The lungs and circulatory system work together to carry oxygen to every cell in the human body. The lungs bring in the oxygen and release it into the blood where it is then transported by the heart throughout the entire body. Because of this, maintaining lung and circulatory health is crucial to maintaining overall health.
Heart and Lungs
Your veins carry blood to the heart. The blood enters the heart through the right atrium and then is pushed into the right ventricle. From here, it moves into the pulmonary artery that leads to the lungs. When you breathe in, you remove carbon dioxide wastes from this blood while replacing it with oxygen. The heart then propels the blood through the body to supply your cells with oxygen.
Lung Diseases
Lung diseases hinder the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood. Some common lung diseases occur in the lung airways, or tubes, that carry air in and out of the lungs. Airway diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis cause narrowing or blockages in the airways because of inflammation. This may reduce oxygen saturation or make breathing labored and difficult. According to MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, lung tissue diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, occur because scarring and inflammation make it difficult for the lungs to fully expand when you take a deep breath. Pulmonary fibrosis has many causes, including asbestos exposure, gastroesophageal reflux disease and radiation therapy.
Lung Circulation and Vascular Diseases
Lung circulation diseases affect the blood vessels in the lungs, reducing the efficiency of the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Clotting, inflammation or scarring in the blood vessels may contribute to lung circulation and vascular diseases. Vascular disease occurs in the blood vessels in various areas of the body. The arteries may stiffen or thicken, resulting in a vascular disease called atherosclerosis. Potentially fatal internal bleeding may occur when blood vessels weaken.
Prevention
Family history may place you at a higher risk of developing pulmonary or vascular diseases. However, eliminating the risk factors that you can control will help maintain your overall health. Smoking increases your risk of lung diseases as well as vascular disease. In addition, obesity, high cholesterol and a sedentary lifestyle place you at a higher risk for vascular disease. Consuming a healthy diet, staying physically active and avoiding smoking can increase your chances of preventing lung and circulation problems.
