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?
Respiratory Physiology
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
Inhale, Exhale and the Step We’ve All Been Missing
What is breathing? The simple explanation is that animals, including humans, breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. But a recent discovery has blown the lid off this paradigm by showing that respiration is not so simple. In vertebrate animals, oxygen is breathed in through the lungs, bound to red blood cells and then transported through … Continue reading Inhale, Exhale and the Step We’ve All Been Missing