In this article, learn more about the causes of wheezing in adults and babies, and home treatments for wheezing.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — or COPD — are the most common causes. Wheezing can be a sign of a serious illness, so you should see your doctor if you experience it.

Older adults have a higher risk of more severe RSV. In fact, in any given year, the CDC estimates that RSV causes up to 160,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths in older adults.

Coughing is another common symptom, along with chest pain and wheezing. GERD affects people of all ages, from infants to older adults. People with asthma are at higher risk of developing the disorder.

"This causes recurrent episodes of coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness," says Dr. Laura Conrad, director of the Pediatric Asthma Center at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in New York.