What do you call the act of forcing air out of your lungs through your throat?

The act of forcing air out of your lungs through your throat is known as coughing. Coughing is a reflex action that helps clear the airways of irritants, mucus, or foreign particles. When a person coughs, air is forcefully expelled from the lungs, often producing a distinct sound. This mechanism is vital for respiratory health as it helps to keep the air passages clear.

In contrast, while exhaling refers to the general act of breathing out air, it does not necessarily involve the forceful action associated with coughing. Sneezing is a different reflex that primarily involves expelling air through the nose and mouth, often triggered by irritants in the nasal passages. Wheezing is a high-pitched sound that occurs during breathing when there is an obstruction in the airways, rather than being an act of expelling air forcefully. Thus, the correct term for the action described in the question is coughing.