WELCOME TO JOHNS HOPKINS HEALTH ALERTS!

This free public service from Johns Hopkins Medicine helps keep you up to date on the latest breakthroughs for the most common medical conditions which prevent healthy aging. Browse all the articles via the Health Alert Topics navigation bar on the right, or read the headlines below.

Get the latest news sent straight to your Inbox. Register now for your FREE Johns Hopkins Health Alerts. Check the boxes below for all the topics you are interested in, enter your email address, and click "Send." It's fast, easy, and FREE.   Benefits of Being A Registered User

Enter your email here: (Example: yourname@domain.com)
Please send my alerts as:

We value your privacy and will never rent your email address.Already a Member? Manage your Health Alerts

Lung Disorders

Johns Hopkins Health Alert

How Lung Disorders Block the Airways

Comments (2)

In this Health Alert and accompanying illustration, Johns Hopkins explains how lung disorders block the airways and cause discomfort -- shortness of breath, coughing, noisy breathing, and chest pain.

The obstructive lung diseases -- asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema -- all interfere with normal breathing by narrowing the airways that deliver air to your lungs.

The airways begin in your nose and mouth. Inhaled air passes down the pharynx (throat), through the larynx (voice box), and into the trachea (windpipe), the body's largest airway. The trachea divides into two airways, the right and left mainstem bronchi, which bring air to the lungs. There the bronchi divide many times before ending in the smallest airways called bronchioles.

The lungs supply oxygen to the blood, which carries it throughout the body. Lungs also remove carbon dioxide (a waste product that accumulates in the blood). This process, called gas exchange, occurs in the alveoli, groups of tiny air sacs clustered at the end of each bronchiole.

In asthma, the bronchial lining swells and the lungs produce too much mucus, which can obstruct the airways. Also, the smooth muscle around the bronchi can constrict. In chronic bronchitis, the bronchial lining is inflamed and there is overproduction of mucus, but the smooth muscle around the bronchioles tightens only in some cases. In emphysema, the lungs lose some of their elasticity. The airways, which are normally held open by the elastic elements in the walls of the alveoli, collapse, obstructing airflow in and out of the lungs.

Posted in Lung Disorders on November 27, 2008

Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer

Notify Me

Would you like us to inform you when we post new Lung Disorders Health Alerts?

Post a Comment

Comments

Health Alerts registered users may post comments and share experiences here at their own discretion. We regret that questions on individual health concerns to the Johns Hopkins editors cannot be answered in this space.

The views expressed here do not constitute medical advice, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins Medicine or Remedy Health Media, LLC, which has no responsibility for any comments posted on this site.

Several Months ago at only age 47 I was diagnosed with emphysema. Since then I've been thru many tests and been prescribed many prescriptions for my discomfort. I never smoked a day in my life. How would something like this happen to me? I did work in nite clubs for almost 20 yrs., but could second hand smoke have the same effects as if I had ever smoked on my own? I really don't understand this disease..all I keep hearing is that there is NO cure and all they can do is make you comfortable during it's progression. Funny..I'm only in the first stages I believe and I don't FEEL very comfortable even with the meds I'm on. In fact the meds side effects seem to be worse than dealing with the chest pain at times. How do you know how fast something like this progresses? Is there a way to slow it down? Any comments at ALL are welcome. Thank you.. I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving today.

Posted by: Destenysmiles | November 28, 2008 12:52 AM

I have advance stage emphysema and have made a nifty video about living my life on oxygen. Please share it with me. Lois

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxJrLrqJ2nw

Posted by: Lois Perelman | November 29, 2008 9:54 AM

Post a Comment

Already a subscriber?

Login

Forgot your password?

New to Johns Hopkins Health Alerts?

Register to submit your comments.

(example: yourname@domain.com)

(800) 829-0422

Registered Users Log-in:

Forgot Password?

Become a Registered User!
It's fast and FREE!
The Benefits of Being a Registered User

Health Topic Pages

  • Health Alert
  • Special Report

What is this?

XML

Johns Hopkins’ Lung Disorders Bestsellers