wheezing from smoking or cancer?

[Defman27]

My friend has been worried because he has been wheezing out of his mouth when he exhales.  I told him it was probably just from smoking but he is worried about lung or throat cancer.  Does smokin commonly cause people to wheeze?  Thanks.

[clevelandfan33]

Hey Dr. I had shortness of breath and wheezing bad while i was smoking. I quit and it went away. I just started again and IMMEDIATELY it came back. Im also coughing up mucas now. Whats going on?

[DrBhumikaMD]

Hi,
Obstructive airway diseases lead to wheezing due to the musical sound produced by air passing through the narrowd passages. It is mostly heard when a patient breathes 'out', or exhales. Several causes of wheezing are there out of which asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are the top most in the list. Asthma can be aggravated or precipitated by smoking and COPD is caused due to smoking. So any which ways smoking is a definite no-no. Your friend needs to quit and quit immediately. Worst case scenario - smoking can cause lung cancer. Your friend needs to see a chest physician / pulmonologist to get an xray done - to rule out any other lung disease, and most importantly a pulmonary function testing too. He will be put on inhaler medication most probably. Goodluck.

[Godofredo MD]

Hi.

There are many conditions that could present with that symptom but nothing could be ascertained unless some diagnostic tests are done. A chest X-ray would indeed be helpful as an initial screening test for cancer versus other chronic lung conditions.

Have your friend consult a physician as soon as possible so that his condition can be properly evaluated.

[LLWB]

In my experience it can. But a simple chest X-ray would certainly ease your friends' mind, your's too. I smoke, and wheeze sometimes. But no cancer yet thank God. My husband, who died of lung cancer metastses last year, didn't wheeze. He coughed tho. Please encourage your friend to get an exam. Better safe than sorry. Good luck.