The lungs are paired respiratory organs. In the second month of fetal development, lung tissue begins to be laid in the womb. After the baby is born, its respiratory system is still developing, this formation is completed only by 22-25 years. And after 40 years of age, gradual aging of the lung tissue begins. It is about the structure of this organ, its work, pulmonary ventilation that today's conversation will go.
Lung work
The lungs are voluminous in size, they occupy almost the entire cavity of the chest. When a person takes a breath, the oxygen entering the lungs enters the bloodstream, after the formation of carbon dioxide, it again moves into the pulmonary cavity, and from there it is expired.
Due to the special pleural membrane during inhalation and exhalation, the lungs have the ability to contract and expand. Also under them there is a flat muscle - the diaphragm. When a breath is taken, the diaphragm and intercostal muscle tighten. There is a rise of the ribs and lowering of the diaphragm. At this time, the chest increases and pulmonary volumes increase, they draw in air with oxygen content. On exhalation, the intercostal muscles relax, the ribs themselves go down, the diaphragm rises and expels air that contains carbon dioxide from the lung tissue.
When you take a breath, the air first enters the trachea, from there it moves into two tubes, called the bronchi. The latter have small branches - bronchioles. At their tips there are bubbles filled with air, they are called alveoli. Through their thinnest membranes, oxygen enters the bloodstream. Such vesicles resemble clusters, and there are about 300 million of them in the lung tissue.
The pulmonary veins and arteries that are present in the alveoli and lung tissue take part in the system of the so-called pulmonary circulation.
What important functions do lungs carry?
The main purpose of these bodies is gas exchange. In addition, the lungs are practiced on other functions:
- The acid-base indicator in the body is controlled.
- Remove toxic substances, alcohol fumes, essential oils, etc.
- Maintain water balance in the human system. Normally, the lungs can evaporate up to 0.5 liters of water from the body per day. If there are extreme conditions, then this figure increases to 8-10 liters per day.
- Various substances, such as conglomerates of cells, fatty microemboluses and fibrin clots, are retained and dissolved.
- Participate in coagulation or blood coagulation.
- They take part in the formation of immunity (phagocytic activity).
Volumetric measure
Pulmonary volumes may vary due to age-related changes and other negative factors. If you lead the right lifestyle, you can increase lung capacity, thereby healing your body.
The volume of air in the lungs determines its parameter in one breath. If we consider the maximum value, then you can inhale at a time from 3 to 7 liters. But sometimes, due to some living conditions, this volume is significantly reduced.
In a person without deviations in health, lung tissue is promptly and fully supplied with oxygen. The normal lung capacity should be at least three quarters of the total pulmonary volume. It depends not only on a good genetic predisposition, but also on the right lifestyle.
Lung capacities
The capacities in the lungs can be as follows, depending on the volume of inhalation-exhalation:
- The total capacity of the lung tissue (OEL) is determined by the increased amount of air received when inhaling.
- Vital lung capacity (VC) is the volume of air that is exhaled after a maximum breath.
- Functional residual capacity (FOE) - the remaining amount of air in the lungs after exhalation in a calm state.
Such conditions are called static pulmonary volumes.
In medicine, a study of the volume of lung capacity is often used to diagnose various respiratory diseases. But not only for these purposes. Such diagnostics are indicated in the following situations:
- In order to diagnose diseases such as atelectasis, cicatricial changes in the lungs, pleural lesions, etc.
- For environmental monitoring of a specific region.
- To identify the state of respiratory function in ecologically unfavorable areas.
What causes can affect lung volume?
There are a number of factors that affect lung volume:
- Place of residence: the higher the place of residence above sea level, the more inhaled air is required, therefore, the volume of lungs in people can be greater.
- Human height: tall people have more lung tissue than undersized people.
- Smoking: due to the deposition of tar in the lungs, the volume of inhaled air is significantly reduced.
- Pregnancy period: the volume can be reduced due to an increase in the uterus and squeezing of the diaphragm.
- Human profession: There are a number of professions that require inhaling large amounts of air. These are singers, musicians who play wind instruments, professional athletes. These people usually have easy breathing. There are also professions in which, on the contrary, the risk of lung volume reduction increases - these are mining workers.
Ways to increase lung volume
You can independently try to increase lung capacity with the help of special exercises. To get the result, you need regularity in the classes and adherence to accurate recommendations. Over time, the restructuring of the body will begin, and the person will not have difficulty breathing while climbing stairs, singing or swimming. In addition to breathing exercises, there are several other ways to improve breathing and increase pulmonary volumes.
For example, to inflate balloons, this activity can even bring pleasure, and the lungs will greatly benefit from the activity.
Another funny way is the following: you need to glue a strip of paper to your nose and, blowing on it, try to hold a piece of paper on weight. As your workouts are regular, the paper holding time will increase. Such exercises can be done an unlimited number of times.
Respiratory Respiratory Resistance
In order to increase the burden on respiratory work, and thereby naturally increase pulmonary volumes, it is necessary to create conditions for the passage of air with obstacles. When you inhale, you do not need to do anything, a person tries to draw air into himself as much as possible. But on exhalation, it is necessary to create resistance. It is done like this:
- You need to sit in a relaxed state, but your back remains straight.
- At medium speed, air is inhaled through the nose, so that the chest is full.
- The lips are compressed and the air is exhaled through the mouth with force.
The benefit of the exercise is that the air lingers in the lungs longer. Due to this, the duration of gas exchange increases. Blood is better saturated with oxygen.
Some unprepared people may develop dizziness, so at a time no more than 8-10 such inspirations and exhalations are done.
Sports for the development of the respiratory system
If you regularly exercise, you can thus increase lung capacity by 5-15%. If the body is affected by physical activity, then many of its systems work more actively, including respiratory and cardiovascular. First of all, the volume of oxygen saturation of cells increases.
If a person wants to strengthen the respiratory system, then he needs to do swimming. In tandem with power sports, you can achieve better results.
You can consider other options, namely:
- jogging
- diving;
- cycling;
- rowing;
- biathlon;
- skiing, etc.
As a bonus to the strengthening of the respiratory system can be attributed to the improvement of the cardiac system. Thanks to better blood circulation, oxygen consumption also increases. In addition to sports achievements, you can increase the volume of the lungs by singing and playing wind instruments, but not everyone can afford such a passion.
Knowing how the lungs work, you can independently increase their volume. If you regularly engage in exercises to increase lung capacity, you can achieve excellent results. A person recovers faster after respiratory illness, tolerates various loads better, and does not get tired so quickly.