what could decreased breath sounds mean
Decreased Breath Sounds (Overview) Absent or decreased sounds can mean: * Air or fluid in or around the lungs (pneumonia, heart failure, pleural effusion) * Increased thickness of the chest wall * Over-inflation of a part of the lungs (emphysema can cause this) * Reduced airflow to part of the lungs. Dr. Patty Crocker Dr. Crocker.