What are abnormal breath sounds such as wheezing and stridor classified as?

Abnormal breath sounds such as wheezing and stridor are classified as adventitious breath sounds. These sounds are not normally present when assessing a healthy respiratory system and indicate underlying conditions that may be affecting airflow in the lungs. Wheezing is typically associated with narrowed airways, often seen in conditions like asthma, while stridor indicates a high-pitched sound resulting from turbulent airflow in the upper airways, potentially signaling obstruction or infection.

Chronic breath sounds refer to persistent sounds that may be detected in patients with long-standing respiratory conditions and do not specifically encompass abnormal sounds like wheezing or stridor. Normal lung sounds are sounds that are heard during a standard respiratory examination in healthy individuals and do not include any abnormalities. Residual breath sounds are not a recognized classification and do not capture the essence of sounds that arise due to pathophysiological processes affecting breathing. Adventitious breath sounds serve as important clinical indicators in assessing respiratory conditions, guiding further evaluation and intervention.