Diminished Breath Sounds. A soft decreased or distant vesicular lung sound as heard through a stethoscope. When lying down on one side breath sounds are usually loudest on the side of the chest closest to the exam table. However abnormal breath sounds may include. Diminished breath sounds these are lung sounds that are heard when there is decreased air movement in the lungs.
Some of the common causes of diminished breath sounds on a physical exam are heart failure pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. Wheezing a high. Intensity is usually higher in the bases than at the top of the lungs apices. The use of peep during assisted ventilation also is associated with diminished breath sounds. A normal breath sound is similar to the sound of air. It s common for patients with copd or an acute asthma attack to have diminished breath sounds because they aren t moving much air in and out of the lungs.
However abnormal breath sounds may include.
Intensity is usually higher in the bases than at the top of the lungs apices. A soft decreased or distant vesicular lung sound as heard through a stethoscope. Some of the common causes of diminished breath sounds on a physical exam are heart failure pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. Reduced airflow from restrictive diseases such as fibrosis can also be a contributing factor according to medlineplus. The intensity or loudness of breath sounds can be described as normal decreased diminished or absent. Etiology diminished breath sounds are common in patients with poor respiratory effort splinting emphysema and other lung conditions.