What happens in the trachea, lungs and bronchi

Our lungs are fantastic. We breathe five litres of air every minute. This is equivalent to 300 litres per hour and several thousand litres over 24 hours. We have two lungs, one on each side. The path goes from the trachea, which starts in the throat, to the middle of the chest, where it divides into the right and left sides. On each side, the airways divide 23 times. The trachea are tubes with a smooth, pink mucous membrane of the same colour as inside the mouth. The tubes consist of muscle tissue, and in the large trachea also cartilage rings. The trachea end up in the lung tissue in small alveoli. This is where the oxygen that we breathe and the carbon dioxide (Co2) that our bodies produce are exchanged. The alveoli form a huge surface area. In fact, they’d be as big as several soccer pitches, if you spread them out. Every year, we all lose some lung function and our lungs become less supple. If you have COPD, you should stop smoking as soon as possible, or stop working with COPD-triggering particles. Smoke and particles trigger irritation in the lungs, so that you lose two to four times as much lung function every year. Smoking cessation stabilises the annual loss of lung function. Lost lung tissue does not grow back, just as an amputated toe cannot grow back by itself, or with medication. In COPD, there is also irritation of the mucous membrane of the airways, which becomes thick and irritated, narrowing the tubes so that secretion is formed. It can settle as mucus clots and further narrow the airways. Viruses and bacteria can also grow in this mucus, causing infections. This is known as bronchitis, and if it spreads all the way into the lung tissue, it becomes pneumonia. Stopping smoking reduces mucus and irritation, and reduces the number of infections and other exacerbations of COPD. Staying physically active also has that effect. COPD medication also helps with this. It reduces irritation and dilates the airways. All of this together, as a lifestyle change with less tobacco, more activity and taking the right medication in the right way, can make a huge difference, so you feel much better, with fewer symptoms and more good days, and far fewer restrictions in your life due to COPD.