swishing noise in chest

LAST NITE I AWOKE APPROXIMATELY 2 AM WITH A SWISHING NOISE IN MY CHEST THAT WAS SO LOUD TO ME IT SOUNDED LIKE A WATER PIPE HAD BROKEN.  I WAS LAYING ON MY BACK WITH MY HANDS FOLDED ACROSS MY CHEST, IT WAS SO STRONG IT MOVED MY HANDS. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING PAYSICALLY RAISED UP IN MY CHEST.  WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

[Dr J Singh]

Hi,
If the swishing noise in the chest is associated with any other symptoms like cough, shortness of breath etc. then the possibility of it being due to bronchial asthma is there. The diagnosis can be confirmed by doing a pulmonary function test. The other is aspiration of the gastric contents/juices into the respiratory tree because at around 2 AM, the production of the gastric juices is to the maximum. Again, it should be associated with bitter taste in mouth & cough. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care.