Breathing is one part of respiration that can be compromised if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder including asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. Such illnesses interfere with your ability to inhale a sufficient volume of air through your trachea and bronchioles, your primary breathing tubes. Emphysema also ruins your alveoli, the sacs where oxygen enters your blood and carbon dioxide is removed from your blood.
Types
There are two types of respiration. External respiration, or pulmonary ventilation, is the actual act of breathing. Internal respiration is the exchange of gases, including oxygen and carbon dioxide, between your capillaries and the cells throughout your body.
Function
The function of external and internal respiration is to supply your cells with oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. The breathing muscles, your diaphragm and intercostals, function to enlarge and reduce the size of your chest cavity by contracting and relaxing. This permits air to flow into and out of your lungs. Once your blood is re-oxygenated, all the cells of your body, including those of your heart, brain and muscles, must be able to receive and use the oxygen for internal respiration for you to stay alive.
Features
There are two components to every breath you take. When you inhale, your diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract to increase the size of your chest cavity. This causes the pressure in the atmosphere to be greater than the pressure in your lungs, facilitating the influx of air. When you exhale, your diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax to decrease the size of your chest cavity. This causes the pressure in your lungs to be greater than the pressure in the atmosphere, facilitating air exiting your lungs. Your breathing is controlled by the pressure difference of the gases in your alveoli and in the atmospheric air, established by the change in the size of your chest cavity. This enables oxygen and carbon dioxide to diffuse across the alveoli and capillary membranes in your lungs, oxygenating your blood for internal respiration at the cells of your body.
Considerations
Your diaphragm and intercostal muscles must be trained like your chest, back and leg muscles. Keep your breathing muscles healthy by engaging in a regular program of moderately-intense aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, three to five days per week. Exercising your breathing or external respiration muscles enhances your internal respiration. Aerobic exercise increases the density of capillaries in your working muscles. It also increases the amount of enzymes and cell structures responsible for processing and using oxygen and nutrients in your cells.
Warning
Check with your doctor prior to engaging in an aerobic program, especially if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Aerobic exercise increases the need of oxygen for internal respiration, causing your heart and breathing rate to increase. You may not be able to inhale enough oxygen for your working muscles, which could lead to a medical emergency including fainting and an asthma attack.
References
- "Anatomy & Physiology"; Gary Thibodeau, Ph.D., and Kevin Patton, Ph.D.; 2007
- "Exercise Physiology, Energy, Nutrition & Human Performance"; William McArdle, Frank Katch and Victor Katch; 2007
- "First Aid/CPR/AED for Schools and the Community"; American Red Cross; 2006
