All articles tagged with #lungs
Heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting into the U.S. carries toxic gases and fine particulates that can reach deep into the lungs, potentially worsening asthma and heart disease. The mix can become more toxic as it lingers, causing irritation and shortness of breath. Health officials urge monitoring air quality and taking steps to reduce exposure.
Experts say the lungs can repair after quitting smoking, improving health, but recovery varies by person and age; some damage or genetic changes may persist, so quitting earlier and maintaining a healthy lifestyle (e.g., exercise) is advised.
Humans don't have gills because they evolved from fish with lungs, which allowed them to survive on land. Gills need to stay wet to work, making them inefficient for land animals. Early lungs in fish allowed them to gulp air above the surface to supplement oxygen intake. Human embryos have pharyngeal arches resembling gills, which develop into parts of the jaw, throat, and ears. These arches are present in all creatures with heads and are a remnant of early gills.
As you age, changes to your bones, muscles, and lung tissue can compromise your lungs, leading to shortness of breath and increased infection risk. Exposure to air pollutants and heart failure can also affect lung health. To protect your lungs, avoid pollution, wear an N95 mask when exposed to irritants, and improve indoor air quality with hoods, safer cleaning products, and air purifiers. Following a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet and consuming antioxidant-rich foods can promote lung function and support the immune system. Additionally, getting vaccinated against pneumonia, COVID-19, and influenza can help protect against diseases that can damage the lungs.
Researchers are developing inhalable therapies to target a wider range of diseases, including cancer and diabetes, by delivering medicines directly to the lungs, which can make drugs more efficient and effective than oral or injectable drugs. The lungs are a first line of defense against infection and provide a direct pathway to the circulatory system, making them an ideal target for inhalable therapies.