what is that burning feeling in my lungs?
Hello,
On a regular basis usually before a flare up I get a distinct burning feeling in my lungs and don't know what that is. I always think it's the inflamation I'm feeling but am not sure and although the rescue inhaler does work when I'm getting short of breath, it doesn't help with the burning feeling that I often get before I get short of breath.
Any ideas?
Hi Irisha - nice to see you continuing to post your thoughts and ideas here with the community - we appreciate your participation.
You may be aware we cannot provide medical advice or diagnostics over the internet (for your own safety), but your concern certainly warrants a reply.
For some folks with an asthma diagnosis, the disease is sometimes related to gastroesohageal reflux disease, otherwise abbreviated as GERD. I wonder if this is what you are experiencing.
I would suggest you bring this symptom (the burning feeling), up to your physician. The doctor will be able to assess what is happening and advise you accordingly.
We actually have a number of articles, published right here on asthma.net, which focus on this aspect of asthma. For your convenience, here is a link to several of those articles: https://asthma.net/search?s=gerd. It has been a fairly popular topic within the community.
What do you think about addressing your concern with your physician?
All the best,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
Hi, thank you for your reply,
No, that's not the burning I'm talking about.
The burning feeling I mean are really in my lungs when you breath in, the same feeling when you've run really fast and you're trying to catch your breath is what I mean. I don't know if it's inflammation or bronco spasm.
I know what you mean with GERD, I have a herniated thoracic disc which can feel not only like I'm having a heart attack but also cause stomach problems. Am working on that issue. It's possible now you mention it that my stomach/back problems can make my asthma worse, but I can differentiate between trouble breathing due to chest muscle spasms vs bronco spasms and burning feeling in my lungs vs burning feeling in my stomach.
I really mean burning feeling in my lungs like when you've run really fast.
As said above, I think yours is a great question. And I have experienced a similar sensation many, many, many times over my years as an asthmatic. You describe it as a "burning feeling." And that is a great way of describing it. In my case, my mind has always related it with an "itching" feeling. When I was a kid, my mind pictured bunch of mini people rubbing feathers inside my lungs. Now that I am an adult, I have often wondered, as you note, if this is how it feels to have a sudden influx of "inflammation" going on in your airways. So, I am not sure if this is the same thing that you are describing, but it may be. So, this is what I often feel before asthma attacks (and sometimes during). But, as you note, it is also similar to that feeling you get when you run, especially if you are running in very cold weather. My inhaler usually doesn't help with this feeling. Although, what does help is removing myself from the trigger (such as getting inside in the warm air). Very interesting topic you bring up here. What really causes this feeling? I think your theory is a good one about the inflammation. From my reading, inflammation also irritates nerves lining your airways - so perhaps this is another theory for what causes it. What do you think? John. asthma.net community moderator.
Hello John,
Yes that sounds exactly like what I feel. Like running in the cold although I'm not a runner but a cyclist. It would be great if one could find out what it is so when you get that feeling you can either up the bronchodialator if it's caused by spasm or an extra puff of steroid in the hope it will settle down. I think the longer you wait the worse it get.
I get this feeling when I come in contact with a very bad trigger - burning in my lungs - and I tend to think it is the sudden inflammation and initial flare that is happening. Sometimes a fire and smoke, or strong "old" perfumes, or the cold as John stated above trigger me terribly. I have learned to recognize my triggers and pre-medicate, as you said above, and it helps ease that burn and calms the attack. I so far have been able to ward off the burning feeling. Its awful. Rebecca (comm advc)
