Respiratory system in the elderly

| The respiratory system, like the rest of the body, changes when you reach old age. Find out what these changes consist of and how to mitigate them.

Older people also suffer changes in anatomy and in the function of the respiratory system that have great implications in the state of the elderly.

The respiratory system is made up of two parts main:

Main changes in the respiratory system in the elderly

Changes due to the passage of time in the respiratory system are early, even more so than those that occur in the cardiovascular system. There is a decreased elasticity of the bronchi, as well as a decrease in the mobility of the thorax due to skeletal and muscular alterations; this makes the volume of air mobilized per breath less.

There's also a increased fibrous tissue between the alveoli, which makes it difficult for oxygen to pass into the blood and carbon dioxide into the expired air.

Likewise, there are changes in the defense system, with a decrease in the cilia in the bronchial tree (the “brooms” that try to expel the dirt particles that the air contains) and an increase in the production of mucus, which can obstruct the passage of air towards the alveoli .

For all this it is observed that the respiratory function of the elderly, even without being pathological, is different from that of the young. The volume of air mobilized is lower and the gas exchange is less efficient; this entails a less resistance and ability to adapt to exercise and a lower functional reserve to recover the. On the other hand, older people are more prone to both bacterial and viral infections.

All these changes are independent of the habits of life that are carried, but it is evident that the eexposure to tobacco, pollution and other toxins present in the air, as well as diseases that can be suffered, worsen and accelerate these changes.

• Lung tissue: it is made up of the sum of thousands of independent functional units called alveoli; These are made up of capillaries separated by a thin membrane through which gas exchange takes place: the blood picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide from cellular metabolism.