Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide

Better Living with Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide Second Edition November 2012

Queensland Health

© The

State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012

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Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide

Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide is a joint project of the Statewide COPD Respiratory Network, Clinical Practice Improvement Centre, Queensland Health and The Australian Lung Foundation, COPD National Program. This work is copyright and copyright ownership is shared between the State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study, education or clinical purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. It may not be reproduced for commercial use or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires written permission from both Queensland Health and The Australian Lung Foundation.

© The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012. For further information contact Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Service, e-mail: [email protected] or phone: (07) 36369505 and The Australian Lung Foundation, e-mail: [email protected] or phone: 1800 654 301. For permissions beyond the scope of this licence contact: Intellectual Property Officer, Queensland Health, email: [email protected] or phone (07) 3234 1479. To order resources or to provide feedback please email: [email protected] or phone 1800 654 301. Queensland Health Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network and The Australian Lung Foundation, COPD National Program – Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide, 2012.

ISBN 978-0-9872272-0-1

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Chapter 5: Your role in managing your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide

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The lungs

This chapter will help you to understand: What the respiratory (or breathing) system is. What the structure of the lungs is. What the lungs do. How you breathe. What the role of the nose and nasal cavity is. How the breathing system protects against irritants or foreign particles.

What is the respiratory (or breathing) system?

What is the structure of the lungs?

The respiratory system includes the upper and lower respiratory tract. The upper respiratory tract consists of: The nose and nasal cavity.

Both lungs and the heart are located within the chest. There are two lungs inside the chest: the left lung and the right lung. Each lung is divided into segments called lobes. The lungs are soft and protected by the ribcage.

The throat (pharynx). The voice box (larynx). The lower respiratory tract consists of: Left Lung

Right Lung

The windpipe (trachea). Breathing tubes (bronchi and bronchioles). Air sacs (alveoli). Nose and nasal cavity Throat (pharynx)

Voice (larynx)

Windpipe (trachea)

Breathing tubes (bronchi and bronchioles) The Lungs

Lung

Heart

The Breathing System

© The

State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012

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Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide

Within the lungs is a transport system for oxygen and carbon dioxide. Each time you breathe, air is drawn via the mouth and nose into the windpipe (trachea).

moves from the bloodstream back into the air sacs and through the breathing tubes or airways, where it is breathed out.

The windpipe splits into two breathing tubes (bronchi): one to the left lung and one to the right lung. The breathing tubes continue to divide into smaller and smaller tubes (bronchioles), which take air down into each lung.

Lungs

Breathing tubes (bronchioles)

Air sacs (alveoli)

Branch of bronchial artery Capillary network around alveoli

Capillaries crisscrossing the air sacs (alveoli)

How do you breathe? The lungs do not move on their own. The diaphragm (the main breathing muscle) helps the lungs to work. Branch of pulmonary artery

When you breathe in, the diaphragm contracts and moves down. The muscles between the ribs also contract. The lungs expand, and air is drawn into the lungs.

Air sacs (alveoli)

When you breathe out, the diaphragm relaxes and moves back up. The muscles between the ribs relax. The lungs reduce to normal size and air is pushed out of the lungs.

The Bronchi

What do the lungs do? To survive, your body needs oxygen (O2) which you get from the air you breathe. The lungs help take the oxygen from the air, through the air sacs (alveoli), into the body.

Chest expands Sternum

The air sacs are surrounded by tiny blood vessels (capillaries), which crisscross the walls of the air sacs. The air sacs are where oxygen, which is a gas, is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Ribs Lungs Diaphragm Diaphragm contracts

Oxygen is then carried along the bloodstream, through the heart, to where it is needed in the body. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a waste product that is produced by the body. As a gas, carbon dioxide

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Chapter 2: The lungs

Chest contracts

Breathing in

Diaphragm relaxes

Breathing out

The diaphragm is the main breathing muscle

Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide

What is the role of the nose and nasal cavity? The nose and nasal cavity perform a number of functions, including: Providing us with a sense of smell. Warming and moistening the air that is breathed in. Filtering the air that is breathed in of irritants, such as dust and foreign matter. Assisting in the production of sound. The nose is the preferred route to deliver oxygen to the body as it is a better filter than the mouth. The nose decreases the amount of irritants delivered to the lungs, while also heating and adding moisture (humidity) into the air we breathe. When large amounts of air are needed, the nose is not the most efficient way of getting air into the lungs. In these situations, mouth breathing may be used. Mouth breathing is commonly needed when exercising. Infection or irritation of the nasal cavities can result in swelling of the upper airways, a runny nose or blocked sinuses, which can interfere with breathing.

How does your respiratory (or breathing) system protect against irritants or foreign particles? The breathing system provides protection against irritants or foreign particles entering the lungs. The breathing system has several protection mechanisms. Firstly, the nose filters the air when breathing in, preventing irritants, such as dust and foreign matter from entering the lungs. Secondly, if an irritant enters the airways or breathing tubes, sputum that lines the airways traps unwanted particles. Tiny hair-like structures called cilia line the breathing tubes or airways. They move in a sweeping motion to help move the sputum and unwanted particles up into the mouth where they can be cleared. The function of the tiny hairs can be affected by smoke, alcohol and dehydration. The third protective mechanism for the breathing system is the cough. A cough is the result of irritation to the breathing tubes (bronchi and bronchioles). A cough can clear sputum from the lungs. Lastly, the lungs also have a built-in immune system that acts against germs.

The nose decreases the amount of irritants delivered to the lungs.

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State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012

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