1. Thinner is Better
The word surfactant is a linguistic blend of the terms SUrface ACting ageNT, which is a chemical that causes a liquid to become thinner so that it flows better and mixes more readily with other liquids. In the human body, surfactants work on the final branchings of the lungs to keep the lungs from collapsing when you exhale. A problem with surfactants can cause various kinds of lung disease and may require therapy.
2. Helping Baby's Breath
Insufficient levels of surfactants in newborn babies is a fairly common condition. The absence of the right amounts of the pulmonary surfactant puts newborn baby lungs at risk of collapse. Fortunately, modern medical technology, such as ventilators, allows the baby to breath as she continues to develop surfactants. A decreased amount of surfactants in children can also be treated with synthetic surfactants, which adequately do the job of their natural counterparts.
3. Breathing With Cow Breath
One of the most common naturally derived synthetic surfactants is Calfactant, which is a surfactant taken from the lungs of a cow. Sophisticated development and modification of the cow's surfactant makes it adequate for use in surfactant replacement therapy for people who don't have enough surfactant to keep their lungs functioning properly on their own.
4. Here a Surfactant, There a Surfactant
In the human body, surfactants are necessary and healthy chemical agents that are essential to body function. Outside the body, surfactants take on a very different role. Since products as diverse and as toxic as ink, fabric softeners, fire extinguishers, laxatives and insecticides all contain significant amounts of surfactants, there is considerable debate about the health and environmental effects of these chemicals. While some people are alarmist about surfactants in everyday products, most experts agree that if you handle products according to the instructions, your chances of death by surfactant are absurdly low.
5. Surf the Surfactant Wave
Recent studies are confirming with greater accuracy and sureness that surfactant levels in the body are not steady but increase and decrease with lung usage. Exercise creates one of the greatest increases in surfactant levels immediately after (and possibly during) the exercise period. While the conclusions from this fact are unclear, some scientists speculate that the higher level of surfactants increase lung capacity and fitness levels.
