13 DEEP BREATH: THE LUNGS AND BREATHING

Question 1

How many times do you breathe in and out each day?

Answer 1

About 20,000 times.

Question 2

Approximately how many gallons of air do you process each day?

Answer 2

About 4,000 gallons.

Question 3

How many breaths do you take between birthdays?

Answer 3

About 7.3 million breaths.

Question 4

What is the estimated number of oxygen molecules exhaled in a single breath?

Answer 4

25 sextillion (2.5 x 10^22) molecules.

Question 5

What anatomical term is used for nostrils?

Answer 5

Nares.

Question 6

What is the purpose of the sinuses?

Answer 6

Their exact function is unclear, but they may help with breathing efficiency.

Question 7

How many Americans suffer from sinusitis each year?

Answer 7

Thirty-five million.

Question 8

True or False: Most sinus conditions are caused by bacteria.

Answer 8

False.

Question 9

What happens to air when it enters the nose in cold weather?

Answer 9

It condenses and can cause a drip from the nose.

Question 10

How many foreign particles does the average urban dweller inhale daily?

Answer 10

About twenty billion.

Question 11

What are cilia?

Answer 11

Hairlike structures lining the bronchi that help trap invaders.

Question 12

What is the formal name for the act of sneezing?

Answer 12

Sternutation.

Question 13

How far can sneeze droplets travel?

Answer 13

Up to eight meters.

Question 14

What muscle is primarily responsible for assisting lung function?

Answer 14

Diaphragm.

Question 15

What is the pleural cavity?

Answer 15

The space around the lungs where air pressure is less than atmospheric pressure.

Question 16

What causes the discomfort when holding your breath?

Answer 16

A buildup of carbon dioxide.

Question 17

Fill in the blank: The longest recorded breath-hold is ______.

Answer 17

twenty-four minutes and three seconds.

Question 18

How much air can human lungs hold?

Answer 18

About six quarts.

Question 19

What is the estimated area of lung tissue in an average adult?

Answer 19

About a thousand square feet.

Question 20

What disease is Marcel Proust known for suffering from?

Answer 20

Asthma.

Question 21

What percentage of children in the UK have shown asthma symptoms?

Answer 21

30 percent.

Question 22

What is the global prevalence of asthma among adults?

Answer 22

About 5 percent.

Question 23

What is the relationship between asthma rates and air pollution in Guangzhou and Hong Kong?

Answer 23

Higher pollution in Guangzhou but lower asthma rates compared to cleaner Hong Kong.

Question 24

What is one of the most significant challenges in understanding asthma?

Answer 24

The primary causes are not well understood.

Question 25

What was the increase in asthma-related deaths among children in Great Britain from 1959 to 1966?

Answer 25

From 1 percent to 7.2 percent.

Question 26

True or False: Most common asthma triggers are also its primary causes.

Answer 26

False.

Question 27

Who is one of the world’s leading authorities on the spread of asthma?

Answer 27

Pearce ## Footnote Pearce is originally from New Zealand and has had a significant impact on asthma research.

Question 28

What illness did Pearce contract in his early twenties that affected his education?

Answer 28

Brucellosis ## Footnote Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that can cause flu-like symptoms.

Question 29

What job did Pearce hold before becoming a biostatistician?

Answer 29

Bus driver and factory worker ## Footnote Pearce worked in these roles for two years after giving up on higher education.

Question 30

What inhaled drug was linked to an outbreak of unexplained deaths among young asthmatics?

Answer 30

Fenoterol ## Footnote Fenoterol is not related to the opioid fentanyl.

Question 31

What was the traditional belief about asthma's cause before the 1950s and 60s?

Answer 31

Asthma was considered a neurological disease ## Footnote This belief was later challenged by evidence suggesting allergic reactions play a role.

Question 32

What percentage of asthma cases in the world involve allergies?

Answer 32

50% ## Footnote The other 50% are due to nonallergic mechanisms, which are not yet fully understood.

Question 33

What can trigger an asthma attack aside from allergens?

Answer 33

Cold air, stress, exercise ## Footnote These factors can trigger asthma irrespective of allergens.

Question 34

True or False: Asthma is always present and detectable in lung function tests.

Answer 34

False ## Footnote Asthma can be episodic, with normal lung function between attacks.

Question 35

What is the primary treatment for mild asthma attacks?

Answer 35

Steroids ## Footnote Steroids are effective for many, but not all, asthma sufferers.

Question 36

What is the hygiene hypothesis related to asthma?

Answer 36

Early exposure to infectious agents strengthens resistance to asthma ## Footnote This theory suggests that a lack of early infections may increase asthma risk.

Question 37

At what age is asthma most commonly first diagnosed?

Answer 37

Thirteen ## Footnote Many adults also experience asthma onset later in life.

Question 38

What unusual discovery did Pearce make regarding early exposure to cats?

Answer 38

It seems to provide lifelong protection against asthma ## Footnote Pearce humorously noted the irony of this finding.

Question 39

Fill in the blank: Growing up on a ________ seems to protect against asthma.

Answer 39

farm ## Footnote The reasons for this protective effect are not fully understood.

Question 40

What lifestyle change has been suggested to contribute to increased asthma rates in children?

Answer 40

Less outdoor play ## Footnote Children now spend more time indoors, which may affect lung health.

Question 41

What gut microbes were associated with asthma development in infants?

Answer 41

Lachnospira, Veillonella, Faecalibacterium, Rothia ## Footnote Their absence was linked to higher asthma rates in a study.

Question 42

What is the estimated increase in lung cancer cases in America between 1920 and 1950?

Answer 42

Tripled ## Footnote This increase coincided with the rise in cigarette smoking.

Question 43

How much more likely is a regular smoker to develop lung cancer compared to a nonsmoker?

Answer 43

Fifty times more likely ## Footnote This statistic highlights the significant risk associated with smoking.

Question 44

Who were the two researchers that published a paper linking smoking to lung cancer in 1950?

Answer 44

Richard Doll and A. Bradford Hill ## Footnote Their findings were published in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Question 45

What was the response of the tobacco industry to the smoking-cancer research?

Answer 45

They questioned the link and funded alternative research ## Footnote The industry sought to disprove the connection between smoking and cancer.

Question 46

What year did the U.S. surgeon general announce a link between smoking and lung cancer?

Answer 46

1964 ## Footnote This announcement had minimal immediate effect on smoking rates.

Question 47

What percentage of Americans smoke today?

Answer 47

18% ## Footnote Despite a decline, smoking remains a significant health issue.

Question 48

What is a hiccup?

Answer 48

A sudden spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm ## Footnote This contraction causes the characteristic 'hic' sound.

Question 49

Fill in the blank: The world record for hiccups was held by Charles Osborne for ________ years.

Answer 49

sixty-eight ## Footnote His hiccups began after an incident involving a heavy hog.

Question 50

What common remedies are suggested for hiccups?

Answer 50

Startling, lemon, iced water, pulling on the tongue ## Footnote These remedies are traditional and not scientifically proven.