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The respiratory system is the network of organs and tissues that help you breathe. It includes your airways, lungs, and blood vessels. The muscles that power your lungs are also part of the respiratory system. These parts work together to move oxygen throughout the body and clean out waste gases like carbon dioxide.

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The respiratory system is the network of organs and tissues that help you breathe. It includes your airways, lungs, and blood vessels. The muscles that power your lungs are also part of the respiratory system. These parts work together to move oxygen throughout the body and clean out waste gases like carbon dioxide.

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The respiratory system has many functions. Besides helping you inhale (breathe in) and exhale (breathe out), it:

Allows you to talk and to smell.

Brings air to body temperature and moisturizes it to the humidity level your body needs.

Delivers oxygen to the cells in your body.

Removes waste gases, including carbon dioxide, from the body when you exhale.

Protects your airways from harmful substances and irritants.

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Respiratory System - How The Respiratory System Works

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Your respiratory system includes your:

Nose and nasal cavity

Sinuses

Mouth

Throat (pharynx)

Voice box (larynx)

Windpipe (trachea)

Diaphragm

Lungs

Bronchial tubes/bronchi

Bronchioles

Air sacs (alveoli)

Capillaries

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Common diseases of the respiratory system include:

Asthma. Your airways narrow and make too much mucus.

Bronchiectasis. Inflammation and infection make your bronchial walls thicker.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This long-term condition gets worse over time. It includes bronchitis and emphysema.

Pneumonia. An infection causes inflammation in your alveoli. They might fill up with fluid or pus.

Tuberculosis. A bacterium causes this dangerous infection. It usually affects your lungs but might also involve your kidney, spine, or brain.

Lung cancer. Cells in your lung change and grow into a tumor. This often happens because of smoking or other chemicals you’ve breathed in.

Cystic fibrosis. This disease is caused by a problem in your genes and gets worse over time. It causes lung infections that don’t go away.

Pleural effusion. Too much fluid builds up between the tissues that line your lungs and chest.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Your lung tissue becomes scarred and can’t work the way it should.

Sarcoidosis. Tiny clumps of inflammatory cells called granulomas form, often in your lungs and lymph nodes.

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our lungs are a pair of organs in your chest.They have a spongy texture and are pinkish-gray in color.

When you inhale (breathe in), air enters your lungs and oxygen from the air moves from your lungs to your blood. At the same time, carbon dioxide, a waste gas, moves from your blood to the lungs and is exhaled (breathe out). This process is called gas exchange and is essential to life.

In addition to the lungs, your respiratory system includes the trachea (windpipe), muscles of the chest wall and diaphragm, blood vessels, and tissues that make breathing and gas exchange possible. Your brain controls your breathing rate (how fast or slow you breathe), by sensing your body’s need for oxygen and its need to get rid of carbon dioxide.

Healthy lifestyle habits, such as physical activity and not smoking, can help prevent lung injury and disease.

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Smokers increase their risk of lung disease, including lung cancer. But they also increase their risk of other illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and mouth (oral) cancer. Risks from smoking, as they relate to lung disease, include the following:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This includes:

Chronic bronchitis. This is a long-term (chronic) inflammation of the large airways (bronchi). Symptoms include coughing mucus over a long period.

Emphysema. This chronic lung condition affects the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, sleep and heart problems, weight loss, and depression.

Lung cancer. This is an abnormal growth of cells that can result in lumps, masses, or tumors. It may start in the lining of the bronchi, or other areas of the respiratory system. Smoking, including secondhand smoke, is the leading cause of lung cancer. Symptoms of lung cancer include:

Cough

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Wheezing

Recurring lung infections

Bloody or rust-colored sputum

Hoarseness

Swelling of the neck and face

Pain and weakness in the shoulders, arms, or hands

Unexplained fever

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What are the benefits of quitting smoking?

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What are the benefits of quitting smoking?

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People who quit smoking can actually reverse some of the lung damage. Other benefits of quitting smoking may include the following:

Decreased risk for lung disease

Decreased risk for heart disease

Decreased risk for cancer

Reduced cigarette stains on fingers and teeth

Reduced occurrence of cough

Elimination of stale cigarettes smell on clothing and hair

Improved smell and taste

Saving money by not buying cigarettes

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Like other respiratory illnesses, COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, can cause lasting lung damage. As we continue to learn about COVID-19, we’re understanding more regarding how it affects the lungs while people are sick and after recovery.

Panagis Galiatsatos, M.D., M.H.S., is an expert on lung disease at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and sees patients with COVID-19. He explains some of the short- and long-term lung problems brought on by the new coronavirus.

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What type of damage can coronavirus cause in the lungs?

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What type of damage can coronavirus cause in the lungs?

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COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, can cause lung complications such as pneumonia and, in the most severe cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. Sepsis, another possible complication of COVID-19, can also cause lasting harm to the lungs and other organs.

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Hundreds more cases of lung disease linked to vaping

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Don't Smoke

Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Cigarette smoke can narrow the air passages and make breathing more difficult. It causes chronic inflammation, or swelling in the lung, which can lead to chronic bronchitis. Over time cigarette smoke destroys lung tissue and may trigger changes that grow into cancer. If you smoke, it's never too late to benefit from quitting. The American Lung Association can help whenever you are ready.

Avoid Exposure to Indoor Pollutants That Can Damage Your Lungs

Secondhand smoke, chemicals in the home and workplace, and radon all can cause or worsen lung disease. Make your home and car smokefree. Test your home for radon. Avoid exercising outdoors on bad air days. And talk to your healthcare provider if you are worried that something in your home, school or work may be making you sick.

Minimize Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollution

The air quality outside can vary from day to day and sometimes is unhealthy to breathe. Knowing how outdoor air pollution affects your health and useful strategies to minimize prolonged exposure can help keep you and your family well. Climate change and natural disasters can also directly impact lung health.

Prevent Infection

A cold or other respiratory infection can sometimes become very serious. There are several things you can do to protect yourself:

Wash your hands often with soap and water. Alcohol-based cleaners are a good substitute if you cannot wash.

Avoids crowds during the cold and flu season.

Good oral hygiene can protect you from the germs in your mouth leading to infections. Brush your teeth at least twice daily and see your dentist at least every six months.

Get vaccinated every year against influenza. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if the pneumonia vaccine is right for you.

If you get sick, keep it to yourself! Protect the people around you, including your loved ones, by keeping your distance. Stay home from work or school until you're feeling better.

Get Regular Check-ups

Regular check-ups help prevent diseases, even when you are feeling well. This is especially true for lung disease, which sometimes goes undetected until it is serious. During a check-up, your healthcare provider will listen to your breathing and listen to your concerns. If you need health insurance, learn more about your options.

Exercise

Whether you are young or old, slender or large, able-bodied or living with a chronic illness or disability, being physically active can help keep your lungs healthy. Learn more about how exercise can strengthen your lungs.