OVERVIEW OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
The respiratory system consists of the nose, mouth, throat, pharynx, larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), lungs, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, and respiratory muscles.
Most human cells require oxygen to function.
The primary function of the respiratory system is to facilitate the exchange of gases: the intake of oxygen and the elimination of carbon dioxide. In other words, the respiratory system brings in oxygen from the air and releases carbon dioxide (a waste product) from the body.
The respiratory system also helps regulate blood pH by removing carbon dioxide, maintaining the acid-base balance in the body.
It filters harmful particles and germs from the air we breathe to safeguard us from infections.
It allows us to speak and sing by vibrating the vocal cords as air passes through the larynx (voice box).
It helps us detect smells by moving air with odor molecules past the olfactory receptors in the nasal cavity.
The respiratory system warms and moistens the air we breathe in, protecting the delicate tissues of the respiratory tract and ensuring that the air is at a suitable temperature and humidity level when it reaches the lungs.
The respiratory system's responsibilities are varied and crucial. It is an excellent and hard-working team member, deserving of much appreciation!
The respiratory tract is commonly divided into 2 sections: upper and lower.
The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, mouth, sinuses, pharynx, and larynx.
The lower respiratory tract includes the trachea, lungs, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli (air sacs).
The division between upper and lower respiratory tract is typically considered to be at the level of the vocal cords in the larynx. Everything above is upper, and everything below is lower.
The respiratory tract brings air from the outside through the nose or mouth to the alveoli in the lungs, where the exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.
ABOUT THE LUNGS
The lungs are the largest organ of the respiratory system. The lungs are very important, affecting human health and life.
The lungs are located in the chest cavity, below the neck, and above the diaphragm.
The lungs have a very intricate and complex structure, helping to maintain life for the body.
The lungs have a light, soft, spongy, elastic structure & are enclosed in a thin membrane sac (called the pleura).
Each person typically has 2 lungs.
Each lung is made up of lobes.
The right lung has 3 lobes.
The left lung has 2 lobes (due to the space occupied by the heart).
On average, an adult lung weighs about 0.6 kg (1.3 pounds), with the left lung being smaller than the right lung.
The lungs are about 23 cm (9 inches) long, and when fully expanded can be 27 cm (nearly 11 inches) long.
Generally speaking, a newborn's lungs have about 30 million alveoli. Adult lungs have about 300 million alveoli and can hold about 6 liters of air.
SOME SYMPTOMS OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES
Common symptoms to recognize respiratory diseases:
- Cough, possibly with phlegm
- Runny nose, nasal congestion
- Fever, possibly accompanied by wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness
COMMON RESPIRATORY DISEASES
• Pneumonia (inflammation of the lung)
• Bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial tube)
• Pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Lung cancer
• Pneumoconiosis (lung disease caused by inhaling dust)
• Pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs)
• Pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lung tissue)
• Pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung)
• Respiratory distress/failure syndrome
• Asthma
• Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs)
• Sarcoidosis (a disease that forms abnormal lumps of tissue called granulomas)
TREATMENT
Acute illnesses require immediate modern medical care with equipment and technology to help doctors quickly diagnose and timely treat sudden onset conditions.
Whereas Traditional Eastern Medicine, an ancient medical system, treats chronic illnesses over the long term, helping to stabilize the internal organs,
balancing yin and yang, aiding patients to improve their health and prevent
recurrence of chronic diseases, with as few side effects as possible.
THE LUNGS & RESPIRATORY SYSTEM ACCORDING TO TRADITIONAL EASTERN MEDICINE
*Pneumonia
The main cause is due to true chi (zhen qi) deficiency and internal organ dysfunction, allowing external negative chi (xie qi) to invade deep inside the body and bring about illness.
*Acute upper respiratory inflammation & Acute bronchitis
According to Traditional Eastern Medicine, the main cause can be Wind-Cold and/or Wind-Heat. Wind, Cold, and Heat in traditional medicine are among the six pernicious influences believed to lead to illnesses.
*When the internal organs are too weak, resulting in a loss of balance between yin and yang, chronic illnesses can occur. For example, in the case of asthma, where chi (qi) ascends more than it descends, breathing becomes rapid and difficult, with sounds emitted from the throat. According to Traditional Eastern Medicine, the main cause of asthma is weak Spleen (including the Pancreas), Kidneys, and Lungs.
WAYS TO PREVENT RESPIRATORY & LUNG DISEASES
- Don't smoke
- Don't drink alcohol
- Don't stay up late
- Eat a balanced diet
- Live positively, reduce stress
- Avoid breathing air that is too hot or too cold
- Regularly exercise correctly, consistently, and sufficiently
- Pay attention to stretching the upper thoracic spine area (T2)
- Practice chi kung, circulate chi (qi) throughout the body, paying attention to both arms (Arm's Major Yin Lung Meridian). The meridian pathway runs from the bronchial tube, across under the armpit, along the inner side of the arm, to the tip of the thumb. The function of the Lung Zang (solid, yin organ) is to receive clean chi and expel unclean chi from the body.
