Patient education: Wheezing in adults – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").

What should I know? — 

You came to the ED for wheezing. This is when you hear a whistling sound when you breathe. It happens when your airways are swollen or blocked.

Many things can cause wheezing. Examples include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ("COPD"), allergies, problems with your large airways, or an infection.

The doctor thinks you are getting enough air and oxygen into your lungs. But you will need to follow up with your regular doctor to figure out what is causing your wheezing, make sure the wheezing is improving, and discuss ways to prevent wheezing in the future.

You might be waiting on test results. The staff will notify you if there are concerning results.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also do the following:

●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment.

●Your other care depends on the cause of your wheezing. Some general tips include:

•Take all your medicines as instructed. Make sure you understand how to use your inhalers or "nebulizers," if you have these. A nebulizer is a machine that lets you breathe in the medicine as a mist. If you were given or prescribed an inhaler, ask if you should use it with a spacer.

•Avoid things that make your wheezing worse. It's especially important to avoid smoking and places where other people are smoking.

•Use saline nose drops or spray to relieve stuffiness.

•Use a cool mist humidifier. This might help if you have an upper respiratory infection, like a cold. Clean the humidifier often to avoid mold.

•If you are a teen or an adult and are coughing up mucus, try an over-the-counter cold and cough medicine. These can thin mucus and might reduce the urge to cough.

•If your wheezing was caused by an allergic reaction, avoid whatever you are allergic to. You might also get medicine to use if you have another reaction in the future.

When should I get emergency help?

●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:

•You are having so much trouble breathing you can only say 1 or 2 words at a time.

•Your lips or fingernails turn gray or blue.

•You feel confused, dizzy, faint, or weak due to trouble breathing.

•You have hives or a widespread, itchy skin rash along with trouble breathing.

•Your lips or tongue are swollen.

●Return to the ED if:

•You have trouble breathing when you lie down or sit still.

•Your breathing is not getting better even after using medicine to help you breathe.

•You are using your inhaler or nebulizer to treat symptoms more often than every 2 hours.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if:

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●You feel weak or more short of breath than usual when doing your normal activities.

●You have new or worsening symptoms.

More on this topic

Patient education: Wheezing in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Asthma in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a nebulizer (The Basics)

Patient education: Asthma treatment in adolescents and adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Beyond the Basics)