They allow us to stay active and lead a dynamic life without fatigue or shortness of breath. Here’s advice from Dr. Agnès Bellocq, a pulmonologist, on how to keep them healthy.
When we breathe, air passes through the trachea, then the bronchi and bronchioles, to the alveoli. It is in these tiny sacs that gas exchange with the blood takes place: oxygen enters and carbon dioxide is expelled. Each of our lungs has nearly 300,000 alveoli. When unfolded, they cover the area of half a tennis court!
At rest, we use approximately 10% of our respiratory capacity, a figure that rises to 50% as soon as we exercise. These alveoli are constantly exposed to airborne particles: dust, viruses, tobacco smoke, pollution, etc. The mucus lining the nostrils, trachea, and bronchi traps some of them. The immune system does the rest.
But these protective systems can become overwhelmed, resulting in bronchial pathologies. The main ones are asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The latter, of which smoking is the main cause, is characterized by inflammation and permanent and progressive obstruction of the bronchi and destruction of the alveoli. Blood oxygenation is impaired and respiratory capacity is severely reduced.
6 simple actions to protect my lungs
I quit smoking. Nicotine is a neurotransmitter that triggers powerful sensations of pleasure in the brain. That’s why it’s difficult to quit. The help of a specialist, a healthcare professional trained in tobaccology, can make all the difference (e-coaching, contacts, and information on Tabac Info Service). “During the interview, weighing the pros and cons helps us sort things out,” explains Dr. Bellocq. Don’t hesitate to use nicotine replacement therapy. Vaping, acupuncture, relaxation, hypnosis, etc., are also good alternatives. “Any attempt is worthwhile, even if it doesn’t work. Because the more you try to quit, the more likely you are to succeed at some point,” insists the pulmonologist.
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