Respiratory Symptoms

Abstract

For many, breathing is a routine and almost unthought-of necessity. For others, breathing can be challenging or even impossible to do on one’s own. The primary job of the respiratory system is the intake of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide. This seemingly simple act requires healthy lungs, conducting airways, and an intact central nervous system to control the muscles of respirations, which form a semi-rigid bellow around the lungs and attach to the bones of the chest wall. For the respiratory system to function well, breathing must be organized, with each part of the system performing optimally. If any portion of the respiratory system has pathologies, breathing can become difficult, painful, and eventually cease to occur without assistance.