Lung function naturally declines with age. Aging affects the entire body, including the lungs, and while the majority of the population can extend youthful function through healthy habits, smokers and those with lung diseases, such as COPD, experience the decline at an accelerated rate. Lung Function with COPD Some age-related changes in the lungs include: Decreases in peak … Read more
People living with chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis, often have lung function tests. Sometimes, lung function tests are called pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and doctors use these lung function tests to diagnose chronic lung diseases, assess how well your lungs work as well as to monitor how well your … Read more
Better lung function can be beneficial to all, but can exercise get you there? For people with a chronic lung disease, the thought of improving lung function is a recurring one. Life with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be physically exhausting, leaving those who suffer from it breathless from simple activities such as getting dressed or … Read more
The lungs are constantly working, taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. The purpose of the respiratory system is to deliver oxygen to the body’s bloodstream, which carries and distributes oxygen throughout the body. For those suffering from lung disease or infection, this transfer of oxygen becomes more difficult, resulting in various health issues. Here are some … Read more
Even Mild Lung Disease Affects the Heart You may be surprised to learn that lung and heart diseases are closely intertwined. A recent study found that even mild lung disease can affect the heart’s ability to pump blood. “It suggests that a larger subset of heart failure may be due to lung disease, said Dr. R. Graham … Read more
The effects of lung disease on those that have developed the condition go far beyond difficulty breathing. Although the lungs are among the strongest organs in the body, the detrimental effects of lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial lung disease (ILD) inevitably lead to a complete loss of lung function. This leads to many looking to a … Read more
There is a good chance that you are wondering what lung washing is right about now. Is it actually getting your lungs washed or something else altogether? This is one of the few circumstance where the word sounds exactly how it means. According to the Cleveland Clinic, lung lavage, also known as lung washing, is a special … Read more
For years, you have joked with family and friends that there is no way you could choose just one food to eat if you ever had the misfortune of being stranded on a desert island. You love all food. But at the top of your list live cake, bacon cheeseburgers, French fries, hot fudge sundaes … Read more
Acknowledging the Dementia Epidemic Currently, we live in a society that constantly hears about the presence of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Between popular culture promoting films such as Still Alice and Away From Her and the increased effort to find a cure, people are finally beginning to care about these debilitating conditions. Just this past week at a World … Read more
Created by Lung Institute • View larger version America’s Lung Health The Lung Institute, a source for pulmonary information for better lung health, including disease prevention and management, commissioned a national study to establish a ranking of lung health across America, over a five-year period. This data analysis factored the following statistics from the last 5 years: … Read more