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EMPHYSEMAOne of the effects of ageing is a loss of elasticity in the lung. The elastic fibres support the cells that make up the alveoli and airways. Alveoli are the honeycombed effect or pits in the lung, like little air bubbles. These alveoli and airways can stretch nearly half as much as their original size when resting as we breathe in. On an inward breath the muscles of the diaphragm and chest stretch the elastic fibres in order to make room for the inward rush of air. The body only produces a few of these fibres, if any, after the age of 20, and by then a lot of the fibres manufactured since birth are beginning to wear out. As a person gets older the fibres continue to wear out, not only in the lungs, but in the skin and other parts of the body, this gives rise to the appearance of old age. (This is different in every individual.) This ageing process within the lung has a serious effect, in that, the maximum capacity of the lung to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide decreases year after year. It's the breaking up of alveolar walls that causes the formation of larger spaces, fewer partitions and therefore a smaller area of contact between blood and air. Meaning the chest and diaphragm have to do the work of squeezing the air (carbon dioxide) out with effort. Due to this process the elastic framework of the lung doesn't do the job of holding the airways open and make the expulsion of air even more difficult because the airways tend to collapse. This is the complaint that is called emphysema...(more) Beneficial Treatments...(more)
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