What is Pneumonia?
August 6, 2024
Pneumonia is a condition in the lungs that prevents breathing. To fully understand pneumonia, we must understand how the lungs work. When we inhale, air travels down our windpipe (throat) and into our trachea which splits into two tubes called the left and right bronchus. These tubes lead to the lungs and branch into small air sacs called alveoli. These air sacs are vital for breathing, as this is where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide. Now that we have a basic understanding of how the lungs work, we can discuss pneumonia. Pneumonia causes inflation of the lungs (swelling), which leads to a build-up of fluids in the lungs. These fluids clog the air sacs, which makes breathing difficult or impossible. This can be extremely dangerous or even fatal if left untreated. If you are having trouble breathing and are experiencing signs of pneumonia, please contact 911 immediately.