Respiratory system interactive

Asthma and the Environment

Alexis Harney, Eliana Mann, Fiona Duffy

The respiratory system is made up of many structures, but all of them work together to allow gas exchange to occur. The respiratory system brings oxygen into the body and releases carbon dioxide, working closely with other body systems like the circulatory and muscular systems.

Gas Exchange

The respiratory system works to maintain homeostasis in the body through breathing, which is stimulated by the contraction of the diaphragm and other intercostal muscles. When there is a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, the brain sends a signal to the intercostal muscles to contract to take in more oxygen. Then, gas exchange occurs at the alveoli, and the body returns to homeostasis.

Test your knowledge!

There are many diseases and illnesses that can impact the respiratory system such as:

- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - Pulmonary fibrosis - Pneumonia - Lung cancer - Asthma

This list includes asthma which is one of the most common lung conditions, though asthma may seem scary once you understand it, it is easy to live with and manage.

Click here to view a video about asthma

Asthma

Click each bubble to see what the doctor has to say!

What is asthma?

Here are some asthma treatment options

There are different types of asthma

Causes of asthma include

What is an asthma attack?

Test your knowledge!

Research shows that forest bathing has a positive impact on the repiratory system!

Forest bathing is proven to improve physical and mental health, as well as the functionality of the respiratory system!

RESEARCH STUDY: A 57 year old male smoker, who had been exposed to deisel exhaust, harmful gasses, vapors, and welding fumes, causing severe dyspnea, did not respond well to antibiotics, steroids, or rest. These initially seemed to help, but the dyspnea eventually returned which led to decreased energy, and increased sensitivities. The subject left his job, and went on a trip to undergo health initiatives such as exercise and changing environments. After structured exercise in forest areas, his respiratory health improved, and the possitive effects on his sympathtic and parasympathetic health is a result of the restorative effects of viewing green space.

Forest bathing is defined as a practice that involves being immersed in nature and using senses to improve health or reduce stress. According to the National Library of Medicine, green space can be restorative to the parasympathetic nervous system. Studies also suggest that forest air can be beneficial due to phytoncides, microbial diversity, or negatively charged ions in natural environments. Acute exercise or slow physical movement in a forest setting, paired with slow rhythmic breathing, can decrease or increase parasympathetic activity.

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Proven to be aided with forest bathing: - Diabetes - Heart Failure - Anxiety/Stress - Hypertension

Sources

Amoeba Sisters. (2022, February 28). Respiratory System. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_j-LD2YEqg Asthma. 2024. Cleveland Clinic. September 9, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6424-asthma Edwards, Allison, and Victor Woods. "Forest-Based Therapy: Research Letter of a Novel Regime for Improved Respiratory Health." Integrative Medecine: A Clinicians Journal, February 17 2018. Thoma, S. (2024). Gas Exchange. University of Wisconsin-Madison Canvas. https://canvas.wisc.edu/courses/427658/files/41830389?module_item_id=7811886

What is an asthma attack

When an asthma attack occurs three things happen...

• Bronchospasm: The muscles around the bronchial tubes (airways) constrict preventing air from moving through the lungs

• Inflammation: The lining of the airways becomes swollen hindering the ability of air to move through the lungs

• Mucus production: During the attack, your body creates more mucus clogging the airways

During an attack, the persistent symptoms get much worse. Attacks can come on quickly or gradually and may be life-threatening.

Treatment Options

• Bronchodilators: Medicines that relax the muscles around your airways to improve airflow, they also let mucus move more easily through the airways. Releaves symptoms during a flare-up.

• Anti-inflammatory medicines: Medicines reduce swelling and mucus production in your airways making it easier for air to enter and exit the lungs. Used for lung maintenance, this medicine is prescribed for everyday use to prevent symptoms of chronic asthma.

• Biologic therapies: When the previous medications fail to control symptoms, Biologics work by disrupting the specific cells or blocking specific molecules that make your airways swell after exposure to certain triggers.

Asthma medications can come in the form of pills, but typically they are inhalants and are delivered through an inhaler or a nebulizer.

Causes of Asthma

It is unknown what causes asthma but some factors that increase the risk of asthma include:

Causes of asthma attacks vary:

• Pollution: Factory emissions, car exhaust, wildfire smoke and more can irritate the lungs and trigger an attack.

• Exercise: For some people, exercising strains the lungs and can cause an attack.

• Mold: Damp places spawn mold, which can cause problems if you have asthma even if you don't have an allergy.

• Animals/Pests: Cockroaches, mice and other household pests can cause asthma attacks especially if they have lots of hair and dandruff.

• Tobacco smoke: Smoking damages the lungs causing attacks and increasing the risk of developing asthma.

• Allergies: Having allergies can raise the risk of developing asthma.

• Environmental factors: Asthma can develop after exposure to irritants such as dust, toxins, fumes and smoke. Prevalent in infants and young children whose immune systems haven’t finished developing.

• Genetics: Individuals with a family history of asthma or allergies have a higher risk of developing asthma.

• Respiratory infections: Certain respiratory infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can damage young children’s developing lungs.

Types of Asthma

• Intermittent: Asthma symptoms come and go so individuals breath normally in between asthma flares.

• Persistent: When individuals are often symptomatic, though symptoms can range between mild or severe.

• Adult-onset: Starts after the age of 18.

• Pediatric: Childhood asthma often begins in toddlers before age 5 but it can occur in infants. Children may outgrow asthma.

• Exercise-induced: Asthma that is triggered by exercise.

• Occupational: This type of asthma happens primarily to people who work around irritating substances. Ex. construction workers, miners

• Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS): A combination of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which are both diseases that impead breathing.

What is Asthma

Asthma affects more than 25 million people in the U.S.

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the airways in the lungs causing them to become inflamed, swell, and produce extra mucus making it difficult to breathe. Asthma requires medical management as it can be life-threatening. This condition can develop at any age, however, people that have allergies or are frequently exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to develop asthma.

people assigned female at birth tend to have asthma more than people assigned male at birth

Asthma affects Black people more frequently than other races.