In addition to gas exchange, your respiratory system performs other roles important to breathing. These include:. Lung capacity declines as you age. Keep your lungs healthy by taking good care of yourself every day. Eat a balanced diet, exercise and reduce stress to breathe easier. Get more tips for healthy lungs ».
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The inability to expel air from the lungs leads to more stretching of the alveoli. This increases the loss of function. Tuberculosis TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. The disease causes the growth of nodules masses in lung tissue. TB bacteria multiply in the alveoli. The disease can cause the destruction of alveolar cells. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis PAP is a rare disease. PAP causes proteins to accumulate in the alveoli.
It is most often an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system attacks healthy cells. PAP usually occurs in adults aged 20 to It may also occur as a congenital condition. Congenital conditions are present at birth. Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma BAC is a type of lung cancer. It is a subtype of lung adenocarcinoma , one of the most common types of lung cancer. BAC begins in the alveoli and is often found in one or both lungs. Acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS is a life-threatening lung condition.
In ARDS, fluids accumulate in the alveoli. This prevents oxygen from getting to the lungs. ARDS is common in critically ill patients. Respiratory distress syndrome RDS is seen in premature babies. Babies born too early do not have enough surfactant lining the alveoli. This means there is less surface area available for the exchange of oxygen and CO2. Pulmonary edema is a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs. This fluid collects in the alveoli and can cause respiratory failure.
Respiratory failure is when your blood does not get enough oxygen. Many medical conditions involve the alveoli. These conditions can be long-term or short-term. Some can lead to respiratory failure. Smoking is an important risk factor for lung disease. Tobacco smoke affects the respiratory tract at every level. This includes the alveoli. Cigarette smoke affects how the alveoli work. Smoke causes damage down to the molecular level. It disrupts your body's ability to repair itself after an infection or trauma.
If exposure to smoke continues, alveolar damage continues to worsen. The alveoli are an important part of the respiratory system. They are responsible for moving oxygen into, and CO2 out of, the bloodstream. Diseases that affect the alveoli can cause serious health problems.
These include chronic lung conditions like emphysema and tuberculosis. Certain cancers can also begin in the alveoli. Other diseases, like pneumonia, are short-term but still serious. Some conditions that affect the alveoli can lead to respiratory failure. Quitting smoking can lower your risk of developing diseases related to the alveoli. The alveoli perform one of the body's most important functions. They are the gateway through which oxygen enters the bloodstream. Cancers by Body Location.
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Biomedical Citizen Science. Director's Message. Learn how it works, who it helps, and where to get one. Belly or abdominal breathing offers a number of benefits for health and well-being. The goal is to drain the fluid and make it easier for you to…. Popcorn lung is caused by exposure to toxic chemicals found in microwaveable popcorn factories and e-cigarettes. Symptoms include flu-like illness…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Alveoli function Alveoli structure Alveoli health Tips for lung health Takeaway Little sacs for oxygen Alveoli are tiny air sacs in your lungs that take up the oxygen you breathe in and keep your body going.
How alveoli work. Alveoli and your respiratory system. Impacts to alveoli. Alveoli and lung health. The takeaway. Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, M. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. Breathing Exercises to Increase Lung Capacity. Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. What Does a Pulmonologist Do? Medically reviewed by Raj Dasgupta, MD.
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