Conditions and symptoms
What Is Bronchospasm? Airway Tightening Explained
Bronchospasm · say it: BRONG-koh-spaz-umAlso written: bronchoconstriction, airway spasm, wheezing attack
Short answer
Bronchospasm is a sudden tightening of the muscles around the airways, making it hard to breathe. Severe bronchospasm needs urgent help.
What it means
Bronchospasm means the muscles around the airways (bronchi) suddenly tighten, narrowing the airways. This can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. It is common in asthma attacks and can be part of a serious allergic reaction. Severe breathlessness, trouble speaking or blue lips is an emergency needing urgent medical help.
Labels for some medicines warn about bronchospasm. Beta-blockers, especially non-selective ones, can tighten airways in people with asthma. Aspirin and NSAIDs can trigger it in some people with asthma. Some inhaled medicines can, rarely, cause paradoxical bronchospasm, where breathing gets worse right after using the inhaler. The warning is telling you to tell your doctor if you have asthma or COPD, and to stop and get help if breathing suddenly worsens.
Bronchospasm is the tightening itself. Wheezing is the whistling sound it often makes. Asthma is a long-term condition in which bronchospasm happens repeatedly.
Where you may see it
- Beta-blocker and NSAID labels ('Ask a doctor if you have asthma')
- Inhaler leaflets under 'Paradoxical bronchospasm'
- Emergency department and respiratory clinic notes
📄 How it looks on a report
Paradoxical bronchospasm: If it occurs, discontinue immediately and institute alternative therapy.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Not every cough or wheeze is bronchospasm.
- It does not mean you can never take a beta-blocker or NSAID with asthma; your doctor will decide.
- Paradoxical bronchospasm is rare; most people's inhalers help their breathing.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Bronchospasm”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Bronchospasm”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Albuterol
A bronchodilator (a medicine that opens the airways) of the beta-2 adrenergic type. The FDA class is not listed, so this description comes from the label's own wording.
- Atenolol
a beta-blocker (beta-adrenergic blocker). The label describes it as a beta 1-selective, or cardioselective, blocking agent.
- Bisoprolol Fumarate
a beta-blocker, which the label describes as a synthetic, beta 1-selective (cardioselective) adrenoceptor blocking agent
- Carvedilol
A beta-blocker. The FDA lists it as both an alpha-adrenergic blocker and a beta-adrenergic blocker.
- Metoprolol Tartrate
A beta blocker. The label describes it as a selective beta-1 adrenergic receptor blocking agent, which means it mainly blocks beta-1 receptors, found largely in the heart.
- Montelukast
A leukotriene receptor antagonist, a medicine that blocks substances in the body called leukotrienes.
- Ondansetron
A serotonin-3 receptor antagonist, a medicine that blocks serotonin 5-HT3 receptors to help prevent nausea and vomiting
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Bronchospasm” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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