Pulmonary diseases are on the rise today due to the extensive iatrogenic pollution in our world. Unless a global commitment is undertaken to control pollution, the incidence of pulmonary diseases will be on the rise. The essential feature is widespread inflammation of the airways. Environmental airborne factors irritate the lining at any time of the day.
Smoking is one of the principal irritants.
During intense aerobic exercise, a person often breathes through the mouth and the humidification of the inhaled air by the nasal passages and the sinuses is lost. This results in thermal cooling of the air that reaches the distal airways, causing wheezing. Occupational factors like exposure to strong smells, leather, cotton, etc., are all well-known agents that provoke wheezing. Virtually any agent can cause wheezing. Infections cause wheezing and this is due more to viruses than to bacteria.