Stop Smoking

We all know that smoking is bad. We all know that the most common refrain for improving lung health is “don’t smoke.” But knowing these things is sometimes not enough to help a smoker take those steps to a lifestyle free of tobacco.

There are many resources to help. In this section we provide you with some of the basic information you need to make a decision to stop smoking and some places to get help.

Whether you find your healthy inspiration here or elsewhere, we’d just like to remind you that indeed your lung health depends upon you not smoking.

Healthy Living

We want you to live a healthy and productive life. In this section, we’ve accumulated information from various sources, including respiratory therapist experts from the American Association for Respiratory Care, to help you minimize problems of living with lung disease, maximize your health and energy, and pr

About The Lung Health Promotion Centre

The Centre is committed to providing accessible, evidence-based, holistic education and support for health professionals. We believe this approach is essential to maintaining quality health care education. This empowers health professionals to promote self-management principles for people with chronic respiratory illness resulting in improved health outcomes.

New Course Discounts:

In 2009, the Centre is offering the following course discounts....

• Early Bird Discount:
  10% off total course fees when paid in full at least 4 weeks prior to the course date.
• Multiple Course Bookings:
  Receive the following discounts when you pay in full for 2 or more courses at the same time: $20 off any 1 day program $35 off any 2 or more days program

Exchanging Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

The primary function of the respiratory system is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Inhaled oxygen enters the lungs and reaches the alveoli. The layers of cells lining the alveoli and the surrounding capillaries are each only one cell thick and are in very close contact with each other. This barrier between air and blood averages about 1 micron (1/10,000 of a centimeter) in thickness. Oxygen passes quickly through this air-blood barrier into the blood in the capillaries. Similarly, carbon dioxide passes from the blood into the alveoli and is then exhaled.

Oxygenated blood travels from the lungs through the pulmonary veins and into the left side of the heart, which pumps the blood to the rest of the body (see Biology of the Heart and Blood Vessels: Function of the Heart). Oxygen-deficient, carbon dioxide-rich blood returns to the right side of the heart through two large veins, the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. Then the blood is pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide (see Biology of the Heart and Blood Vessels: Function of the Heart).
Animation

Gas Exchange Between Alveoli and Capillaries
Gas Exchange Between Alveoli and Capillaries

To support the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, about 6 to 10 liters of air per minute are brought in and out of the lungs, and about three tenths of a liter of oxygen is transferred from the alveoli to the blood each minute, even when the person is at rest. At the same time, a similar volume of carbon dioxide moves from the blood to the alveoli and is exhaled. During exercise, it is possible to breathe in and out more than 100 liters of air per minute and extract 3 liters of oxygen from this air per minute. The rate at which oxygen is used by the body is one measure of the rate of energy expended by the body. Breathing in and out is accomplished by respiratory muscles (see Biology of the Lungs and Airways: Diaphragm's Role in BreathingFigures).



Gas Exchange Between Alveolar Spaces and Capillaries
Gas Exchange Between Alveolar Spaces and Capillaries

The function of the respiratory system is to exchange two gases: oxygen and carbon dioxide. The exchange takes place in the millions of alveoli in the lungs and the capillaries that envelop them. As shown below, inhaled oxygen moves from the alveoli to the blood in the capillaries, and carbon dioxide moves from the blood in the capillaries to the air in the alveoli.

Three processes are essential for the transfer of oxygen from the outside air to the blood flowing through the lungs: ventilation, diffusion, and perfusion. Ventilation is the process by which air moves in and out of the lungs. Diffusion is the spontaneous movement of gases, without the use of any energy or effort by the body, between the gas in the alveoli and the blood in the capillaries in the lungs. Perfusion is the process by which the cardiovascular system pumps blood throughout the lungs. The body's circulation is an essential link between the atmosphere, which contains oxygen, and the cells of the body, which consume oxygen. For example, the delivery of oxygen to the muscle cells throughout the body depends not only on the lungs but also on the ability of the blood to carry oxygen and on the ability of the circulation to transport blood to muscle.

Last full review/revision August 2006 by Joseph D. Brain, ScD

Lung Health Image Library

The Lung Health Image Library (LHIL) is a comprehensive collection of several thousand high and low resolution photographs related to lung health worldwide.

Photographs can be effective tools in advocacy and communication efforts, and LHIL images might be useful for journalists, public health planners, international and community-based NGO staff, and others. Images may be used for any non-commercial purpose, provided that proper credit is given.

Most of the current images in the library relate to tuberculosis, but the World Lung Foundation actively seeks images of other lung health topics, such as asthma, air pollution, and tobacco.

Comments? We want the LHIL to be as accessible and as useful as possible for colleagues working throughout the world on lung health, particularly those working in low-income countries. If you have suggestions relating to LHIL set-up, accessibility, and utility, please email us at: imagelibrary@worldlungfoundation.org

Search the WLF Image Library
Submit an Image to the WLF Library
Other Health Reporting and Health Image Resources

Health Reporting Resources and Tools

Other Image Libraries

Anti-Tobacco Image and Media Resources
Contact the Lung Health Image Library

World Lung Foundation
61 Broadway, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10006
Email: imagelibrary@worldlungfoundation.org

The Lung Health Image Library incorporates and builds on a TB image library started by the Stop TB Partnership.

The Pacific Lung Health Centre

is an academic clinical program located at St. Paul's Hospital, dedicated to the care for patients with lung disease. All the members of the PLHC are active members of the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine.

Swine Flu, Mexico Lung Illness Heighten Pandemic Risk

Disease trackers are asking U.S. hospitals to help follow a new strain of swine flu and are trying to determine whether it’s related to hundreds of illnesses and 57 deaths in Mexico.

A previously unseen variant of H1N1 swine influenza has sickened at least seven people in California and Texas, the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said yesterday. The World Health Organization said 57 people died among more than 800 in the Mexico City region who developed flu-like symptoms in the past month.

Lung health

Respiratory function to strengthen the lungs, oxygen can improve the body, improve immunity. "Breathing meditation" is a good exercise lung health.

Breathing meditation concrete steps are as follows: to be on his hands flat on the knees, waist upright, light eyes closed. First from the nasal breathing slowly, so that the lower lung full of air, gently at the same time to summon the lower abdomen, and there is a conscious idea of inhalation and the air has reached the next accumulation of the abdomen (that is, a sense of gas). In the inspiratory process, because of thoracic lift up, move down the diaphragm, chest inflated, so that gas is up to the upper part of the lung, and on the brink of expansion to the most. This process takes about 5,6 seconds.

To maintain a sense of air and then 5 seconds (through practice to achieve 10 seconds or 10 seconds or more), so that the lungs have time to absorb all the oxygen.

Then slowly exhaled, ribs and chest and gradually return to its original location. At the beginning of the course of the next inspiratory time being until the 23 seconds pause, and then re-breathing. Repeated 10 times such a motion can be. As long as the exercises every day, and gradually develop the habit on a regular basis, to enhance respiratory function in the lungs.

"Breathing meditation" are from my country of ancient medicine, guided meditation and health, such as extracted from the reactive power. Through posture adjustment, breathing exercises, physical and mental relaxation, attention and imagination of concentration, the effect of health care received. This is because in the process of deep breathing, exercise the lungs. Chinese medicine has long told us, "all gas all belong to the lung, the lung is the origin of gas." At the same time, breathing meditation can improve heart function of the gastrointestinal tract is also a very good massage.

Lung Health Advocacy Day in Illinois' Capitol

Rep. Dan Reitz,
Gloria Linnertz,
Governor Pat Quinn

April 23 was Lung Health Advocacy Day in my state capitol, Springfield, IL sponsored by the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago (RHAMC); and I was delighted to be invited to attend and involved again this year. Approximately 30 advocates shared their stories with our Illinois representatives and senators throughout that day and the previous evening during a dinner at the Governor’s mansion. Our message to the legislators was generally a request for legislative action to improve the lung health of the citizens of Illinois with the support and sponsorship of specific bills. The organization and effort by RHAMC to arrange for this communication between the legislators and their constituents is invaluable!

Dan Reitz, my representative was the cheif sponsor of the radon bills which were introduced in the House and passed successfully to the Senate. Radon bills before the senators include HB4223, HB1088 and HB2439 which address recommending schools to be tested for radon, requiring approval for radon testing devices by IEMA and establishing a task force to make recommendations for radon control methods in newly constructed homes. I had a few brief moments to share my husband’s story with Governor Pat Quinn, Senator Maggie Hunter and Senator Mark Maloney. My senator, Dave Luechtefeld, is sponsoring HB4223, Senator Iris Martinez has taken over chief sponsorship of HB 2439 and Senator Jackie Collins is sponsoring HB1088.

I managed to drop by the offices of several senators to leave my card and a Cancer Survivors Against Radon brochure requesting support and sponsorship for the radon bills in the senate. My message is that approximately 25,000 people in the U.S. die of lung cancer each year from radon gas (1,200 in Illinois). This is preventable. The legislators have the opportunity to use their power to support bills that will help educate our citizens about this silent killer and to help save lives. Our citizens and our legislators are not aware of the deadly power of radon and it is up to us to teach them. We can win the war on lung cancer through PREVENTION! Radon gas can be prevented. Hopefully I will be able to meet with Governor Pat Quinn to seek further action against radon.

Lung Health: What is an Asthma Attack

Lung Health: What is an Asthma Attack?
Asthma attacks are one of the most prevalent situations in my medical practice today. By definition an asthma attack is An asthma attack, is any shortness of breath which interrupts the asthmatic's well-being and requires either medication or some other form of intervention for the asthmatic to breathe normally again. Basically the cardiac system is interrupted by obstructed airways.

A recent ashtma attack has been described to me as running a sprint with tiny lungs. I cannot even imagine how troublesome that could be. I remember that I used to have mild asthma when I was a child. As I got older, I started weight training, sprinting, and eating vegan meals, and this really helped to stop all symptoms. I have never had trouble again. I often times see other people who have had acute asthma attacks suffer through the episode and go on with their day as if nothing happened.


When people panic, they tend to be less logical and they end up overlooking the simple and basic solutions to an asthma attack. In case of an emergency, the first thing you should remember is to stay calm and maintain a peaceful mind to give room for more sensible thought. If you panic, you can make the asthma attack much worse than it really should be. The best thing overall is to calm down and relax as much as possible. Please look at my previous article entitled: How to Easily Control Asthma the Natural Way.

One thing I advise my patients is to eat a wide variety of raw fruits and vegetable. As you have seen in my previous articles, I cannot stress enough how strong a healthy body is against virtually any ailment. Another thing I advise to help fight asthma attacks is to exercise with weights and cardiovascular activities. These can include light weight lifting and jogging.

Overall, asthma attacks can really be a troublesome thing to deal with. I have personally suffered one myself, but as a medical doctor I can say that you really need to take precautions before it hits you. Please consider the information above as personal and my perspective. Use your own judgment and do some research.
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Learn About Lung Health

Health is always on the minds of Canadian women and Lung Cancer Canada wants to make lung health a priority. Lung cancer kills more women in Canada every year than any other cancer. It's estimated that this year alone, more than 10-thousand women will b

Lung Cancer Program

Robert Garver, MD

UAB Hospital and The Kirklin Clinic have a multidisciplinary team of physicians directing the evaluation and management of lung cancer, and other neoplasms with chest involvement. State of the art facilities and expertise have made the UAB Lung Cancer Program one of the leading centers for the diagnosis and management of lung cancer. The Pulmonary Division component of this effort, directed by Dr. Rob Garver, is focused on the initial diagnosis and staging of suspected neoplasms in the chest, as well as managing neoplastic complication – such as malignant pleural effusions.

Multiple clinic times each week are devoted towards the initial evaluation of suspected neoplastic disease involving the chest or pleural space. Examples of patients that would be directed towards these clinics include those with lung nodules or masses, Hemoptysis (coughing up blood), persistent infiltrates, or pleural effusions of unknown etiology.

At the conclusion of the initial visit, a specific action plan is developed that may include additional imaging studies, pulmonary function testing, scheduling biopsy procedures, or referral to other members of the UAB Lung Cancer Program, among others. A fundamental philosophy underpinning the operations of these clinics is that all patients with known or suspected thoracic malignancies or complications thereof, deserve prompt attention. We will almost always see patients referred by physicians within one calendar week of the referral. Diagnostic studies required after the first visit are generally completed within one week. The results of all key studies, including biopsy results and CT or PET scan results are communicated directly to the patient by Dr. Garver.

UAB Division of Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care

The nationally-recognized UAB Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine provides a variety of comprehensive clinical treatment of respiratory, pulmonary vascular, and allergic disorders. US News and World Report and Best Doctors in America consistently rank the division and faculty among the top for respiratory disease. Investigative programs are both nationally and internationally recognized.

The division’s many clinical research programs participate in research networks such as the NIH-funded COPD and Pulmonary Fibrosis Networks, the American Lung Association’s Asthma Clinical Research Network, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Therapeutics Development Network.

UAB Lung Health Center

The Lung Health Center at UAB strives to deliver world-class services focusing on research, education and patient care that cultivate innovation, translation and dissemination of new biomedical and informational technologies as they apply to the field of lung health. The Lung Health Center is committed to:

Performing research that will benefit our patients and community, as well as furthering knowledge about mechanisms, therapies and behaviors that impact lung disease and its care. Educating our patients and the public about lung disease, as well as enhancing the training of future specialists in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Engaging in patient care initiatives of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine utilizing state-of-the-art, evidence-based disease management approaches.

Vivid Lung Pictures

ealthy Lung

Quit Smoking

Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 430,700 American lives each year. Smoking costs the United States approximately $97.2 billion each year in health-care costs and lost productivity. It is directly responsible for 87 percent of lung cancer cases and causes most cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Find out more about how smoking has affected you community, see American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control: 2007 Report.

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