Effects of Aging
The effects of aging on the respiratory system are similar to those that occur in other organs: maximum function gradually declines. Age-related changes in the lungs include a decrease in the peak airflow, gas exchange, and vital capacity (the amount of air that can be breathed out following a maximum inhalation), as well as a decrease in the defense mechanisms of the lungs. In the nonsmoker, these age-related changes seldom lead to symptoms. However, in smokers and ex-smokers who have emphysema, shortness of breath worsens with age.
With advancing age, the respiratory muscles, such as the diaphragm, tend to weaken. In healthy older people, this weakening is seldom important. In older people who have a disease such as bacterial pneumonia, however, this weakening is important because the pneumonia may further reduce the muscle force of breathing. Nevertheless, respiratory muscles, like skeletal muscles, can be conditioned, even in older people. Normal exercise or special breathing exercises can be used to strengthen respiratory muscles and thus to improve breathing.
Together, age-related changes in the structure and function of the lungs can affect older people. These changes can contribute to an older person's reduced ability to perform vigorous exercise, especially intense aerobic exercise, such as running, biking, and mountain climbing. Additionally, older people are at higher risk of developing pneumonia after bacterial or viral infections. Most importantly, age-related changes in the lungs compound the effects of any other heart and lung diseases the person may have, especially those caused by the destructive effects of smoking.
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