Have you ever just thought about how amazing and complex the process of breathing is? Without us realizing it, this happens more than twenty thousand times a day. While we sleep, work, and play, the main hero behind this amazing work of providing our body with the necessary oxygen, that is, oxygen , and expelling unnecessary gases, is our lungs . So today, let's talk about the lungs, which are indispensable to our life.
What are the lungs? Where are they located?
Simply put, the lungs are the main part of our respiratory system , the network of organs involved in our breathing. We have two lungs. They are located in our chest, which is the area between the neck and the abdomen, on either side. We also call this the thorax.
Our lungs are not exactly the same. There are slight differences.
Right Lung
The right lung is divided into three sections, or what we call 'lobes' . It is slightly shorter than the left lung, but wider. Both of our lungs are covered by a protective membrane called 'pleural tissue' .
Left Lung
The left lung has two lobes. This one is smaller than the right one. The reason for that is to make room for our heart. Our heart is located where the middle of the left lung should be. So in the left lung, there is a small space that is cut out to fit the heart, which we call the 'cardiac notch' .
What really happens in the lungs?
The main function of the lungs is to provide oxygen to the cells in our body and to remove carbon dioxide, a waste product produced by the cells, from the body. This process occurs 12 to 20 times per minute.
Imagine you are taking a breath.
1. When you breathe in through your nose or mouth, the air passes through the back of your throat and enters your trachea , the main windpipe .
2. Then this trachea divides into two branches. We call these 'bronchial tubes' . One connects to the right lung, and the other to the left lung.
3. Inside the lungs, these tubes divide into smaller branches called 'bronchi' and even smaller tubes called 'bronchioles' .
4. Finally, these small channels connect to a cluster of tiny air sacs that look like a bunch of grapes. These are called 'alveoli' . These are the super-workhorses in our lungs. It is through these air sacs that the oxygen in the air we breathe is added to the blood.
After absorbing oxygen, the blood leaves the lungs and goes to the heart. From there, the heart pumps this oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. That's when every cell and tissue in our body gets the oxygen it needs to survive.
When the body's cells use oxygen, they produce carbon dioxide as a waste product. It returns to the blood and travels to the lungs. When we exhale, this unwanted carbon dioxide gas leaves the body.
For the lungs to function properly, these airways must be open when we breathe in and out. There must also be no inflammation or excessive mucus buildup.
How do the lungs protect themselves?
Our respiratory system has several amazing defense mechanisms to prevent harmful things like dust and germs in the air from entering our lungs when we breathe.
- Small hairs in the nose: These act like a filter that cleans the air. They prevent things like large dust particles from entering the nose.
- Mucus produced in the trachea and bronchial tubes: This mucus keeps the airways moist. It also traps things like dust and bacteria.
- Cilia: These are tiny hair-like structures in our airways. They constantly move upward, pushing mucus and other harmful substances toward the throat. We can then cough them up or swallow them. One of the main reasons why smoking is dangerous is that these cilia are damaged by smoke.
Common diseases and conditions affecting the lungs
Unfortunately, there are many conditions that can affect our lungs. Some are minor, while others can be chronic and serious. Below are some of the common ones.
| Condition Name | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Asthma | Difficulty breathing due to airway obstruction. |
| Bronchitis | The main symptom is a cough. This can be short-term or long-term (chronic). |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | A respiratory disease that gradually worsens over time and cannot be completely cured. |
| Pneumonia | A germ entering the lungs can cause fluid to fill the lungs, which can even require hospitalization. |
| Tuberculosis | An infection that mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. |
| Lung cancer | The main risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. |
| Covid-19 (COVID-19) | A viral infection that can cause mild to severe respiratory illness. |
What may be signs of lung disease?
If you have a lung problem, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms. These are definitely something to be aware of.
- Shortness of breath : Shortness of breath even when doing small tasks.
- Chest pain : Pain that worsens when taking a deep breath or coughing.
- Cough: A chronic cough, especially one that lasts for weeks. Bloody phlegm.
- Fatigue: Constant feeling of extreme tiredness.
- Wheezing: A whistling sound from the chest.
- Swelling of the ankles and feet: This can also be seen in some lung diseases.
If you continue to have these symptoms, don't ignore them. The best thing to do is to see your doctor immediately and seek advice.
How to check lung health?
When you go to see a doctor, he or she can examine you and get some ideas about your lungs. For example:
- The chest is listened to with a stethoscope and checked for any unusual sounds (crackles, wheezing).
- You count the number of breaths you take per minute.
- A small device called a Pulse Oximeter is attached to a finger and measures the oxygen level in the blood.
In addition to a physical examination, various tests may be required to accurately diagnose the condition.
Imaging tests of the lungs
These allow the doctor to see the condition inside your lungs.
- Chest X-ray
- CT scan
- Ultrasound scan
- MRI scan
Lung Function Tests
These tests measure how well your lungs are working.
- Spirometry: A test that measures how quickly and how much air you can breathe out.
- Six-minute walk test: This measures how your oxygen levels and heart rate change as you walk for 6 minutes.
Procedures that may require anesthesia
In some cases, it may be necessary to send a camera into the lungs to look inside or take a piece of tissue (biopsy) for examination.
- Bronchoscopy: A procedure in which a flexible tube with a small camera is passed through the airways to examine the lungs.
- Lung biopsy: A small piece of tissue is taken from the lung and examined under a microscope.
Things we can do to keep our lungs healthy
There are many things we can do to keep our lungs healthy, and to manage lung disease if we have it.
- Avoid smoking completely: This is the best and most important thing you can do. Stop smoking cigarettes, beedis, and vaping as well.
- Maintain a healthy weight: As body weight increases, especially when fat accumulates in the abdominal area, the lungs' ability to expand becomes limited.
- Exercise regularly:Exercise increases lung capacity, but if you're new to exercise, talk to your doctor first.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Drink plenty of water: This will help thin the mucus in your lungs and make it easier to remove.
- Protect yourself from infections: Wash your hands often. Stay away from people who are sick. Get the vaccines your doctor recommends.
Take-Home Message
- Your lungs are a very important organ that provides oxygen to the body and removes carbon dioxide.
- Smoking is the biggest damage you can do to your lungs. To keep your lungs healthy, you need to quit smoking completely.
- Don't ignore symptoms like persistent cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain. These could be signs of a lung condition. See your doctor right away.
- A healthy lifestyle (good diet, exercise) goes a long way in protecting the health of your lungs.
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