Inevitably, this air which would weigh more than See also Overview of the Respiratory System Overview of the Respiratory System To sustain life, the body must produce sufficient energy. Energy is produced by burning molecules in food, which is done by the process of oxidation whereby food molecules are combined with In healthy people, these age-related changes seldom lead to symptoms.
These changes contribute somewhat to an older person's reduced ability to do vigorous exercise, especially intense aerobic exercise, such as running, biking, and mountain climbing. However, age-related decreases in heart function may be a more important cause of such limitations. Older people are at higher risk of developing pneumonia Overview of Pneumonia Pneumonia is an infection of the small air sacs of the lungs alveoli and the tissues around them.
Pneumonia is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Often, pneumonia is the final Thus, vaccines for respiratory infections such as influenza Influenza Flu Influenza flu is a viral infection of the lungs and airways with one of the influenza viruses.
It causes a fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle aches myalgias , and a general These bacteria commonly cause Importantly, age-related changes in the lungs are compounded by the effects of heart and lung diseases, especially those caused by the destructive effects of smoking.
Join over , people who receive the latest news about lung health, including COVID, research, air quality, inspiring stories and resources. Thank you! You will now receive email updates from the American Lung Association. Select your location to view local American Lung Association events and news near you. Our service is free and we are here to help you. Your Aging Lungs. Back to Each Breath Blog. There are several body changes that happen as you get older that may cause a decline in lung capacity: Alveoli can lose their shape and become baggy.
The diaphragm can, over time, become weaker, decreasing the ability to inhale and exhale. This change will only be significant when exercising. Ribcage bones become thinner and change shape, altering the ribcage so that it is less able to expand and contract with breathing.
Nerves in airways that trigger coughing become less sensitive to foreign particles. When particles build up in the lungs, they can damage the lung tissue. As you age, your immune system may weaken, leaving you more vulnerable to infections like influenza the flu and pneumonia.
Don't smoke — Smoking damages your lungs and will compound the effects of aging. Need help quitting? We can help. Avoid air pollution — Indoor and outdoor air pollutants can damage your lungs. Secondhand smoke, outdoor air pollution, chemicals in the home and workplace, and radon all can cause or worsen lung disease. Exercise —Regular exercise can help keep chest muscles strong. The lungs have two main functions. One is to get oxygen from the air into the body.
The other is to remove carbon dioxide from the body. Your body needs oxygen to work properly. Carbon dioxide is a gas the body produces when it uses oxygen. During breathing, air enters and exits the lungs. When you breathe in inhale , air flows through the airways into the lungs.
The airways are made of stretchy tissue. Bands of muscle and other support tissue wrap around each airway to help keep them open. Air keeps flowing into the lungs until it fills tiny air sacs.
Blood circulates around these air sacs through tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Oxygen crosses into the bloodstream at the place where the blood vessels and air sacs meet.
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