How does air pollution affect the lungs?

How does air pollution affect the lungs? Breathing in air pollutants can irritate your airways and can cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks and chest pain. Exposure to air pollution puts you at risk for lung cancer, heart attack, stroke and, in extreme cases, premature death.

Which pollution can damage the lungs?

The most common types of air pollutants are: Particulate matter (PM): small particles that can irritate and cause damage to the respiratory tract. Nitrogen dioxide: a gas that can irritate the airways and cause an asthma or COPD flare-up. Ozone: a gas that can reduce lung capacity and irritate the airways.

Does air pollution cause respiratory problems?

Air pollution is a cause and aggravating factor for many respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (11,12), asthma (12,13) and lung cancer (14,15).

How can we protect our lungs from air pollution?

Here are some ways to keep your lungs healthy.

1. Do not smoke.
2. Avoid exposure to indoor pollutants that can damage your lungs.
3. Minimize exposure to outdoor air pollution.
4. Prevent infection.
5. Get regular check-ups.
6. Exercise.

How can we protect our lungs from pollution?

Here are a few other ways to keep your lungs healthy:

1. Limit exposure to pollutants. Pollution from industries, mines and exhaust fumes can wreak havoc on your lungs.
2. Improve indoor air quality.
3. Do deep breathing exercises.
4. Give your lungs a workout.
5. Eat the right food.
6. Stay active.
7. Protect your lungs on the job.
8. Pure Smart.

Do the lungs clean themselves?

The lungs are self-cleansing organs that will begin to heal themselves when they are no longer exposed to pollutants. The best way to ensure your lungs are healthy is to avoid harmful toxins such as cigarette smoke and air pollution, get regular exercise and eat well.

Yes, research suggests that long-term exposure to air pollution can contribute to the development of some lung diseases. There is good evidence that outdoor air pollution contributes to lung cancer, and it is possible that long-term exposure to air pollution is linked to the development of asthma.

When does air pollution cause people to die?

Usually this means before the age of 75. Related: Air pollution doesn't cause deaths alone. Most of the early deaths will be caused by an existing heart or lung condition, but air pollution may have made the condition worse. If you are interested, you can read an explanation of this statistic from the University of Cambridge.

Is there a link between lung cancer and particle pollution?

To learn more about the link between particulate pollution and lung cancer, we spoke with Norman Edelman, MD, senior scientific advisor for the American Lung Association. According to Dr. Edelman, most people still don't know that particulate pollution is a risk factor for lung cancer. That's why it's important to help get the word out.

How is air pollution a risk factor for asthma?

Other risk factors include low birth weight, hay fever, and sex, as it is more commonly observed in younger boys. Children exposed to cigarette smoke can also develop asthma. Currently, air pollution is a significant risk factor for the development of respiratory problems. How does air pollution cause asthma?