The lungs are responsible for gas exchange and continuously supply the human body with oxygen. Lung pain represent a symptom that can be triggered by different causes. The respective diagnosis, treatment and prognosis are therefore based on the suspected or confirmed underlying disease. Regardless of the cause, certain breathing techniques can alleviate the symptoms. Basically, a healthy lifestyle with sufficient exercise and a balanced diet should be aimed for. Since tobacco consumption is a massive risk factor for numerous lung diseases, smoking should be avoided.
What is lung pain?
The lungs are an essential organ in the human body that is responsible for gas exchange. It is connected directly to the heart via veins and arteries. The lungs supply both the heart and the rest of the organism with sufficient oxygen.
For this purpose, oxygen-poor blood is converted into oxygen-rich blood in the smallest alveoli, the alveoli. The waste product that results from this gas exchange is carbon monoxide. This is released back into the outside air in regular breaths. Since the lungs come into direct contact with the outside air, many environmental influences, such as fine dust, can damage the lungs and cause lung pain.
Lung pain is pain of various degrees that occurs in the region of the organ. These can be felt by stinging or pounding in the chest, among other things. Lung pain can be acute, but it can also be chronic. Depending on the cause, lung pain can vary in intensity.
causes
The causes of lung pain are very diverse. There are numerous harmless reasons for lung pain. However, serious underlying diseases can also lead to lung pain.
The most harmless cause of lung pain is strong physical exertion. Long and intensive endurance training in particular can lead to short-term pain in the lungs.
In addition, flu infections in the respiratory tract are often responsible for the pain in the lungs. The pathogens can be of different types. Viruses as well as bacteria and fungi can cause infections of the upper or lower respiratory tract.
In particular, bronchitis can be the cause of lung pain. This can occur if a cold has not been completely cured. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD for short, can also cause pain in the lungs. Long-term smokers in particular can be affected.
Lung pain can also result from allergies. Contact with allergens constricts the bronchi. As a result, some patients experience lung pain. Asthmatics can also experience short-term lung pain.
Lung cancer must also be ruled out as a cause of long-term lung pain.
Further diseases and symptoms that can lead to lung pain are tuberculosis, certain metabolic diseases, paralysis of the diaphragm, pulmonary edema, diphtheria, heart failure, inflammation of the larynx or esophagus, pulmonary embolism, cystic fibrosis, SARS, pseudocleotomy, and cough.,
Diseases with this symptom
- cold
- bronchitis
- COPD
- asthma
- Lung cancer
- Metabolic disorders
- tuberculosis
- Diaphragmatic palsy
- Pulmonary edema
- Diphtheria
- Laryngitis
- Esophagitis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Cystic fibrosis
- SARS
- Pseudo croup
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumothorax
Complications
Because the causes of lung pain are so different, different complications can arise too. Even with harmless causes, such as an infection of the respiratory tract, serious consequences can occur.
If the patient is not treated properly or if there is no treatment at all, a harmless flu-like effect can damage the lung tissue in the long term and lead to massive functional restrictions. Transitions of infections and inflammations to other organs cannot be ruled out. The possibility of an acute condition turning into a chronic condition is another complication. For example, improper treatment of bronchitis can lead to chronic bronchitis.
Even with serious causes, such as lung cancer, the foci of the disease can spread to other organs and lead to serious consequences.
There is a particular risk of allergic shock in the case of severe allergy sufferers. An allergic shock can be fatal under certain circumstances. This is particularly often the case if there is no timely treatment. Many allergy sufferers therefore always have emergency medication on hand.
When should you go to the doctor?
Since lung pain can also be the result of illnesses that require treatment, a visit to the doctor is inevitable in certain cases. If the lung pain occurs after strenuous physical exertion such as a long distance run and then subsides again promptly, this is a normal physical reaction.
A doctor's visit is not necessary. However, if lung pain persists for a long time and / or is accompanied by other symptoms such as difficulty breathing, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Basically, the first point of contact is the family doctor. If necessary, he or she will refer the patient to a specialist such as the ENT. If the lung pain occurs very suddenly for no apparent cause and in combination with shortness of breath, those affected should seek emergency medical treatment as soon as possible.
Doctors & therapists in your area
diagnosis
Usually a physical examination is preceded by an anamnesis interview. The attending physician will ask whether there are any other symptoms besides the lung pain. It is also important when, where and in what intensity the pain occurs. Precise localization in particular is difficult to assess. It is also relevant whether certain living conditions have changed or whether an accident is the possible cause of the lung pain.
In the next step, the patient is physically examined. First, the patient is asked to undress around the top so that the doctor can determine any external symptoms.Haematomas and / or irritation may be recognizable, which can give clues to a certain clinical picture. He will also try to determine whether the sound has changed by tapping gently at chest level. A changed sound can be an indication of an accumulation of fluid in the organ. In addition, the patient is monitored through a stethoscope. Rattling breath noises can indicate bronchitis, among other things.
Depending on the suspected diagnosis, further tests are then carried out. Some can be done in general medical practice, while more specific examinations usually have to be consulted by a specialist. For further checking of lung function, spirometry, a measurement of air pressure, lung volume and breathing resistance can be used. In some cases, a blood sample is taken to determine the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood.
If the problem occurs in combination with breathing difficulties, a skin prick test is often ordered. This is an allergy diagnostic tool to uncover hypersensitivity reactions. In addition, medical imaging methods such as ultrasound, MRT or CT can be arranged. These are carried out, among other things, if pneumonia is suspected.
Treatment & Therapy
The treatment and therapy of lung pain is cause-related. If microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria or fungi are responsible for the lung pain, the patient is treated with antivirals, antibiotics or fungal agents.
For allergy sufferers, desensitization is an option. In addition, avoiding trigger factors is part of the therapy for allergy sufferers as well as asthmatics. In addition, asthmatics are treated with asthma sprays, in acute cases with cortisone.
Basically, inhalations can clear the bronchi and combat the symptom of lung pain. Certain medicinal herbs help in particular with lung pain caused by flu infections. These include sage, onions or horehound. In principle, homeopathic remedies can also be considered. The Schüssler salts No. 4, 6, and 20 are used to treat pain in the lungs. Depending on the cause of the lung pain, these naturopathic methods cannot be recommended as the sole therapy.
Therapeutic interventions for serious clinical pictures such as cancer cannot be presented in a generalized way. Here, an individual concept for treatment and therapy must be worked out in consultation with the treating doctor.
Outlook & forecast
Lung pain that occurs as a result of exercise usually goes away quite quickly. Lung pain due to infections can subside within a few days with timely and appropriate treatment. Once the illness is over, there is usually no further pain. Asthmatics and allergy sufferers have a good chance of an improvement in their symptoms, especially if they avoid allergens.
The prognoses and prospects of other physical causes such as cystic fibrosis and cancer are sometimes less promising. In principle, many other factors play a role in the prognosis of these diseases. These include the patient's age, lifestyle factors and general physical and mental condition.
In addition, they are heavily dependent on the respective stadium of the diseases and on the possible treatment measures. It is therefore not possible to make generally valid statements, as the outlook and prognosis differ greatly from person to person.
prevention
Basically, to avoid pain, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Luxury foods such as coffee and alcohol should only be consumed in moderation. Smoking, in particular, is a risk factor for lung cancer and COPD.
Hence, an absolute cessation of nicotine and smoking in general is a very promising preventive measure. Furthermore, care should be taken to ensure a sufficient, regular and varied diet. The amount of food consumed is less important than the individual components such as vitamins and minerals.
A balanced diet usually provides the body with all the vitamins and minerals that are important for a healthy immune system. People with a good immune system are less prone to infections, which are a major cause of lung pain. Since being overweight can put strain on the lungs, this should be avoided.
You can do that yourself
The lungs, in particular, are an organ that is heavily stressed by nicotine and tar. If you suffer from lung pain yourself, you should quit smoking if possible, or at least limit it.
It is also advisable to be sufficiently outside in the fresh air. Depending on the severity of the discomfort, certain physical activities, such as diving, should not be performed while the pain is occurring. Excessive exercise can worsen the symptom. Basically, those affected should allow themselves sufficient rest and try to relax.
Special breathing techniques, meditation and yoga can be helpful. It is also important to distract yourself. The stiffening of a certain symptom can contribute to the fact that the physical pain is perceived more intensely and the quality of life increasingly suffers as a result.
For asthmatics and allergy sufferers, there are also special hypoallergenic coatings, detergents, etc. that can alleviate the symptoms. Holidays in coastal regions can also work wonders.
