Lung Health Statement from Expert: Why Do We Easily Get Pneumonia?

Prof. Dr. Şevket Özkaya, in a statement made on the occasion of World Lung Day on September 25, emphasized that the circulation of multiple respiratory viruses at the same time makes people get pneumonia more easily, and touched upon the increasing lung cancer cases and their causes in young and non-smoking individuals.

Working Mechanism of the Lungs

The lungs act like a filter of the external environment in which we live, and a person breathes an average of 20,000 times a day. With every breath, about half a liter of outside air enters the lungs.

Daily Amount of Air Taken

The lungs take in and purify about 10,000 liters of air into the body in a day. During this process, air pollution, bacteria, allergens, viruses, and carcinogenic substances also reach the body through respiration.

Increase in Pneumonia Cases

Following the flu outbreak that increased with the opening of schools, many young and elderly patients apply to hospitals with a diagnosis of post-flu pneumonia. This situation is largely seen after viral infections.

The Effect of Multiple Viruses

Although people attribute their easy development of pneumonia only to the decline in body resistance, the main reason is that several viruses such as the flu, COVID-19, and RSV circulate in society at the same time.

Lung Cancer Danger in Youth

One of the issues that frightens experts the most is the young lung cancer cases that begin to appear at a young age and progress more fatally. This situation continues to be a subject of debate worldwide.

Exposure to Carcinogenic Substances

While investigating the causes of these cancers appearing in non-smoking youths, focus is placed on carcinogenic substances exposed during childhood. Some cosmetic products used at an early age and vegetables and fruits containing pesticides are evaluated as risk factors.

Lifelong Lung Health

This year's slogan for World Lung Day has been determined as Lifelong Lung Health. In this context, all kinds of actions aimed at protecting respiratory health from childhood to old age carry great importance.