How does coughing effect the respiratory system?

Answer 1

Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath due to over-inflation of the alveoli. In people with emphysema, the lung tissue involved in exchange of gases is impaired or destroyed. Emphysema is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. Emphysema is called an obstructive lung disease because airflow on exhalation is slowed or stopped because over-inflated alveoli do not exchange gases when a person breaths due to little or no movement of gases out of the alveoli.

Emphysema changes the anatomy of the lung in several important ways. This is due to in part to the destruction of lung tissue around smaller airways. This tissue normally holds bronchioles open allowing air to leave the lungs on exhalation. When this tissue is damaged, these airways collapse, making it difficult for the lungs to empty and the air becomes trapped in the alveoli.

Answer 2

Coughing isn't an independent reaction; it is a mechanism of the respiratory system. If a foreign object gets into the airway, coughing allows it to be unobstructed. Similarly, an illness like the common cold will overproduce mucus along the airway, making breathing difficult. A cough moves the mucus up the airway along with the mucociliary escalator.

Answer 3

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura. Pleurisy affects the respiratory system by causing a dry cough, chest pain and difficulty breathing.