Why lungs spongy

Tobacco damage is cumulative. Indoor pollution from secondhand smoke, mold, dust, household chemicals, radon, or asbestos can damage your lungs and worsen existing lung disease. Chronic smoking is a known cause of lung disease. Other causes include genetics, infections, or compromised immune systems.

Chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer can also contribute to lung disease. Sometimes the cause of lung disease is unknown. Lung disease has many types, all of which affect your breathing. Here are some common lung diseases:. The normal aging process can slow down your respiratory system.

You may notice that your lung capacity is lessened, or that your chest muscles are weaker. Read more about growing older and your lung health. Use an air cleaner or purifier at work or at home to reduce indoor dust and fumes. On days when the air quality index AQI is at an unhealthy range, keep your exposure minimal by keeping doors and windows closed and circulating air inside. You can also check out blogs for people trying to quit.

The respiratory system with its millions of alveoli is a complex machine. We just breathe in and out in the normal course of our day. Breathing exercises to increase lung capacity may be a good place to start. Here are five pieces of advice to maintain optimal lung health and breathing capacity, from staying far away from cigarettes to adopting a consistent….

Lung conditions like COPD can significantly reduce lung function and your ability to breathe comfortably. Read on to learn how to increase lung…. A new study finds that cinnamon flavors can hurt lung tissue. A pulmonologist is a doctor who focuses on the respiratory system. Discover the conditions they treat such as COPD , exams they conduct, and much…. An incentive spirometer is a device that can help you strengthen your lungs. Learn how it works, who it helps, and where to get one.

Belly or abdominal breathing offers a number of benefits for health and well-being. The goal is to drain the fluid and make it easier for you to….

Each lung is separated into lobes branching off the main bronchus; the right lung has three lobes, while the left has only two lobes. As the bronchi branch out, the total area of the two new branches is larger than its parent bronchus, making it extremely easy for the air to rush into the lungs.

Each lung is encased in a sack of tissue called the pleura. The lung is "stuck" to this sack by a small amount of liquid, which creates surface tension. It creates a very smooth surface so that as the lungs expand and contract they can ride over the heart and surrounding elements.

Since each lung is in a separate pleural sac, if the chest wall gets punctured, only one lung will collapse. The lungs are "stuck" to the inside of the thorax, also by surface tension. As the ribcase and diaphragm move, the lungs are stretched, drawing air into the lung, or the lungs are compressed, pushing the air out.

Residual Volume: the quantity of air that remains in the lungs and airways, even after a maximum exhalation -. Other lung diseases include cystic fibrosis a disease wherein the lungs produce abnormally viscous mucus , pneumonia a disease caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi , tuberculosis a bacterial infection , emphysema a disease where the air spaces in the lung enlarge , and asthma a disease characterized by a narrowing of the bronchioles, making it harder to breathe.

Maggie Hira has been writing professionally since She has written for numerous websites and print publications, including "LA. Direct Magazine" and The Budget Fashionista. General Overview The lungs are part of the respiratory system in the human body. Related Articles Role of the Lungs. What Are the Functions of Alveoli in the Lungs? Respiration in Mammals.

Facts About the Spleen. How the Human Respiratory System Works.