Alternative Names age-related changes in the lungs
Definition Normal changes in the lungs occur as people get older.
What is the information for this topic? The main job of the lungs is to exchange oxygen in the air we breathe in for carbon dioxide, which we breathe out. Oxygen is vital to keeping our tissues alive, and carbon dioxide is a waste product that is produced as our tissues, such as muscle and brain, produce energy. As we inhale, or take air into our lungs, the air travels through a series of airways that branch out inside of our lungs into smaller and smaller passages. These airways end at small sacs called alveoli (al-vee-oh-lie). Tiny blood vessels that surround the alveoli take in the oxygen and exchange it for carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is then removed from our lungs as we exhale.
The lungs are constantly exposed to particles in the air, some of which can be damaging. These include smoke, dust, pollen and bacteria. The lungs help protect the body from many of these particles by filtering them out before they go any further into the body.
In order to take in and expel large amounts of air, the lungs must stay elastic or able to stretch easily. As a person ages, the lungs become less elastic. There are also fewer alveoli and tiny blood vessels around the lungs. This makes air exchange more difficult. Bone changes in the spine and joint stiffness may reduce the ability of the chest to expand. This can limit the ability of the lungs to expand and take in as much air as they did in younger days. Ageing also weakens muscles involved in breathing, such as the diaphragm and the muscles that lie between the ribs. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. These changes also limit lung expansion. This makes the lungs less able to take in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.
All of these changes combine to decrease lung function. The lungs also become slightly more vulnerable to infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
A person can help keep his or her lungs healthy and lessen the effects of ageing by:
avoiding smoking. Smoking damages the lungs and speeds age-related lung changes. Smoking also increases the risk for chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer.
engaging in regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, running, or swimming.
staying fit by remaining active.
Author: James Broomfield, MD Reviewer: HealthAnswers Australia Medical Review Panel Editor: Dr David Taylor, Chief Medical Officer HealthAnswers Australia Last Updated: 1/10/2001 Contributors Potential conflict of interest information for reviewers available on request
