What type of breath sounds may be heard in a patient experiencing bronchospasm due to RAD?

Wheezing is characterized by a high-pitched, musical sound that occurs during breathing, particularly during expiration. In the context of bronchospasm associated with reactive airway disease (RAD), which includes conditions such as asthma, the narrowing of the airways leads to turbulent airflow. This turbulence causes the distinctive wheezing sound.

As bronchospasm occurs, the smooth muscles surrounding the airways contract, further reducing the diameter of the air passages. The resulting high resistance to airflow generates turbulence, particularly when the patient exhales, leading to the wheezing that is commonly associated with asthma attacks and other similar respiratory conditions.

Other types of breath sounds may reflect different pathophysiological changes or issues in the respiratory system but are not indicative of the bronchospasm seen in RAD. Clear breath sounds would suggest open and unobstructed airways, while coarse crackles might indicate fluid in the airways or alveoli, and stridor usually signals upper airway obstruction. Therefore, the presence of wheezing specifically denotes the bronchoconstriction and airway narrowing typical of bronchospasm in RAD.