14 causes of wheezing—and how to treat it

Heart issues
10. Congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure (also called CHF or heart failure) occurs when the weakened or damaged heart doesn’t effectively pump blood out to the body. Blood backs up into the lungs and leads to breathing problems. When wheezing is involved, CHF is called cardiac asthma. CHF generally affects the elderly; one third of these older CHF patients have cardiac asthma.