition but also in assessing the severity and nature of the respiratory compromise.