The lungs provide oxygen and keep all other organs functioning by removing carbon dioxide from the body. Genetics, disease and the environment can affect the health of the lungs and cause breathing problems. Every cell in the body needs oxygen to live. The air we breathe contains oxygen and other gases.
Once in the lungs, oxygen moves into the bloodstream and is transported throughout the body. In every cell of the body, oxygen is exchanged for a waste gas called carbon dioxide. The bloodstream carries this waste gas back to the lungs, where it is removed from the bloodstream and exhaled. The lungs and respiratory system automatically perform this vital process, called gas exchange.
The most important function of the lungs is to take oxygen from the environment and transfer it into the bloodstream. The lungs are necessary for survival; as part of the respiratory system, they help us breathe. Air contains oxygen and other gases; when we breathe it, the air goes to the lungs. Oxygen is transferred into the bloodstream in the lungs and then transported throughout the body.
Every cell takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. The blood then transports the unwanted carbon dioxide back to the lungs; it is then removed from the blood and exhaled. This process is called gas exchange. October is Healthy Lungs Month, a time to recognise the importance of the lungs.
These lungs help you breathe and keep all your other organs functioning. Basically, when you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen and transmit it to your bloodstream, which carries it to the body's cells. In return, it picks up carbon dioxide, which the lungs remove. Every time you breathe, this process is happening.
That's why it's crucial to keep your lungs healthy. When you think about your health, do you remember to think about your lungs? It's easy to forget to keep your lungs strong and healthy; you don't see them and literally breathe without thinking about it. However, healthy lungs are important for your overall health. Improving the health of your lungs promotes proper lung function, helps you stay active and improves your overall quality of life.
The lungs and respiratory system allow us to breathe. They take oxygen into our bodies (called breathing in or inhaling) and expel carbon dioxide (called exhaling or breathing out). Besides avoiding cigarettes, regular exercise is probably the most important thing you can do for the health of your lungs. Just as exercise keeps your body fit, it also keeps your lungs fit.
As the lungs are an important part of the body's daily functioning, keeping them healthy is crucial to overall health. A cold or respiratory illness affects lung health immediately, but can also lead to serious complications. The American Lung Association (ALA) states that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Not smoking or quitting smoking keeps lungs healthy and significantly decreases the risk of chronic lung disease.
Types of chronic lung diseases range from congenital conditions such as asthma to those caused by tissue damage, such as emphysema and lung cancer. When the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its resting position, lung volume decreases because the pressure inside the chest cavity rises, and the lungs expel air. Second-hand smoke is as deadly as smoking; it increases a person's risk of chronic health problems such as COPD and lung cancer. Although e-cigarettes are often considered a safer alternative to smoking, there is growing research linking vaping to lung injury and disease.
Since regular daily activity does not help to use the lungs to their full potential, it is necessary to challenge the lungs with more intense activity.
