Does wheezing mean that I have asthma?

No, not necessarily. The to-and-fro movement of air
through the lungs and tracheobronchial tree should
always be silent. A wheeze is an abnormal sound produced
by turbulent flow of air through the lungs. There
are many different causes of wheezing The occurrence of
a wheeze by itself without any other symptoms is unusual.
It is therefore important to note if the wheezing is recurrent
or if it is associated with other lung symptoms such
as breathlessness, cough, or mucus production.

Medical students learn that not all that wheezes is
asthma. Although most people with asthma will at some
point experience wheezing, not everyone who wheezes
has a diagnosis of asthma (Table 9). Some people who
wheeze will turn out to have a lung condition other than
asthma, while others will wheeze even though there is
no identifiable lung condition and the lungs appear
completely normal. The first category includes persons
with a cigarette-related lung disease such as COPD, for
example. Other lung diseases, such as bronchiectasis or
bronchiolitis, can also lead to wheezing. Certain lung
infections can cause wheezing in completely normal
lungs. Some people without any lung disease but who
have congestive heart failure can wheeze if they take in
too much fluid. Still others might wheeze after a severe
allergic reaction, such as to a bee sting, for example.
Gastric reflux, called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux
disease), is a disease of the digestive system and is an
example of a non-pulmonary condition that can mimic
asthma. Similarly, vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) syndrome
affects the voice box (larynx) and is often confused
with asthma. Finally, and especially in children, a
wheeze can be caused by a foreign body trapped in the
bronchial tree. Young children, in particular, explore the
world by putting objects in their mouths. From there,
it’s a short trip into the breathing passages. A foreign
body should be retrieved from the lung passages, usually
via bronchoscopy. Medical journals and textbooks have
described the successful retrieval of many disparate
items, including fish and chicken bones, coins, toy fragments,
and even a coffee stirrer.
If you have experienced wheezing, especially on more
than one occasion and perhaps associated with other
symptoms, consultation with your physician is the
appropriate next course of action. Your doctor will
be able to ascertain if the wheeze is due to asthma or
not and can advise you on what treatments would be
indicated for you.