Why Does It Feel Like My Lungs Are Burning?

Have you ever experienced a burning sensation in the lungs? The feeling can be uncomfortable and concerning. But there are several reasons why lungs can feel like they’re on fire, including: 

• Respiratory infections
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Smoke or pollution
• Dry air

In this article, we’ll explore the common causes of why we experience a burning sensation in the lungs and discuss some treatment options and home remedies that may help alleviate your discomfort. 

What Do Burning Lungs Feel Like?

Before we dive in, let’s first describe what we mean by “lungs burning.”

When the lungs become irritated, whether it’s due to dry air conditions, inhaling smoke or chemical fumes, or suffering from a respiratory infection, you might experience a raw or scratchy feeling in the throat, lungs, or chest—sometimes all three. 

This sensation can sometimes be exacerbated if it’s accompanied by other symptoms, such as:

• Shortness of Breath
• Tightness in lungs or chest
• Coughing 
• Wheezing

You may start to feel a burning sensation in the lungs when breathing or you may only feel like your lungs are on fire when you cough.

Coughing is a natural reflex that helps us clear the airways of mucus, irritants, and other foreign particles. So, if you were to inhale smoke, your body’s natural defense mechanism would be to expel the harmful toxins through a forceful cough. However, frequent or prolonged coughing may cause your airways to become inflamed and sensitive, leading to a burning sensation.

Chronic dry cough, for instance, which may be due to an underlying medical condition, can strain your lungs and chest muscles (as your body is trying to cough up phlegm that isn’t there), causing you to develop tightness and discomfort in the chest and a sore throat.

What Causes a Burning Feeling in Lungs?

The lungs are a vital organ responsible for bringing oxygen into the body and expelling carbon dioxide. When something (like allergies, smoke, or an infection) interferes with this process, it can lead to discomfort and pain. 

Here are some of the most common causes of why you may be experiencing a burning sensation in your lungs:

Exposure to Irritants

As mentioned, exposure to air pollution, dust, and other airborne substances can irritate the lungs, causing inflammation in the respiratory system, which triggers a coughing reflex or chest tightness.

Additionally, exposure to smoke and harsh chemicals can harm your lungs because they cause severe damage to the delicate tissues and airways in your respiratory system.

To protect your lungs from smoke, you’ll need to avoid exposure as much as possible. This means avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke, using protective equipment like masks when working with chemicals or in polluted environments, and ensuring that your home and workplace are well-ventilated. 

Respiratory Infections

Respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia can also cause a burning sensation in the lungs. When the lungs are infected, the body’s immune response to the disease can cause inflammation in the lungs, leading to further discomfort and burning. 

• Bronchitis, for instance, is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the vital passages that carry air to your lungs. When these tubes become inflamed, they can produce excess mucus, causing a feeling of tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing. 
• Additionally, coughing that accompanies the infection can further irritate the bronchial tubes, exacerbating the burning sensation.
• On the other hand, pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus, causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. 

Chronic Lung Conditions

Certain lung conditions like bronchiectasis, asthma, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) also cause repeated inflammation and mucus buildup, leading to a cycle of respiratory infection that may cause chest pain.

• Bronchiectasis is when the airways in the lungs become damaged and widened, leading to a buildup of mucus and bacteria. This can cause various symptoms, including coughing, shortness of breath, and severe chest pain. While a feeling of lungs burning is not a common symptom of bronchiectasis, some individuals with the condition may experience the sensation due to repeated infections.
• During an asthma attack, the airways become inflamed and narrow, making breathing difficult. This can cause a feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest and a burning sensation in the lungs.
• COPD causes the airways to become inflamed, making them narrow and clogged with mucus. This makes it difficult to breathe, as the airways cannot properly carry air in and out of the lungs properly. Over time, this lung disease can progress, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.

If you experience the sensation of burning lungs and think it may be due to an underlying condition, it’s important to seek medical attention, as your treatment may require a combination of medications and therapies.

How Do You Treat Burning Lungs?

There are several treatments and remedies that may help alleviate the discomfort of lungs burning.

Medications 

Depending on the cause, your doctor may prescribe medications like bronchodilators or corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation and open your airways.

Airway Clearance

Using airway clearance techniques, such as deep breathing, postural drainage, or high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy, you can help clear mucus buildup from the airways, reducing inflammation and irritation in the lungs and chest.

Lifestyle Changes

Changing your lifestyle can also help reduce lung irritation and improve your respiratory health. This may include: 

• Quitting smoking
• Avoiding exposure to irritants
• Staying active to improve your lung function

Home Remedies for Lungs Burning

Talking to your clinician can help you find the best treatment plan for your lung health. However, we’ve included a few helpful home remedies that may help relieve pain or discomfort.

1. Drink plenty of water to flush out any toxins causing the burning sensation.
2. Inhale steam from a bowl of hot water or shower to open up the airways and reduce inflammation.
3. Drink herbal teas such as ginger or peppermint to soothe the lungs and reduce inflammation.
4. Practice deep breathing exercises to help improve lung function and reduce inflammation.
5. Avoid exposure to irritants such as smoke or pollution, which can exacerbate the burning sensation in the lungs.
6. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air and help reduce lung inflammation.
7. Consume foods that help reduce mucus buildup.

Finding Relief for Your Burning Lungs

If you’re feeling a burning sensation in the lungs, it may indicate a serious condition. Therefore, it’s crucial to consult with your clinician, particularly if it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chronic cough, or wheezing.

Talk to Your Doctor about Airway Clearance

Airway clearance devices like The SmartVest Airway Clearance System can help reduce inflammation and lung infections, allowing you to experience clearer airways. 

SmartVest is a respiratory vest that delivers 360° chest coverage using HFCWO therapy to help loosen and mobilize mucus in the lungs so it’s easier to cough up and out.

By using the SmartVest regularly, individuals with chronic lung conditions like bronchiectasis can reduce the cycle of infections that cause breathing difficulty and chest pain so you can get back to doing what you love.

Start experiencing airway clearance therapy the smart way!

Sources

1. Medical News Today. “What to Know about Common Lung Irritants.” Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/lung-irritants#symptoms
2. Cleveland Clinic. “Dry Cough and Chest Tightness.” Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21888-dry-cough-and-chest-tightness
3. Medical News Today. “What to Know about Common Lung Irritants.” Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/lung-irritants
4. American Family Care: Urgent Care. “Why Are My Lungs Burning?” Retrieved from https://www.afcurgentcareknoxvilletn.com/why-are-my-lungs-burning/
5. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “Bronchitis.” Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/bronchitis
6. American Lung Association. “Pneumonia Symptoms and Diagnosis.” Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/symptoms-and-diagnosis
7. National Health Services (NHS). “Bronchiectasis: Symptoms.” Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bronchiectasis/symptoms/
8. Medical News Today. “Burning Sensation in the Lungs or Chest.” Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/burning-sensation-in-lungs#common-causes
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.” Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/respiratory/index.htm