Bibasal crackles refer to crackles at the bases of both the left and right lungs. Basal crackles are crackles apparently originating in or near the base of the lung. īilateral crackles refers to the presence of crackles in both lungs. Pulmonary crackles are abnormal breath sounds that were formerly referred to as rales. They are usually heard only with a stethoscope ("on auscultation").
When this occurs, the natural pumping process is affected, leading to blood and other fluids backing up into the lungs. A heart attack will usually cause the muscles in the heart to weaken. In some cases, lung crackles can be caused by heart disorders or heart failure. Continuous build up would lead to scarring of the lung tissue, leading to lung crackles.įailure to treat obstructive lung conditions would eventually lead to a more severe condition bronchiectasis which, worsens the crackling sounds in the lungs as more fluid accumulates in them. Obstructive lung diseases affect exhalation, thereby leading to the build-up of carbon dioxide along with the fluids and other by-products inside the lungs. Like asthma, which is an obstructive lung disease, other conditions like cystic fibrosis can cause wheezing and crackling sounds when a person breathes or coughs. While asthma is a minor irritant for some, it is a big problem for others, often leading to life threatening attacks. This makes it harder for the person to breathe, thereby causing wheezing as well as a crackling sound wen coughing or breathing. With time, fluid gets trapped in the scarred tissues, this causing crackling sounds.Īsthma is a disorder that causes the airways to swell and produce more mucus.
These diseases and disorders in turn, cause scarring in the lungs (lung fibrosis). Conditions like sarcoidosis, rheumatoid arthritis as well as exposure to certain chemicals like asbestos can lead to interstitial lung diseases. Interstitial lung diseases deal with disorders pertaining to the air sacs and tissues in the lungs. Chronic bronchitis, usually caused by smoking, causes irritation and inflammation in the bronchial tube lining, also causing crackling sounds to arise when the person breathes. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by common cold or flu, and affects the respiratory tract, thus causing the crackling sounds. As such, the individual would need to visit the doctor to get the condition treated with right away.Ĭaused by a viral infection, bronchitis affects the bronchial tubes, inflaming them considerably. The crackling sounds one hears while breathing may be considered as a warning signs for pneumonia, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, coughing, headache, fatigue, chest pain, perspiration and breathlessness. As the body builds up white cells in the lungs as a natural mechanism to fight off the infection, fluids as well as other by products start accumulating in the organ, thereby causing the crackling sounds when the person breathes.Ī viral infection of sorts, pneumonia causes the air sacs in both lungs to inflame. Viral infections can cause the airways to get blocked, leading to irritation and inflammation. Crackling sounds usually accompany the symptoms of this condition.Īnother common cause for crackling in the lungs is lung infection, usually caused by viruses.
When this happens, the lungs are placed under excess pressure and eventually collapse, leading to a condition called atelectasis (airless lungs). In some cases, the nasal passage and the airways may be blocked due to foreign contaminants.
As such, it is imperative that one undergoes a detailed medical examination to ascertain the cause for the condition before treatment is started. Given below are 8 common conditions that can give rise to crackling sounds in the lungs. While many consider these sounds to be a result of a lung infection during a cold or flu, there are many other serious conditions that may cause the condition. These crackling sounds are usually noticed during medical examinations. Crackling in the lungs is a condition that is caused by fluid build-up inside the lungs.
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