Health Information > Breathing Problems[ What are Respiratory Diseases | Exercises for Breathing Problems | Nutrition for Breathing Problems ] What are Respiratory DiseasesYour lungs absorb oxygen from the air. You breathe with the muscles in your ribcage and a sheet of muscle called the diaphragm, which sits beneath your lungs and above your abdomen. The lungs contain tubes and small air sacs. Each air sac is covered with a mesh of blood vessels called capillaries and oxygen enters the blood via these capillaries. When oxygen levels are too low, the brain sends a signal to the lungs, telling them to work harder. Lung DiseasesThere are many diseases that stop the lungs from working as well as they could. Some of these diseases include:
A person with lung disease has to work harder to get enough oxygen. They often use extra muscles to breathe, such as the muscles of the neck and shoulders. If the lungs are stiff and inflexible, the diaphragm has to work harder too. This is very tiring. Feeling short of breath is one of the most common symptoms of lung disease. [ back to top ] |