Lungs and Airways

How your body breathes

Your lungs and airways make up your respiratory system , which allows you to breathe. 

The respiratory system brings oxygen from the air into the body, and enables carbon dioxide to leave. They also protects your body by filtering out dust and particles in the air. 

How do the lungs and airways work?

When you breathe in (inhale), air enters through your nose and mouth, and goes down through your airways into your lungs. Your airways are in direct connect with the outside world and are lined with mucus to catch any dust or particles.  

Inside your lungs, the airways branch again and again, until they end in tiny air sacs called alveoli. Oxygen from the air passes through the walls of the alveoli and into your bloodstream. Carbon dioxide passes the other way, leaving your bloodstream and moving into the alveoli. When you breathe out, carbon dioxide leaves your body.

What are common lung and airway conditions?

 Respiratory conditions that cause disability and death to people around the world include  asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); acute respiratory infections; tuberculosis, and lung cancer.  Other lung diseases  can be caused by inhaling dust or chemicals; or by inflammation and lung scarring for example.

What increases the risk  of damage to our lungs and airways?

Tobacco smoke damages and increases the risk of respiratory conditions.  Air pollution, dust and fumes, allergies, infections, germs, chemicals, and extreme weather conditions. can all damage your airways.

Why is research on the lungs and airways important?

Research  can improve our understanding of respiratory diseases, and help us find new ways to prevent and treat them. By studying them we can develop better treatments for conditions like asthma and COPD, and work towards preventing influenza pandemics. This research gives hope for a better quality of life for patients and healthcare professionals alike.

Discover some findings from NIHR evidence below