Credit: iStock The respiratory system delivers oxygen to the cells in our body and removes carbon dioxide, the gas our cells constantly produce. Every time you take a breath, you take air in through the nose (nasal cavity) and sometimes the mouth (oral cavity). There are guard hairs inside your nostrils that help cleanse the … Continue reading Spotlight On: The Respiratory System
Breathing
Want to Lower Your Blood Pressure? Just Breathe (In)
Tom Heinbockel demonstrates inspiratory muscle strength training using an electronically tapered flow resistive loading device. Photo credit: Casey A. Cass/University of Colorado About half of American adults have high blood pressure. This is alarming because high blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. Could a … Continue reading Want to Lower Your Blood Pressure? Just Breathe (In)
Why COVID-19 Makes It Hard to Breathe
Credit: iStock COVID-19—the viral respiratory infection caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2—is a rapidly evolving disease that will undoubtedly profoundly affect many, if not all, of our lives in one way or another. As we learn more about the disease, we can better understand how and why it affects people so differently. We don’t have a … Continue reading Why COVID-19 Makes It Hard to Breathe
How Do We Know When to Take Another Breath?
Credit: iStock The goal of the respiratory system is to exchange gases between your body’s cells and the atmosphere. Oxygen goes in, and carbon dioxide, a byproduct of your cells’ metabolic actions, comes out. You probably don’t pay much attention to your breathing unless you’re having trouble with it. So, how does your body know … Continue reading How Do We Know When to Take Another Breath?
Time to Breathe
Like a candle flame, our metabolism consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide (CO2). Breathing removes the CO2 and brings in fresh oxygen, ensuring that metabolism—and life— can continue. It is the buildup of CO2 more than the lack of fresh oxygen that makes you feel a strong urge to inhale when you hold your breath—like … Continue reading Time to Breathe
When Sleep Problems Get in the Way of Your Greatness
We often hear about the importance of a good night’s sleep. Sleep refreshes the body, plays an important role in brain development and even helps wounds heal more quickly. Poor sleep quality can increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Symptoms of sleep apnea, which include snoring, shallow breathing, a complete … Continue reading When Sleep Problems Get in the Way of Your Greatness
Did You Know?: A Muscle May Increase Pneumonia in Older People
By the year 2030, an estimated 70 million people in the U.S.—about 20 percent of the total population—will be older than 65. Going forward, this number is only expected to rise due to a combination of declining birth rates and increased life expectancy. A well-known witticism is “Age is an issue of mind over matter. … Continue reading Did You Know?: A Muscle May Increase Pneumonia in Older People
Spinal Cord Injury: Let’s Clear the Air(ways)
The spinal cord is the information processing highway in animals (including humans) that have a backbone. In humans, the spinal cord contains nerve cells called motor neurons that control movement in the muscle fibers of the body, similar to the way a puppeteer controls the movements of a puppet. About 17,000 people in the U.S. … Continue reading Spinal Cord Injury: Let’s Clear the Air(ways)
How Long Can You Hold Your Breath? The Dangers of Freediving
The appeal of freediving may lie in its freedom. Freedivers, without cumbersome scuba gear and noisy regulators, easily glide through tranquil waters toward coral or rocky reefs with scenes unobstructed by bubble trails. With dives often exceeding five minutes, they get to see up close and personal the colorful marine life that typically flees from … Continue reading How Long Can You Hold Your Breath? The Dangers of Freediving
Life After A Life-Saving Treatment: Lung Health in Young Adults Who Were Born Prematurely
In 1963, President John Kennedy’s wife, Jackie, gave birth to a little boy three weeks early. The baby survived only 39 hours before dying of hyaline membrane disease, more commonly known as respiratory distress syndrome. The first successful treatments began in 1991, and now nearly 99 percent of babies like the Kennedy baby survive prematurity. … Continue reading Life After A Life-Saving Treatment: Lung Health in Young Adults Who Were Born Prematurely