25th September marks World Lung Day. It is a day when we pay attention to the need to promote the well-being of the lungs and the struggles that most lung disease patients endure. Well, as a Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgeon, I feel responsible for enlightening you about the importance of this particular day. I will also mention the measures one can take to maintain the health of the lungs.
The Marvel of Lungs: More than Just Breathing
Lungs in general are complex biological engineering. You probably have not heard the fact that if you were to fully open both your lungs and lay the surface area out, then it could easily cover about 70 square meters. That is about the size of a tennis court! This large surface area is important for respiration, enabling your body to intake oxygen and excretes carbon dioxide.
Well, in a day, your lungs take in about 11,000 liters of air. But their work is not just limited to air. Your lungs clean dust, bacteria, and other particles too. These particles lodge themselves in your airways and mucus while tiny hair-like structures known as cilia sweep them out of your lungs. It is more like having a natural filter that can cleanse the air for you. However, everything is not always green.
Respiratory Challenges
Unfortunately, our lungs face numerous threats. The threats are instigated by several reasons such as lifestyle, food habits, genetics, pollution, and much more. So, let me break down some of the most significant respiratory challenges that I have personally found in patients and treated over the years of being a doctor:
Asthma: I am sure you have heard of Asthma and someone in your close circle might be suffering from it. Asthma has now become a common condition that roughly impacts about 262 million people worldwide. Not only that, it causes about 461,000 deaths annually.
Lung Cancer: Anything that is placed before the word cancer is scary. But, when it comes particularly to Lung Cancer it is rather a horror story. The survival rate is only about 18% in such cases, emphasizing the need for early detection. Besides, lung cancer claims about 1.8 million lives annually, which is indeed an alarming number.
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): It affects over 300 million people globally, and causes 3.23 million deaths annually as of 2019 data.
Pneumonia: Another common threat to the lungs is Pneumonia. There are days, in my OPDs when I encounter more than 15 cases of Pneumonia in one sitting. It causes about 2.5 million deaths annually. From my experience, I noticed that Pneumonia is more infectious and dangerous in children less than 5 years old.
Tuberculosis (TB): Tuberculosis widely known as TB continues to be a global health challenge. In 2019, there were 10 million new TB cases worldwide, resulting in 1.4 million deaths. The most unfortunate part of this condition is that despite advancements in treatment, drug-resistant TB remains a significant public health crisis.
Air Pollution: The Silent Killer
At this moment I am sure you are wondering what the reasons behind these aggressively growing lung conditions are.
Well, the answer is not very difficult. Overcrowding and air pollution are the primary enemies of the lungs. According to WHO, 99% of the global population lives in areas where exposure to pollutants is above the WHO’s recommended levels. In the year 2023, air pollution led to estimated deaths of 2 million just in India.
While emissions are all dangerous, some of them are more hazardous than others, for instance, Particulate matter (PM2.5). These tinier particles can go into your lower respiratory tract and even into the cardiovascular system. In fact, if you are exposed to these particles for a long time, it can:
- Reduce your lung capacity
- Cause chronic respiratory diseases
- And even causes lung cancer
Cutting-Edge Research and Treatments
The arena of lung disease is vast, but with the advancement of medical sciences we doctors are well trained to fight the battle between pollution and healthy lungs. Here are some exciting developments:
- Personalized Medicine: Researchers are now employing genetic markers for different lung complications such as cystic fibrosis and lung cancer among others.
- Immunotherapy: With new and advanced approaches of therapy it is possible to manage lung cancer. In fact, there has been a drastic increase in patient survival due to the same.
- Artificial Intelligence: AI has compellingly made a mark in this generation, and medical science is no exception. The use of AI is effective in the early diagnosis of lung diseases from visual images of chest X-rays and CT scans.
- Lung Regeneration: Today, researchers are heading towards the development of stem cells that can restore the lungs’ damaged tissues. Although it is still in its infancy this could be revolutionary for patients who have extensive lung damage.
- New COPD Treatments: Some of the new drugs such as triple therapy inhalers and long-acting bronchodilators have proved to be very beneficial to many patients with COPD.
- Robotic Surgery (RATS): Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS) has revolutionarized lung surgeries. It is more progressive and employs use of robotics in performing various operations in this case delicate operations than could be carried out manually. RATS provides flexibility to the surgeon and to the extent of movements that is needed in surgery besides providing better 3D visual field view of the region.
- Minimal Invasive Surgery (VATS): Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) is another minimally invasive procedure which has enhanced lung operations. VATS offer benefits such as less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stays. Besides, patients require shorter recovery time and can return to their normal life faster than they would after open surgical operations.
Measures to Maintain the Health of the Lungs
As a doctor, I have to let you know that, although we are equipped with knowledge and experience to treat a disease, you must know a patient plays an equally important part. While treating your lungs is our work, maintaining the health of your lungs is your duty too. Here I am presenting some measures that you can take to maintain healthy lungs:
Quit Smoking: Smoke is one of the biggest enemies of your lungs. Know that it is never too late. Your heart rate declines within just 20 minutes of stopping. Within 10 years, your lung cancer risk is reduced to roughly half of that seen in smokers.
Exercise: Doing regular aerobic exercise can lift your lung capacity by 5-15%. Spend a few minutes each day initially exercising. Surprisingly, moderate physical activity for just 150 minutes each week, can go a long way towards a healthy pair of lungs.
Air Quality Awareness: Check everyday pollution levels by utilizing air quality apps. On days of extreme pollution, if possible keep outside activities restricted.
Indoor Air Quality: Poor air quality can be harmful, even when you are inside your home. So, install HEPA air purifiers, discontinue harsh cleaning chemicals, and make sure your house has ample ventilation.
Nutrition: Follow a nutrition diet. A diet full of antioxidants (common in fruits and vegetables) might protect your lungs from oxidative stress.
Regular Check-ups: As a doctor myself, I suggest all my patients have a mandatory check-up every year, even if they don’t feel any physical disturbance. Some conditions don’t present any visual or evident symptoms up until it is too late. In such cases, annual tests of lung function can detect difficulties early, which is when treatment is typically more effective.
This World Lung Day, we should promise to support lung health. I request you to engage your friends and family in this knowledge. Defend clean air regulations in your community. Give your support to organizations engaged in lung health research and promotion.
Remember, every breath is a present. Protecting our lungs is not only about improving our health but also making a healthier planet.
What are your plans for healthier lungs this year? Let us get talking and fuel one another to breathe more freely!
Also Read: Advancing Thoracic Surgery: The Technological Leap with Robotic Assistance