I am one of those that has been given the honor of traveling life with the companionship of COPD and severe Asthma.

While the honor is many times pushed by the frustration and battle with those companions, I have over time come to grips that it is what it is and I must make the best of it.

I knew I must learn more about this companion the medical folks call COPD and severe Asthma, so I have read about, ask questions about it and spent time nearly every day scouring the internet for information, articles and more.

I also knew it is good to share, so as a writer I decided what better way to share what I am learning and finding than through informational, inspirational and personal writings about my travels with COPD and severe Asthma.

This is part of an on-going series we call ‘Reflections of COPD/Asthma’ and today we give you set two of a six-part set we refer to as ‘Outside/Inside of Them Lungs’.

SET 2 – – ‘Looking at Your Lungs from the Inside’:

When you think of the ‘inside of your lungs’, you of course start with the obvious which would have to be your nose, mouth, the pharynx (back of your throat) and your larynx (or voice box).

Sure, you could simplify it all by saying the breathing process has air entering through the mouth and/or nose, and while most people take that process for granted – those with COPD and/or Asthma do not as even the simple process of inhaling includes three important functions before the air even reaches the lungs.

The air must be prepared by filtering, humidifying and warming it before it even reaches the lungs.  It these do not happen, then the air you will breath would arrive in your lungs too dirty, too dry and too cold – all of which could and would cause breathing irritations.

Filtering your air starts with the tiny hair-like structures called ‘cilia’.  These tiny hair-like structures do the heavy work of filtering out large particles of dirty and dust before they get to your lungs, and yes you will know the stuff as what you may find in a tissue after blowing your nose or sneezing.  When you sneeze or blow your nose and get some stuff in your tissue – consider it notice that those cilia are doing their job.

Gaining moisture or humidity in the air you breath is done by a thin coating of mucous found lined inside your upper airway.  This is also the same process which will  warm the air you breath in from your normal body temperature of around 98.6 degrees.

And that my friends is ‘Set 2’ of ‘Outside/Inside – Your Lungs’.  Next posting in the series will discuss the true workings inside of your lungs or the bronchial tubes, alveoli and of course oxygen exchange.

REFLECTION QUESTION:  When was the last time you stopped to think about the importance of sneezing or blowing the nose?

If you would like to reflect your response to others, please leave them under the comment section of wheezingaway.com.  Thanx.

As always, if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

ALWAYS REMEMBER > A person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

NOTE TO REMEMBER: We only give descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.

With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer – reprint or use by written permission only.)

To follow more postings written by Mr. William, check out either wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at COPD Travels.

(Information used is gathered from a various number of books, magazines and websites followed and read by Mr. William.)