Our service is free and we are here to help you. Section Menu. Why are lungs important? These include: Bringing air to the proper body temperature and moisturizing it to the right humidity level. Protecting your body from harmful substances. This is done by coughing, sneezing, filtering or swallowing them.
Supporting your sense of smell. Sinuses help regulate the temperature and humidity of inhaled air. The NOSE is the preferred entrance for outside air into the respiratory system.
The hairs lining the nose's wall are part of the air-cleaning system. Air also enters through the MOUTH , especially for those who have a mouth-breathing habit, whose nasal passages may be temporarily blocked by a cold, or during heavy exercise. These, in turn, split further into bronchioles.
Each lobe is like a balloon filled with sponge-like tissue. Air moves in and out through one opening—a branch of the bronchial tube. The PLEURA are the two membranes, actually, one continuous one folded on itself, that surround each lobe of the lungs and separate your lungs from your chest wall. This motion carries MUCUS sticky phlegm or liquid upward and out into your throat, where it is either coughed up or swallowed. Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the leading cause of fatality from cancer in both men and women.
Most lung cancers are due to cigarette smoking. All the blood in the body travels from the heart through the lungs, so the cancer can easily spread to other parts of the body. Benign tumors : Benign tumors are a less common cause of respiratory disease. One example is hamartoma. These can compress surrounding tissue, but they are usually asymptomatic. The pleural cavity is the gap between the inner and outer pleural membranes that encase the outside of the lungs. Pleural effusion : Fluid builds up in the pleural cavity, often due to cancer in or near the chest cavity.
It could also be related to congestive heart failure or liver cirrhosis. Other causes include inflammation of the pleura, which may occur with an infection. Pneumothorax : This can result from trauma, for example, a bullet wound.
Air inside the pleural cavity is called a pneumothorax. This compresses the lungs, and when severe, it causes them to collapse like a balloon. Pulmonary artery embolism : A blood clot forms elsewhere in the body and travels in the bloodstream to the heart and then to the lungs, where it becomes lodged. This can result in sudden death. More rarely, an embolism can consist of fat, amniotic fluid , or air. Pulmonary arterial hypertension : Increased pressure can build up in the pulmonary arteries.
Sometimes, the reasons for this are unclear. Pulmonary edema : This most often results from congestive heart failure.
Fluid leaks from capillaries into the air spaces within the alveoli. Pulmonary hemorrhage : Damaged and inflamed capillaries can leak blood into the alveoli. A symptom may be the coughing up of blood. Ways of keeping the lungs healthy include :. Not smoking : Smoking tobacco, both first and second hand, can lead to lung cancer and COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Smoking leads to a narrowing of the airways, it inflames the lungs and destroys the tissues over time. Make your home a smoke-free area. Prevent infection : Ways to prevent the spread of respiratory infections, include washing hands, avoiding crowds in flu season, and asking your health provider about influenza and pneumonia vaccinations. Exercise : Aerobic exercise improves lung capacity, and staying fit can ward off other diseases that might impact the lungs.
Check-ups : regular health checks, even when feeling well, can detect problems in the early stages, when it is easier to treat them. Avoiding pollutant exposure : Chemicals used in the garden or home can damage the lungs. Wear a mask if using strong chemicals. Radon is a naturally occurring chemical that has been linked to 21, lung cancer deaths a year in the U. Around 2, of these people have never smoked. Control moisture : Keep indoor humidity down to an acceptable level by using exhaust fans and vents.
Keep moist surfaces clean and dry wherever possible. Keeping the home ventilated with external fresh air is a good idea. Pain ranging from mild to severe sometimes occurs around the left lung. Learn more about the condition and the many potential treatment options here. Immunotherapy is an emerging treatment option for cancer. It changes the way the immune system interacts with cancer cells and may help treat lung….
A look at interstitial lung disease, a group of diseases that make it difficult to get enough oxygen. Included is detail on types and complications. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD refers to two lung diseases that cause difficulty breathing. Smoking is the most common cause. Learn more…. Bronchitis is an infection of the tubes that lead to the lungs.
It can be acute or chronic. Symptoms include a cough and wheezing. The global impact of respiratory disease. NIH U. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. April 28, American Lung Association. Learn about sarcoidosis. February 27, Pulmonary hypertension.
Dtsch Arztebl Int. Pulmonary embolism, part I: Epidemiology, risk factors and risk stratification, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and nonthrombotic pulmonary embolism. Exp Clin Cardiol. Lung capacity and aging. March 11, Lung function tests. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth.
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