Final answer:
Wheezing on expiration can be caused by asthma, where bronchioles in the lungs become inflamed due to triggers, leading to difficulty in breathing and symptoms such as coughing and chest tightness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Distress on expiration, commonly known as wheezing, can be caused by a condition called asthma, which is a chronic illness that affects the airways in the lungs. The bronchioles in the lungs become inflamed and narrow, leading to muscle contractions, excess mucus production, and a difficulty in breathing. Bronchospasms, a specific kind of constriction of the airways, can lead to an asthma attack, which may be triggered by various environmental factors such as dust, pollen, pet hair, dander, changes in the weather, mold, tobacco smoke, and respiratory infections or by internal factors like exercise and stress. Asthma attacks can cause further symptoms such as airway irritation, cough, sore throat, chest tightness, and dyspnea. Movements of the diaphragm and intercostals muscles cause pressure changes that result in inspiration and expiration. During an asthma attack, these normal processes are disrupted, leading to an obstruction in the airways that presents itself as wheezing during exhalation.