HEALTH NOTES

Hutt News, Volume 15, Issue 39, 18 March 1942, Page 8

HEALTH NOTES

By H. K. & D. W. Adamson, (Osteopaths).

THE LUNGS

The lungs play a very vital part in the promotion of health. Conversely however, and as might be expected of an organ with such a vast expanse of delicate membranes, the lungs are subject to a number of afflictions which must be regarded as amongst the most dangerous to life that the body may suffer. Now, if we desire to obtain the best functioning or efficiency from any kind of mechanism it is a most obvious fact that we must iirst ol all learn something about the construction of the mechanism and the conditions under which it functions best. Therefore, before we touch on some of the ways and means by which we may maintain or, in fact., strengthen the functional activity of our lungs, we will first of all give a brief outline of their structure and their functions.

The first fact to be noted in connection with the lungs is the part they play in maintaining our heat and energy. Animal tissues produce heat and energy by a process of combustion in which oxygen plays a similar role to that in any other form of combustion. It unites with the carbon and the hydrogen elements of the fuel for the food as the case may be and as a result of the union heat is liberated. When a fire is lighted in the open as in a grate, the oxygen is drawn upon from the surrounding atmosphere which contains approximately twenty per cent of this element. When however, combustion is desired within a mechanism such as an internal combustion engine, then provision has to be made for the introduction of sufficient air into the combustion chamber. In the human body, the lungs perform this function. They not only provide for an adequate supply of air for the purposes of combustion, but also they dispose of the refuse resulting from the combustion, and which is passed out in the breath as carbon di-oxide and water. Every one knows of course that a fire burns best in the presence of an abundance of oxygen. Coal and other fuel burning furnaces burn best of all when oxygen is applied under pressure or by what is called forced draught- On the other hand, the most effective method of extinguishing' a lire or any other sort of combustion is to smother it, or, in other words, to exclude its oxygen supply We mention this in order to emphasise the essential nature of oxygen to the human body and the part played by the lungs in supplying it,. The lungs are in fact a pair of living bellows for the supply of oxygen for our bodily furnaces, and as we have already mentioned, for the expulsion of the Avast or exhaust gasses which occur, as a result of the combustion. We would like you to particularly remember this latter function of the lungs because we will refer to it again in connection with deep breathing. When air is sucked into the lungs by the action of the diaphragm, it is brought into contact with the blood in the millions of tiny air cells and spaces. There the blood gives up its load of refuse (carbon dioxide and water) and in return, takes up its quota of oxygen which the red blood cells extract from the air breathed in, and which it then transports to the cells of the body where combustion takes plaj.ce. Now, it should be plain that any defect whatsoever either in the intake of air or in the elimination of refuse from the lungs must react on the general health and efficiency of the body. In fact, its efficiency would be lowered in much the same way as any other internal combustion engine would be affected by a defective air supply or exhaust mechanism. The health of the lungs or the state of their efficiency is very largely dependent upon the manner' in which they are used (or abused)! and the conditions under which they have to function. First and foremost, the air we breathe must be pure and fresh. It must contaiu its full quota of oxygen and a minimum of harmful elements. Of the latter must be included dust, chemical fumes, smoke and the like. We often harp upon the necessity of fresh air in the home and particularly of the bedroom where most of us spend about a third of our lives. Once again, keep your bedroom windows open. Secondly, breathe through the nose- The nasal passages not only contain structures which warn us of the presence of foreign gasses, but also they impart a considerable degree of warmth to the incoming air before it reaches the lungs. Thirdly, learn to breathe deeply and fully and cultivate the habit of at least once or twice daily of filling the lungs to their fullest capacity by the practice of deep breathing exercises. Deep breathing v promotes the utmost development of the chest, the diaphragm, the muscles of the abdominal wall including those of the digestive tract. It promotes and maintains the natural elacticity of the lung cells and this makes for better interchange of oxygen and waste materials, freedom from colds, catarrh, shortness of breath and other troubles of the

I respiratory tract. The average in- ! dividual uses but a small portion of his lung surface excepting on those rare occasions when he has to exert himself to catch a train. A very considerable proportion of the lung cells remain dormant and become a receptacle for the poisonous products emptied into them by the blood. Also, foul air accumulates and the unused air cells and spaces become the seat of bronchial ailments. Regular deep breathing is therefore essential, for in 110 other way can these unused areas be purified and maintained in a normally healthy condition. Strong powerful lungs not only mean freedom from pneumonia, tubercolosis, bronchitis, astham, and all other respiratory disorders. They provide the owner with that, degree of reserve power and energy which is so essential to withstand the 1 physical and emotional strains i which our artificial methods of liv- ; • ' ing have thrust upon us. ] : : : 1