Itchy Lungs

Overview

Have you, or someone you know, ever experienced a sensation of itchiness in your lungs? This is usually a symptom triggered by an environmental irritant or a medical lung condition. The term “itchy lungs” has become a catchall term for conditions that have similar symptoms.

Symptoms along with itchy lungs?

Commonly, itchy lungs appear alongside other symptoms that are typical of the underlying cause of the discomfort. Those symptoms might include:

  • painful coughing
  • shortness of breath
  • throat pain
  • tightness in chest
  • trouble sleeping
  • wheezing

Treatment options for itchy lungs

The first step in treating itchy lungs is to determine the cause. If it’s easy to determine, you can take some simple steps to address the situation. If the cause is not obvious, make an appointment with your doctor for a full diagnosis so you can receive appropriate treatment.

Home treatment

Steps you can take on your own include:

  • Remove or protect yourself from likely external causes such as smoke, chemical fumes, or cold, dry air.
  • Avoid allergy-causing substances.
  • Keep your living area clean and well-ventilated.
  • Wash pillowcases and sheets frequently.
  • Avoid physical overexertion.
  • Find ways to relax and de-stress.
  • Adopt a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and proper hydration.

If these steps do not positively impact the itchy sensation in your lungs, make an appointment with your doctor to see if your itchy lungs are caused by allergies, asthma, or another medical condition.

Allergies

If you’re experiencing an allergic reaction, your doctor may suggest an over- the-counter antihistamine such as:

  • cetirizine (Zyrtec)
  • fexofenadine (Allegra), levocetirizine (Xyzal)
  • loratadine (Claritin, Alavert)
  • diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Additionally, there are antihistamines available by prescription which your doctor may prescribe such as:

  • desloratadine (Clarinex)
  • azelastine nasal (Astelin)

If warranted, your doctor might prescribe a stronger course of action such as:

  • omalizumab (Xolair)
  • allergy shots (immunotherapy)
Asthma

If you’re diagnosed with asthma, your doctor might create an asthma action plan that may include tracking your symptoms and prescription medications such as:

  • inhaled corticosteroids, such as fluticasone (Flovent), budesonide (Pulmicort), or beclomethasone (Qvar)
  • leukotriene modifiers, such as montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate), or zileuton (Zyflo)
  • long-acting beta-2 agonists, such as salmeterol (Serevent) or formoterol (Foradil)
  • combination inhalers, such as fluticasone-salmeterol (Advair Diskus), budesonide-formoterol (Symbicort), or formoterol-mometasone (Dulera)
  • theophylline (Theo-24, Elixophyllin), which is not as commonly used as other options

Takeaway

The sensation of itchy lungs is not uncommon. Often, it’s a symptom of an underlying cause that can be easily determined.

If the cause is environmental, emotional, or related to physical overexertion, you might be able to address it on your own with some simple and easy steps. Itchy lungs, however, could be a symptom of a more serious condition such as asthma. If the cause is medical, you’ll need to see your doctor.

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