What type of wheezing is typically associated with COPD?

Expiratory wheezing is commonly associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) due to the nature of the airflow obstruction characterizing this condition. In COPD, the airflow limitation occurs primarily during expiration, often resulting from air trapping and loss of elastic recoil in the lungs. This leads to a higher resistance in the airways when a person exhales, producing the characteristic sound of wheezing that is heard predominantly during the expiratory phase.

During expiration, there is a dynamic collapse of the small airways, which contributes to the wheezing sound, making it more pronounced compared to the inspiratory phase. While wheezing can occur during inspiration as well, in the context of COPD, expiratory wheezing is the hallmark sign and is often exacerbated during episodes of increased bronchospasm or during exacerbations of the disease.

Inspiratory wheezing is more commonly linked to conditions such as asthma, where airway inflammation can cause narrowing during inhalation. Continuous and monophonic wheezing do not specifically describe the typical presentations seen in COPD, which focus specifically on expiratory wheezing due to the nature of airway obstruction.