How important is the lungs?

The importance of the lungs lies in the body obtaining the oxygen that is important for survival, and ridding the body of carbon dioxide gas. The lungs transport oxygen to the blood stream that carries it to all parts of the body, then the oxygen is replaced with carbon dioxide gas and the blood carries it to the lungs for disposal from it through the process of exhaling. The lungs and respiratory system perform this process.

How is the process of breathing, oxygen exchange and carbon dioxide?

• Breathing is done from the nose or mouth. When air enters the nose, it is warmed and moisturized. In the nose there are bristles and cilia that filter dust and other particles that enter the nose with inhalation air.

The nostrils and mouth open in the throat, the back of the nose and the mouth. In the lower part of the pharynx, the pathway is divided into two parts, one for food and the other for air. It is the glottis that closes the airway only when swallowing to prevent food and fluid from entering the lungs.

• The larynx, or sound box, is the top of the air tube only.
• The trachea, is a continuation of the airway below the throat. The walls of the trachea are strengthened by rigid cartilage rings to keep them open. The trachea is lined with cilia, and the function of these cilia is to clear fluids and foreign particles from the airway.
• At the end of the trachea, the trachea is divided into left and right air tubes called bronchi, which connect to the lungs. In the lungs, the bronchi branches into the smaller bronchi and even the smaller tubes called bronchioles. Bronchioles end in small air sacs called alveoli. In the alveoli, oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.
• The lungs also have elastic tissues that allow them to swell and contract without loss of shape and are covered by a thin lining called the pleura.
• Other important breathing roles
• In addition to gas exchange, the respiratory system performs other important breathing roles that include:
• Bring air to the appropriate body temperature and moisturize it to the appropriate humidity level.
• Protect your body from harmful substances. This is done by coughing, sneezing, draining, or swallowing.
• Support your sense of smell.

Warning signs that there may be a lung problem

• Shortness of breath: It is not normal for you to feel shortness of breath after you finish exercising, or after a little effort, or you feel the difficulty of breathing.
• Chronic mucus production: Mucus is produced by the airways as a defense against infections or irritants. But if mucus production continues for a long time, this may indicate lung disease.
• Wheezing:

Wheezing indicates that something unusual is blocking the airways of the lungs or making them very narrow.

• Blood cough: A blood cough may come from the lungs or the upper respiratory tract. Whatever it is, it indicates a health problem.
• Chronic chest pain: chest pain that persists for a period of time, worsened when breathing or coughing is also a warning sign.

What happens when the Corona virus enters the lungs?

When the virus enters the lungs, the most damaging types of cells in the lungs cause goblet cells and ciliated cells.

These cells keep the lungs moist and clean, and prevent the lungs from filling up with debris and fluids such as viruses, bacteria, dust particles, and pollen.

After the virus attaches to these cells, they start killing them, so the lungs begin to fill with fluid, making it difficult to breathe. It is believed that this stage of the disease lasts for about a week.

At this point, the immune system will begin to start fighting the virus. Signs of a high body temperature appear, and a high temperature creates an anti-virus environment. The body begins by getting rid of mucus in the form of a cough and runny nose.

But what happens in the elderly and people who suffer from chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, or heart and lung problems or diabetes, can cause an overactive immune system that causes the activation of a variety of chemicals that can leak into the lungs, and therefore in addition To the damage of the virus to the cells of the lungs, this leads to more damage to the cells. The lungs are filled with mucus, which makes breathing more difficult. This increased response of the immune system can lead to its failure and then death.

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What can you do to keep the lungs healthy and protect them from chronic diseases and complications from the Coronavirus?

With age the lungs’ efficiency decreases, so you have to take care of them early.

1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet regularly.
2. Exercise regularly and reduce stress. Exercise can help keep your lungs healthy.
3. Be aware of minor symptoms such as coughing, slight wheezing or difficulty breathing, as they may be the first signs of lung disease. Make sure to do periodic checks in order to discover any disease before it gets worse and becomes chronic.
4. Do not smoke and avoid other air pollutants

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Cigarette smoke can narrow the airways and make breathing more difficult. It causes chronic inflammation or swelling of the lung, which may lead to chronic bronchitis.

Over time, cigarette smoke damages lung tissue and may lead to changes that grow into cancer.

Inhaling polluted air with someone else’s cigarette smoke (secondhand smoke), chemicals of various forms, car exhaust, and other pollutants can cause lung disease.

5. Avoid infection

Protect your body from repeated infections by strengthening your immunity. Infection with a common cold, flu, or sinus infections, etc. can be dangerous and damage your respiratory system.

6. Oral hygiene is important to protect you from germs in the mouth that can lead to infections.
7. Cleansing the lungs

People who have damaged lungs may have more difficulty removing mucus than others. Chronic conditions, such as COPD, asthma, and cystic fibrosis, cause excess mucus or unusually thick mucus that can block the lungs. Therefore, we can use some methods to cleanse the lungs:

1. Inhale the water vapor

Inhaling water vapor helps open the airways and help the lungs to relieve mucus.

It adds warmth and moisture, which may improve breathing and help relieve mucus inside the airways and lungs.

A small study of 16 males with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that makes breathing difficult, found that water vapor therapy significantly reduced heart rate and improved breathing compared to other treatments.

However, the participants did not report lasting improvements in their respiratory functions.

2. Artificial cough

A fabricated cough can naturally expel excess mucus in the lungs.

Doctors recommend that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease perform this exercise to help cleanse their lungs.

3. Postural drainage of mucus from the lungs

Postural drainage involves lying down in various positions to use gravity to remove mucus from the lungs. This practice may improve breathing and help treat or prevent lung infections.

Positional drainage techniques vary depending on the position:

• on your back

Lie on the floor or on the bed.

Place pillows under the hips to ensure the chest is lower than the hips.

Slowly inhale the air through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Each exhalation should take twice the length of the inhale, which is called 1: 2 breathing.

Continue for a few minutes.

• by your side

Lie on one side with the head rested on an arm or pillow.

Place the pillows under the hips.

Practice 1: 2 breathing pattern.

Continue for a few minutes.

Repeat on the other side.

• on your stomach

Place a set of pillows on the floor.

Lie with the stomach on the pillows. Remember to keep your hips above the chest.

Fold the arms under the head for support.

Practice 1: 2 breathing pattern.

Continue for a few minutes.

Deep breathing helps break down mucus and flush it out of the body. Exercises force the muscles to work more, which increases the rate of breathing, and thus increases the oxygenation of the muscles. It also improves blood circulation, making the body more efficient in removing the extra carbon dioxide that the body produces when exercising.

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis or asthma should consult a health care professional before starting a new exercise regimen.

4. Chest percussion

Chest percussion is another effective way to remove excess mucus from the lungs. A healthcare professional or respiratory therapist will use a stone hand to tap the chest wall rhythmically to release the mucus trapped in the lungs.

5. Green tea

Green tea contains many antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation in the lungs. These compounds may protect lung tissue from the harmful effects of smoke inhalation.

A recent study of more than 1,000 adults in Korea reported that people who drink at least two cups of green tea per day have better pulmonary functions than those who have never drunk.

6. Anti-inflammatory foods

Bronchitis makes breathing difficult, so anti-inflammatory foods can reduce inflammation to relieve symptoms.

Foods that help fight inflammation include:

• Foods that contain vitamin D and zinc because these two elements are important for greatly improving the immune system, and for reducing the risk of infections in the lungs.

The most important food that helps break through zinc to cells and prevent viruses from cloning is the mallow, according to new studies. When zinc decreases, the body is more susceptible to viruses and bacteria.

• Fenugreek seeds

Mucus makes the body fertile ground for germs, pathogens, bacteria and viruses. Smashing mucus as quickly as possible is the best way to keep the lungs healthy, so it is possible to take 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds and boil them in water for 4-5 minutes, then filter and warm them. You can have one or two cups a day. Fenugreek facilitates the disposal of mucus in the body.

• turmeric, leafy vegetables, cherries, berries, olives, camel eye, beans, lentils.