Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

Which condition is commonly associated with wheezing?

1. Asthma

2. Chronic cough

3. Pneumothorax

4. Bronchiectasis

The correct answer is: Asthma

Wheezing is characterized by a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing, typically associated with the narrowing or obstruction of the airways. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that leads to episodes of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. In asthma, the inflammation and constriction of the bronchial tubes can create turbulence in airflow, resulting in wheezing. This symptom is a hallmark of asthma, particularly during an exacerbation, as the condition involves bronchial hyper-responsiveness, which is specifically what causes the wheezing sound. Other conditions like chronic cough, pneumothorax, and bronchiectasis can have overlapping symptoms or may sometimes lead to wheezing, but they do not characteristically present with wheezing as a primary or common symptom. Chronic cough can be caused by various conditions affecting the respiratory system but is not defined by wheezing. Pneumothorax involves the collapse of a lung and may lead to rapid breathing and respiratory distress without necessarily producing wheezing. Bronchiectasis is an abnormal widening of the air passages, which can lead to a chronic productive cough but is not exclusively associated with wheezing like asthma. Therefore, asthma is the most relevant condition to