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burning lungs when rigorously exercising

My lungs feel like they are burning when i run and breathe hard. After running I cough a little too. Why is this?? I am only 30 and I don't smoke. I have had Bronchitis every year almost in the winter. Also I am just starting to run, trying to work out more.
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Avatar universal
The lungs, along with the heart, are the central focus of cardio-vascular training.  Cardio (having to do with the lungs) Vascular (having to do with blood pumping, i.e. the heart, arteries and veins.) There are three reasons why people experience burning in their lungs when running.  (I am a competitive collegiate runner)

1)  You're out of shape....Don't kid yourself.  If you are running at a very manageable pace and yet your lungs always start burning, you just have a weak cardio-vascular system.  Consistent training is the ONLY thing that will make your heart and lungs stronger and prevent this from happening if this is the cause.

2)  You're running too hard....Even elite runners lungs burn when they run at their max for middle distances, (between a mile to 10k) When you push really hard, you breath really hard and it hurts.  Sprinters don't feel it because they aren't running for a long enough period of time, and marathon runners don't because they keep themselves at a managable pace.  (plus marathoners have ridiculously strong lungs.

3) You have a medical problem with your lungs or bronchial tubes....You'd have to ask a doctor about what you can do about this.  I highly doubt that taking flaxseed oil or any other supplement will help you.  You need real medicine if you have a medical issue.
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Avatar universal
To the guy producing a lot of phlegm... try removing milk from your diet temporarily to check if it's a lactose intolerance. If it is milk you can also add cocoa to your milk... as this helps metabolise the lactose.

The phlegm and the burning are probably not related.

...and for those who want an anti-histamine VitC is an anti-histamine. You just have to take enough of it to get an effect. Most people underdose because they don't realise how little is absorbed when you take it orally (in most forms).
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Avatar universal
Have you followed any of the advices? Has it helped?
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Avatar universal
It's been a couple of years since you first posted your question and I'm hoping you've found an answer.

I am having a very similar problem: Only recently when I begin to exercise, I feel this odd burning sensation in my lungs and my breathing becomes "out of proportion" heavy.

I have never smoked, I am in shape, and I am a vegetarian that eats "buckets" of blueberries, raspberries, watermelon, etc -- plus flaxseed oil derived from algae (so I have my anti-oxidants and omegas covered).

So, my question is: what the heck is happening?  This is extremely weird.  Any theories?  I am not wheezing so I'm assuming I don't have asthma.
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Avatar universal
BTW: Simply taking a deep breath... holding it and pressing out forcefully (while holding it)... will quickly relieve the symptoms... but not the cause.

There is now Lypo-spheric VitC... which contains both Ascorbic acid and phospholipids. The phospholipids help build up your cell membranes and the VitC is 99% absorbable in this form. That means you can get much higher VitC levels than normal ie. normal absorption of VitC orally is only about 16-30%. That means you give the cells the building blocks they need (fats) while providing the anti-oxidants that are required to neutralise exercise induced by products. Lypospheric VitC penetrates the cell walls in it's active form (the reduced form) whereas normal VitC must be inactive (oxidised) to do this. It must then be recharged on the inside of the cell before it is fully functional again.

Cell membranes are ~50% fat and ~50% protein... so to fix the problem you must fix the cell membrane. Anti-oxidants help by protecting the cell membrane and helping it work better. However without the right fats in the cell membrane it can't work properly.

If you would like to stabilise cell membranes further you could try astaxanthin which is the strongest fat soluble anti-oxidant they've yet found (comes from algae). This anti-oxidant has become popular because people have realised that it is much harder to get sun-burnt when they take it. That is one very obvious test for a good anti-oxidant or your anti-oxidant status.

Another strong anti-inflammatory substance is found in Mangosteen. The local health food shop was selling bottles of quite bitter juice for around $16. A friend of mine has wheezing badly and using a ventolin puffer (he said his doctor said it was bronchitis). We tried soluble VitC and Mangosteen (the active ingredient is in the skin) on him and got a total clear up of his symptoms in a couple of hours.

VitD may also be part of the problem for many of us. Burning usually occurs at the start of an exercise program and then usually decreases over time... which usually also corresponds to sun exposure. Dr Michael Hollick has a really good video presentation highlighting many of the key points in VitD. Google him and listen to the video?

Once you figure out what is required to bring this problem under control (it will probably differ a bit from person to person) you'll probably be able to introduce some food into your diet that does the same thing without supplementation... but that's a longer term goal.

In general a diet high in anti-oxidants, EFA's (not fish oils), minerals and vitamins is what you're aiming for. If you're wondering what a good diet looks like take a look at Bernando LaPallo who is 110 years old (do a search).

The bulk of this stuff will clear up most of the symptoms you are complaining about quite quickly... but the cells that are causing the problem only turn over every 3-12 months... so the maximal effects will take at least this long to cut in.

Hope that adds a few more ideas?
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Avatar universal
Hi there, just noticed your post.  I am desperate to find my problem.  This burning sensation & cough I've had for over 6 months off & on.  I'm also training for the shuttle but back in March I couldn't exert myself with cardio.  Seen a doc. and he prescribed antibiotics for possible strep.  Then back in May it was so bad...they gave me more antibiotics and 2 puffers.  Since May, I used the puffers for about 7 weeks and it did help a bit.  Now I'm training hill & legs etc., real hard but only at stage 5.....used to run 5k no porblem now, my burning sensation in my throat starts at stage 3 and then just gets worse & worse....flem comes up while I'm running and then I just have a hard time breathing.  I'm soo weak when I get to stage 5...I stop and then start coughing for hours later & bring up flem....HELP!!  I need to get to stage 7 at least....to pass the 6.5 stage....but I'm getting really discouraged!  Have you tried that 4 tsp per day of flax seed oil & other (3 & 6) ?  I'm willing to try anything...I am back on the puffers again & see if this can help!  I will get on the anti-histamines plus oil and am now taking garlic (diluting it in warm water, gargling & drinking)  
Let me know what you have done to help your situation.
Thanks,
Nicole
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