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October 2015
YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO HEALTH CARE AWARENESS
Doctor’s
Bag
Tips for Healthy Lungs
DidUKnow?
Your lungs are very
durable and can last a
lifetime if you take care
of them. Your lungs are
not typically in any danger
until you put them there
– here are some tips for
maintaining healthy lungs
throughout your life:
BREATH-TAKING FACTS
Don’t Smoke
Smoking anything is the absolute worst thing you can
do for your lungs and there is no such thing as a “safe
threshold” for smoking.
Exercise More
Regular exercise can ensure your lungs are working
at their optimal level, supplying your heart and other
organs with plenty of oxygen.
Beware of Indoor and Outdoor Toxins
Being aware of the ozone and other outdoor pollutants
as well as indoor air pollution sources (fireplaces, mold
and pet dander) can make a big difference in the health
of your lungs. Many jobs in and around, or outside,
of the home can also put our lungs at risk. Be sure to
wear any protective equipment available, choose safer
products and work in well ventilated areas.
Know the Warning Signs
If you have a cough over a long period of time or
have difficulty breathing, you need to see a doctor.
Wheezing, chest pains or coughing up phlegm or blood
for an extended period of time is also a sign that it is
time to see a doctor.
Control Current Conditions
If you have a chronic lung disease such as asthma
or COPD, you need to do your best to keep it under
control at all times. Using preventive medications
and avoiding triggers is the best way to steer clear of
respiratory infections that will make chronic conditions
even worse.
Claims are administered by UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company.
Breathing is one of the most
automatic processes your body
engages in – most of the time you
don’t even think about it. Our lungs
keep our whole bodies functioning
at an optimal level. Here are some
interesting facts about your lungs:
•Humans breathe an estimated
13 pints of air every minute.
•The lungs are the only organs
in the human body that can float
on water.
•If all of the tissue in the lungs
were laid out flat, they would
cover an entire tennis court.
•A human’s right lung is larger
than the left lung in order to
accommodate the heart.
•You have 1,500 miles of
airways throughout your lungs.
•A person will breathe in about
45 pounds of dust in their
lifetime.
•It is impossible to breathe and
to swallow at the same time.
moking is responsible for nearly
• S
90% of all lung cancer cases.
•Air is warmed, humidified and
cleaned by the nose and lungs.
Information Sources
Harding, A. (2015) 12 Ways to Keep Your
Lungs Strong and Healthy. Health.com.
Retrieved from http://www.health.com/health/
gallery/0,,20488696,00.html.
Reviewed by Karriem-Norwood, V. (2015) Lung
Diseases Overview”. WebMD. Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/lung/lung-diseasesoverview.
What You Never Knew About Breathing: Fun
Facts. (2014). Exhale The official blog of the
Lung Institute. Retrieved from https://lunginstitute.
com/blog/never-knew-breathing-facts/
Types of Lung
Diseases
Your lungs play a vital role
in a complex respiratory
system that is responsible
for exchanging oxygen and
carbon dioxide between the
air you breathe and your
blood. Breathing in between
2,100 and 2,400 gallons of
air each day, your lungs are
the only internal organs that
are constantly exposed to the
external environment, making
lung diseases some of the most
common medical conditions in
the world. Lung diseases can
occur if there are issues in any
part of the lung’s elaborate
system. Most commonly, lung
diseases affect:
Airways: Your windpipe
(trachea) branches into smaller
tubes call bronchi, which
branch into even smaller tubes
throughout the lungs. Common
diseases include: asthma,
COPD and bronchitis.
Air Sacs (Alveoli): Your
airways branch into tiny
bronchioles that go into
clusters of air sacs called
alveoli. Common diseases
include: pneumonia,
tuberculosis and emphysema.
Blood Vessels: Your heart
pumps blood into the lungs
through the pulmonary arteries,
which can suffer from disease
as well. Common diseases
include: pulmonary embolisms
and pulmonary hypertension.