Coughing or wheezing after your airbag goes off
An emergency physician and a pulmonary clinician explain the risks
When an airbag opens, it can release particles and gases into the car. They can irritate your airways. In one small study of people with asthma, some had significant narrowing of their airways after exposure. A few rare case reports describe inflamed lungs. Those reports can’t tell us how common the problem is in the cars on the road now. [1, 2]
A bigger concern is that a crash can also hurt your ribs, your lungs or the space inside your chest. Never assume the airbag alone is why you’re short of breath. [1, 2]
Get to safety, then tell them what happened
Once it’s safe to get out of the car, move to fresh air. Tell the emergency team if the airbag opened and if it tore. Say whether you noticed smoke or a strong smell. Share when the cough, wheeze or chest tightness started. [1, 2]
Mention asthma or any other lung disease and any inhaler use. Doctors may check your oxygen level and listen to your breathing. They may also check whether the crash hurt your chest. [1, 2]
Trouble breathing is urgent
Call emergency services for severe shortness of breath, blue lips, fainting or trouble speaking in full sentences. Get checked promptly for new wheezing, chest pain or a cough that won’t quit. The same goes for breathing that gets worse after you leave the scene. Use a prescribed rescue inhaler as directed. Do not let it delay emergency care if breathing stays hard. [1, 2]
What to ask before you go home
Ask which diagnosis best explains your symptoms and whether a chest injury was ruled out. Also find out when to come back if the cough lingers or your breathing changes. [2]
Questions about your chest and lungs
- Could a chest injury or asthma be behind these symptoms?
- Do I need a breathing test or a follow up exam?
- What change should send me straight back?
Track how your breathing changes
Sources and further reading
- 1Gross and colleagues, study of airbag aerosols in people with asthma
- 2Caudle and colleagues, report of airbag associated lung inflammation
This is general information from emergency and lung care experts. After a crash, breathing trouble may stem from a chest injury, asthma, inhaled particles or another urgent problem. A doctor needs to find the cause.
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