8 Interesting Facts About Our Lungs

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common lung diseases in children and is a life-threatening disorder that causes, among other things, lung infections and breathing difficulties.

Breathing is the most important thing your body does. Without breathing, you simply cannot live. It’s something you do without even thinking about it —unless you suffer from a lung condition that makes breathing a difficult task. There are many facts about the respiratory system and the lungs that most people are unaware of.

Here are some very interesting lung facts from the Lung Institute that are worth knowing.

1. A person usually breathes an average of 13 pints of air every minute.

2. Lungs aren’t the same size. To accommodate the heart, the right lung is larger than the left lung (in human beings). 

3. Lungs float on water! It’s not something most people are aware of, but its true. The lungs are the only organs in the human body that are capable of floating on water.

There are many benefits of exercise and activities that stimulate breathing for cystic fibrosis patients. Here are some outstanding examples of how life-changing this all could be.

4. What do lungs and a tennis court have in common? Their size! It seems pretty impossible, but if the lungs were opened flat, they would be so big that they would cover the size of a tennis court!

5. Oxygen only plays a small part in breathing.  The air we breathe contains 21 percent oxygen, but our bodies only use 5 percent—the rest is exhaled.

6. Seventy percent of waste is eliminated through your lungs just by breathing.

Learn more about how researchers are looking into whether Tai Chi improves breathing for people with cystic fibrosis.

7. Children and women are faster breathers than men because their breathing rate is higher. 

8. Humans exhale up to 17.5 milliliters of water per hour.

Learn more about the boy with CF who improves his lung function by playing the bagpipes.

Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.