Our minds are constantly occupied with countless thoughts and tasks. Yet one essential function happens automatically—breathing. When you breathe, you transport oxygen to the body cells and remove the toxic carbon dioxide from your body. Breathing keeps our body alive. But how do we complete this cycle of breathing without even thinking about it? Let us uncover how your lungs function and how to keep your lungs healthy.
So now here comes the answer: “The respiratory system.” Like any machine, it consists of a specialised system to perform the tasks and requires a trigger to start functioning. The structure is made up of tissues and components that make up the lungs and various other respiratory organs connected to them. To get this function working, we need an autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is the unconscious part of our brain that controls this complex function. When your body prepares to take in oxygen, this system sends a signal to the muscles around your lungs, allowing them to inhale and exhale.
Lungs inhale and exhale 15 to 25 times in a minute, which amounts to 10,000 litres of air each day. That’s too much, but our autonomic nervous system gets it. Now that we have covered how our lungs function, let us understand the factors that affect our lungs health.
Understanding Lung Health
Lungs perform vital functions besides respiration, including balancing pH and protecting the body from harmful substances. Despite knowing their vital importance, we often neglect to properly care for our lungs. Chronic lung diseases pose a global health crisis, and India bears a heavy burden of that.
Data shows that Rajasthan had the most cases of acute lung infections in India in 2012, followed by West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. A 2022 Lancet study emphasised the alarming connection between long-term exposure to polluted air and an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly among individuals with genetic susceptibility and unhealthy lifestyles.
Adding to the complexities of lung health in India, research from Christian Medical College, Vellore, revealed a disproportionately high rate of lung damage among COVID-19 survivors compared to other nations. This trend is attributed to factors such as the country’s endemic tuberculosis and persistent air pollution. In order to understand the underlying causes, let us first cover the types of respiratory disorders.
Types of Respiratory Disorder
Respiratory disease is a type of disease that affects the lungs and other respiratory organs. Let us cover each disorder in detail.
Inflammatory lung disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a type of lung disease that clogs the air passage of the lungs, making it difficult to function effectively. COPD includes:
- Chronic Bronchitis: This is a chronic or long-term inflammation of the large airways (bronchi). Its symptoms include coughing mucus over a long period of time.
- Emphysema: It is a chronic lung condition that affects the air sacs (alveoli). Its symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, sleep and heart problems, weight loss, and depression.
- Asthma: Due to chronic coughing or other factors, the windpipes swell and narrow, impairing natural airflow in asthma.
- Emphysema: The alveoli, or tiny air sacs in the lungs, deteriorate and may even rupture in emphysema patients.
Restrictive lung disease
It is a lung disease in which restricted lung expansion causes decreased lung volumes. In simple terms, the airway is restricted, so the amount of air a person can take is reduced, and breathing becomes harder. It can be caused when the lungs become stiff, the airways are filled with phlegm, or due to obesity. Several examples of restrictive lung disease include idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, or sarcoidosis.
Respiratory tract infection
RTIs are infections in parts of the body that are involved in breathing, such as the sinuses, throat, airways, or lungs. It is further divided into upper respiratory tract infections and lower respiratory tract infections. URTIs include the common cold, laryngitis, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis.
The common types of LRTI include bacterial infections such as pneumonia. Symptoms of RTI include a cough, sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, a sore throat, headaches, muscle aches, breathlessness, a tight chest or wheezing, or a high temperature.
Lung cancer
When there is a change in the DNA of a cell, it results in lung cancer. Here, the cell multiplies quickly, forming a tumor mass. When this tumor grows, it reduces the person’s ability to breathe. In India, out of total cancer-related deaths (8%), 5.9% are caused by lung cancer, and the prevalence of smoking in patients with lung cancer is nearly 80%.
A few symptoms of lung cancer may include a cough that doesn’t go away, chest pain, coughing up even a small amount of blood, hoarseness, shortness of breath, or wheezing. Lung cancer, when spread to other parts of the body, shows signs of bone pain, headache, weight loss, loss of appetite, or swelling of the neck or face.
Pleural cavity disease
The pleural cavity is a thin space between two layers of tissue called the pleura. These layers surround and protect your lungs. Normally, a small amount of fluid is present in this space to reduce friction as the lungs expand and contract during breathing.
Pleural effusion is commonly referred to as “water on the lungs” and occurs when surplus fluids build up between the pleural layers. Its symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and a dry cough.
Pulmonary vascular disease
It affects the blood vessel that carries blood to and from the lungs. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and a rapid heart rate.
Causes of Lung Disease in India
According to the World Health Organization, respiratory infection is among the top 10 causes of death in India. It can be brought on by an infection, tobacco use, secondhand smoke inhalation, radon, asbestos, or other types of air pollution.
Air Pollution
Lung cancer, or lung carcinoma, is the leading cause of death in India. Air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, significantly contributes to this health crisis. India ranks fifth globally in terms of outdoor air pollution, with harmful pollutants like ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide poisoning severe risks.
Indoor air pollution, often caused by cooking fumes and poor ventilation, escalates respiratory issues like asthma. These combined factors contribute to lung damage and increase the risk of respiratory diseases. Historically linked to smoking, lung cancer now affects non-smokers due to the deteriorating air quality.
Smoking
Cigarettes contain around 7,000 chemicals, of which 70 are known to cause lung cancer. Nicotine present in cigarettes is a highly addictive substance that traps smokers, making smoking difficult to break.
Beyond nicotine, the toxic blend includes tar, carbon monoxide, oxidising chemicals, metals such as arsenic, beryllium, cobalt, nickel, and carcinogenic radioactive compounds. The risk of secondhand smoke is another significant factor in lung cancer. Smoking not only increases the risk of lung cancer, but it is also known to cause heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and mouth cancer.
Other Reasons
Other reasons include viral infection, bacterial infection, or allergies that might cause difficulty breathing. Additionally, respiratory disease causes include chest trauma and consequent bleeding, abdominal and chest infections, inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, and tuberculosis.
Symptoms of Lung Disease
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath during any physical activity
- Chest congestion
- An urgency to clear the throat after waking up every morning
- Generation of cough that can be greenish, yellow, or clear in color
- Lack of energy
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Swelling in legs, feet, or ankles
- Blueness in cyanosis or lips
- Unnoticed weight loss
- Fatigue due to oxygen shortage
Who is at Risk of Developing Lung Disease?
The main risk factors for lung disease are:
- The older you are, the higher the risk of lung disease.
- Genetics, i.e., a family history of lung disease, makes you more vulnerable
- If you are a habitual smoker or dealing with asthma , you are at greater risk of lung cancer, or COPD.
- Allergies and infections can also trigger lung disease.
- Exposed to poor-quality air increases the chances of developing lung disease.
- People with a history of heart disease are susceptible to it.
How to Keep Your Lungs Healthy?
1. Stop smoking
Tobacco contains harmful chemicals such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, and metals such as cobalt or nickel. Though you should never smoke, quitting at any age can reduce your risk of lung disease.
2. Exercise regularly
Exercise not only strengthens the heart muscles but also improves lung function. When you exercise, your lungs supply additional oxygen that your muscles demand, which in turn makes your muscles, heart, and lungs stronger. Aerobic activities such as walking, running, or jumping can ward off other diseases that might affect the lungs.
Further, breathing exercises in particular can strengthen your diaphragm and train your body to breathe more deeply and more effectively. Avoid outdoor exercise if the pollution level is high.
3. Prevent infections
By washing hands regularly, avoiding crowds in flu season, staying home while sick, getting a pneumonia and influenza vaccine, and avoiding dangerous chemicals if you are working in any hazardous industry. Use protective gear if your work involves exposure to silica, dust, allergens, or chemical fumes.
4. Eat a healthy diet
Add apples to your diet as they are rich in antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E, which reduces the risk of COPD. Additionally, beets, tomatoes, grapefruit, flax seeds, turmeric, or walnuts are good sources of antioxidants and vitamins, and keep your lungs healthy. Avoid eating processed meat, white bread, and potato chips, as they may impact your lung function.
5. Stay hydrated
Proper hydration helps maintain the protective mucus lining in your respiratory tract. This mucus traps harmful particles, shielding your lungs from infection. By drinking plenty of water throughout the day, you’re supporting your body’s natural defence system and promoting optimal lung function.
FAQs
What can I drink to clear my lungs?
There is no supportive evidence for any drink that can clear your lungs. Taking too many concoctions can cause electrolyte imbalances or unstable blood sugar. It is suggested to follow a healthy lifestyle to maximise your lungs ability to function.
What foods heal lungs faster?
Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of nutrients, fibre, and antioxidants. Studies show that they are helpful in reducing inflammation in the airways. Include apples, walnuts, beets, tomatoes, beans, oranges, and green leafy vegetables in your diet.
What heals the lungs faster?
Lungs are self-cleansing organs that heal themselves when not exposed to pollution or any harmful chemicals. The best ways to keep your lungs healthy are to quit smoking, vaping, eating healthy, and getting regular exercise.
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