Facts About the Lungs and Pandemic

A pulmonologist advises on protecting your often-overlooked lung health in the aftermath of the pandemic.

The expression “it’s like breathing” is used to suggest that something is natural and effortless.

However, several rising concerns in recent years—from severe climate change to the COVID-19 pandemic—have demonstrated that breathing isn’t always taken for granted and that protecting your lung health is vital.

The Function of the Lung

The process of gas exchange known as respiration is the primary function of the lungs (or breathing). We can breathe thanks to our lungs and respiratory system. They infuse our bodies with oxygen (inhalation) and expel carbon dioxide (exhalation) (called expiration, or exhalation). Respiration is the procedure of exchanging carbon dioxide and oxygen.

During breathing, oxygen from the outside air enters the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide, a waste byproduct from metabolism, exits the bloodstream. Due to the decreased ability to exchange gases, lung function declines.

What is the Significance of the Lungs?

Oxygen is necessary for the survival of every cell in your body. The air we breathe contains oxygen and other gases. When oxygen enters the lungs, it is delivered to the bloodstream and then throughout the body. Each cell in your body exchanges oxygen for a waste gas known as carbon dioxide. This waste gas is then delivered back to the lungs, where it is absorbed from the bloodstream and ejected. Gas exchange is a critical activity performed spontaneously by your lungs and respiratory system.

There is more to your respiratory system than simply exchanging gases; it also helps you breathe. These are some of them:

• Warming and moistening the air to a suitable temperature and humidity for breathing.
• Defending your body against potentially dangerous toxins. Coughing, sneezing, filtering, or ingesting them accomplishes this.
• Providing support for your sense of smell.

Blood Vessels and Lungs

The LOBES, or divisions, of your right lung, are separated into three. Each lobe resembles a sponge-like bubble filled with tissue. Only one opening—a branch of the bronchial tube—allows air to enter and exit.

The LOBES in your left lung are separated into two parts.

The PLEURA are the two membranes that encircle each lobe of the lungs and separate them from the chest wall. They are actually one continuous membrane folded on itself.

The CILIA (like extremely minute hairs) that line your bronchial passages move in waves. MUCUS (sticky phlegm or liquid) is carried upward and out into your throat by this motion, where it is coughed up or swallowed. Much of the dust, bacteria and other unwanted debris that has infiltrated your lungs is caught and held in mucus. When you cough, sneeze, clear your throat or swallow, you get rid of this debris.

The air sacs or alveoli are located at the end of the bronchial tubes’ tiniest branches, known as BRONCHIOLES.

ALVEOLI are the teeny-tiny air sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.

CAPILLARIES are blood veins that go through the alveolar walls. Blood circulates through capillaries, entering the PULMONARY ARTERY and exiting the PULMONARY VEIN.

The blood in the capillaries emits carbon dioxide into the alveoli via the capillary wall and absorbs oxygen from the alveolar air.

Keeping Your Lungs Healthy During COVID

What Effects Does COVID-19 Have on Your Lungs?

The COVID-19 virus penetrates the respiratory tract and takes over the cells that line it, transforming them into virus-producing machines that coat your whole respiratory tract in viral particles. We get unwell as a result of a battle between the virus and our lungs.

The cells that typically rebuild the lining of the lungs are also destroyed. As fluid and cellular debris build-up, shadows appear on X-rays, indicating pneumonia. The working lung units no longer accomplish what you need them to do: bring in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide as they become devastated.

Doctors commonly use a specialized oxygen delivery device called a high-flow nasal cannula to force significant volumes of oxygen into the lungs to treat COVID-19 patients who aren’t getting enough oxygen. If this isn’t enough, they usually sedate patients and use a mechanical ventilator to give oxygen. Unfortunately, those who require invasive mechanical ventilation have a significant mortality rate.

Healthcare providers are currently doing a better job fighting COVID-19 than they were when the epidemic first started, but it’s still frightening for everyone involved when a patient becomes ill.

What Has Been Discovered About COVID-19 that Could Aid in the Fight Against Other Respiratory Viruses?

Many respiratory infections were thought to be transmitted exclusively through bigger respiratory droplets, which, when exhaled, fall relatively swiftly to the ground and can only spread so far.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, we discovered that coronaviruses may also be disseminated via aerosols, which are considerably smaller particles that can stay in the air for much longer and travel further. For droplets, social distancing and hand cleanliness work, but for aerosols, masks and proper ventilation become the most effective infection-prevention techniques.

One of the amazing things about chronic obstructive lung disease, or COPD, is that the incidence of flare-ups or exacerbations has decreased during the pandemic, according to doctors who treat COPD patients.

When you have an exacerbation, your breathing becomes more difficult, and you may need antibiotics or steroids, as well as hospitalization in extreme situations. Some of the findings showed that some of the COVID precautions recommended by doctors are likely functioning to prevent or minimize the spread of a variety of respiratory viruses.

In the medical community, there has recently been a consensus on how to best protect patients from respiratory viruses in general. This has generally aided in raising awareness and assisting in going forward. Some individuals, such as those who are immunocompromised or have chronic pulmonary conditions, may need to wear masks for at least part of the year in certain situations. Our understanding of how respiratory viruses spread and how to defend ourselves has most likely been irrevocably altered.

What Role Does Ventilation Play in COVID-19 and Other Virus Transmission?

The importance of ventilation cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, it is clear that even those who have been vaccinated can become infected and spread SARS-CoV-2, particularly the Delta variant. This is a major source of concern for many healthcare professionals.

Nonetheless, health care providers are presently distributing boosters to people who are at high risk of serious infection. When feasible, hold gatherings outside, where masks may not be required if you are fully vaccinated, not in a crowded setting, and not in a location with significant or high transmission.

If you have an established health condition, a compromised immune system, or live in a high-transmission area, you may still wish to wear a mask indoors in public, even if you have been vaccinated. The importance of wearing a mask in school for preventing spread in an environment where children are predominantly unvaccinated cannot be overstated.

To limit the risk of transmission at the workplace, speak with your boss about replacing HVAC systems with more suitable filters or, if you have control over your environment, utilizing HEPA filters.

Is There Anything You Can Do to Protect Your Lungs Proactively?

Absolutely, beginning at a young age. Until you’re roughly 25 years old, your lungs are still developing. Many chronic lung problems, we’re discovering, may start much earlier. Childhood exposures may reduce peak lung function in adults, making them more vulnerable to future harm.

Nicotine exposure in the pregnancy, for example, can affect airway development. When a youngster is exposed to secondhand smoking, their lung function can be harmed. Pollution and climate change are constant hazards to lung health—wildfires, dust from droughts, and air pollution from industry and cars all add to particulate matter, which can lead to poor lung health.

Vaccination is one strategy to safeguard our respiratory health and lower the risk of respiratory infections. Ensure that your children receive age-appropriate vaccines, such as the flu vaccine and the COVID vaccine.

A Mediterranean diet decadent in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats has been shown to be beneficial to lung health. Furthermore, research shows that exercise levels in young adulthood are linked to lung health in later life.

What Should You Do If Your Lung Health Is Concerned?

If you experience shortness of breath while exercising, have a cough, or notice anything else is wrong, you must act quickly. Spirometry is a breathing test that you should discuss with your doctor. It all boils down to focusing on healthy behaviors and symptoms, and if you’re concerned or symptomatic, ask your doctor for more testing and, if necessary, an appointment with a pulmonologist.