| How do the lungs work? | Main symptoms of respiratory failure |

The respiratory system – how do the lungs work?

The principal function of the respiratory system is to get oxygen into the body and to release carbon dioxide (the waste product of breathing). To achieve this, the respiratory system requires a gas-exchanging organ (the lungs), an effective pump to move the air (the breathing muscles - diaphragm) and effective control of the required depth and rate of breathing (the brain). When we breathe our respiratory muscles contract and the air that we inhale passes through our upper airways, nose, trachea and bronchus, onto our alveoli. It is when the air reaches the alveoli that the gas exchange takes place; the blood eliminates its carbon dioxide waste and replaces it with oxygen to feed the body cells.

There are two main reasons that may cause difficulties in breathing:

Obstruction: this is where the carbon dioxide stays within the alveoli. It causes breathlessness and frequent coughing to help clear secretions

Muscle weakness: in this case you are not able to contract your muscles to allow air to enter the lungs and provide oxygenation.