Athari za Kuzeeka kwenye Ngozi na mfumo wa hewa

NaRebecca Dezube, MD, MHS, Johns Hopkins University
Imekaguliwa naRichard K. Albert, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical
Imepitiwa/Imerekebishwa May 2025

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

  • Decreases in peak airflow (how quickly someone can exhale) due to decreased elasticity of the lungs

  • Decreases in measures of lung function such as vital capacity (the maximum amount of air that can be breathed out following a maximum inhalation) as rib cage bones get smaller

  • Weakening of the respiratory muscles

  • Decline in the effectiveness of lung defense mechanisms

(See also Overview of the Respiratory System.)

In healthy people, these age-related changes seldom lead to symptoms. These changes do contribute somewhat to an older adult's reduced capacity for vigorous aerobic exercise such as running, biking, and mountain climbing. However, age-related decreases in heart function may be a more important cause of such changes in capacity. Note that age-related changes do not prevent healthy older adults from engaging in vigorous exercise when they are appropriately conditioned, and well-trained, and older individuals can still exercise at a high intensity. However, age-related changes do lead to reduced maximal capacity and increased recovery time compared with that same person at a younger age.

Older adults are at higher risk of developing pneumonia after bacterial or viral infections. Thus, vaccines for respiratory infections such as influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus are particularly important for older adults.

Importantly, age-related changes in the lungs are compounded by the effects of heart and lung diseases, especially those caused by the destructive effects of smoking.

Je, Wajua?

  • In healthy people, age-related reductions in lung function seldom lead to symptoms, but they can contribute to the reduction in older adult's capacity to exercise as intensely as they could at a younger age.