Facts & Functions

The body needs oxygen to sustain itself. The human respiratory system is a series of organs responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. The lungs carry out this exchange of gases as we breathe.

Blood cells collect oxygen from the lungs and carry it to various parts of the body. The red blood cells collect the carbon dioxide and transport it back to the lungs, where it leaves the body when we exhale.

The average rate of breathing depends on age. A new-born’s normal breathing rate is about 40 x per minute, but it may slow down to 20 x per minute when sleeping,

The average adult resting respiratory rate is 12 to 16 breaths per minute. Physical action influences this, so strenuous exercise can push this rate up to an average of 45 breaths per minute.

A decrease in oxygen (hypoxia) and a complete lack of oxygen (anoxia) can be fatal. After about 4 minutes without oxygen brain cells start dying, resulting in brain damage and ultimately, death.

Parts of the respiratory system

Nose, Mouth, Sinuses: Oxygen enters through the nose or mouth, then passes along the sinuses. These are hollow spaces in the skull that regulate the temperature and humidity of the air we breathe.

Trachea (windpipe) – filters the air that is inhaled and forks into:

Bronchi – which in turn branch into 2 tubes, each transporting air into every lung. The bronchial tubes are lined with tiny hairs called cilia, which move back and forth as they expel mucus.

Mucus – collects dust, germs and other foreign matter entering the lungs. We expel this by sneezing, coughing, spitting or swallowing.

Bronchial Tubes lead to:

Lobes – the right lung has 3 lobes; the left lung is smaller, with 2 lobes to make room for the heart. They are filled with small, spongy sacs called alveoli, and this is where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.

Diaphragm – a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the lungs that controls breathing and separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. During inhalation it flattens out and pulls forward, making more space for the lungs. During exhalation it expands and expels carbon dioxide.


There are 2 main categories:

Viral Infections – Influenza, Bacterial Pneumonia, and the enterovirus respiratory virus found in children

Chronic Diseases:

Asthma – a chronic inflammation of the lung airways causing coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breathThese symptoms may worsen when someone is exposed to triggers, i.e. air pollution, tobacco smoke, factory fumes, cleaning solvents, infections, pollens, foods, cold air, exercise, chemicals and medications.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – is a combination of 3 related conditions: chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma and emphysema. It is a progressive disease that makes it increasingly difficult for sufferers to breathe.

Lung Cancer – often associated with smoking, but the disease can affect nonsmokers as well. Like all cancers, lung cancer is caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.

 Quoting Dr. Neal Chaisson who practices pulmonary medicine at the Cleveland Clinic USA, “Antibiotics are not effective in treating viruses and the best thing to do is just rest.”

BUT at SoundWaves Health Clinic we CAN identify and kill viruses with our safe, non-invasive Frequency Therapy! No medication, no inadequate antibiotics, no running up expensive medical and pharmaceutical bills!


The following material is assembled from various sources freely available. It is not intended as a comprehensive study of Anatomy, Biology, Endocrinology or any other medical field.