A high-pitched, harsh breathing sound caused by turbulent airflow through a narrowed or obstructed upper airway, typically audible without a stethoscope. It indicates serious airway compromise requiring immediate attention.
From Latin 'stridere' meaning 'to make a harsh sound' or 'to creak.' The term has been used since ancient times to describe the characteristic noise made when air is forced through a constricted passage.
Stridor is your airway's cry for help - it's the sound of air being forced through a space that's become too narrow, like trying to breathe through a cocktail straw! Unlike wheezing which comes from the lungs, stridor comes from the throat area and is always a medical emergency.
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