Why do my lungs hurt when I run?

[FUNKMAN]

Doc,

Went running with my daughter this afternoon. I'm 45 and don't run often if at all but we jogged 1/2 mile, ran some 100 yard sprints, and ran the bleachers a couple times. As I get winded I realized I stop 'not' because my legs are tired or a pain in the side but due to my lungs hurting.

Are the lungs actually "in pain"? that's what it feels like...

Thanks!

[Dr Steve]

Doc,

Went running with my daughter this afternoon. I'm 45 and don't run often if at all but we jogged 1/2 mile, ran some 100 yard sprints, and ran the bleachers a couple times. As I get winded I realized I stop 'not' because my legs are tired or a pain in the side but due to my lungs hurting.

Are the lungs actually "in pain"? that's what it feels like...

Thanks!

The theory behind "lung pain" is that the lungs need oxygen supply, too. When you run like that, you're expanding and deflating your lungs rapidly, and the demand for oxygen outstrips the supply. Your lungs "hurt" to tell you to stop running so they can get back to normal again.

Now, some people have dull, crushing chest pain in the left chest with exercise that may or may not radiate to the left arm and may or may not be accompanied by nausea or profuse sweating. If you have this constellation of symptoms or anything like it, run (wait, don't RUN...just haul ass) to the nearest emergency room; these are symptoms of myocardial ischemia which means the heart is not getting the blood supply it needs. When the heart, the organ responsible for pumping blood, doesn't get enough blood supply, there's a real problem (if it's bad enough, that's when you have the good ol' heart attack, or "myocardial infarction."

your pal,


steve

[FUNKMAN]

The theory behind "lung pain" is that the lungs need oxygen supply, too. When you run like that, you're expanding and deflating your lungs rapidly, and the demand for oxygen outstrips the supply. Your lungs "hurt" to tell you to stop running so they can get back to normal again.

Now, some people have dull, crushing chest pain in the left chest with exercise that may or may not radiate to the left arm and may or may not be accompanied by nausea or profuse sweating. If you have this constellation of symptoms or anything like it, run (wait, don't RUN...just haul ass) to the nearest emergency room; these are symptoms of myocardial ischemia which means the heart is not getting the blood supply it needs. When the heart, the organ responsible for pumping blood, doesn't get enough blood supply, there's a real problem (if it's bad enough, that's when you have the good ol' heart attack, or "myocardial infarction."

your pal,


steve

thanks doc, you're like a breath of fresh air...