Breathing Lessons

Our lungs move roughly 11,000 liters of air every day. They supply the oxygen that keeps us alive and make speech, singing, and smell possible. Even so, most people rarely think about them, though the COVID-19 pandemic drew new attention to how they work and what endangers them.

Dr. MeiLan K. Han, a pulmonologist who is also a national spokesperson for the American Lung Association and a medical researcher, explains how breathing works and why the lungs serve as the body's first barrier against harm. She reviews current science on the main threats to respiratory health: indoor and outdoor pollution, smoking and vaping, wildfire smoke, and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. She also offers guidance on protecting the lungs at every stage of life, beginning before birth.

The book sorts the major forms of chronic lung disease into categories and walks readers through how lung doctors reach a diagnosis and choose a treatment. It includes five illustrations. Throughout, Han argues that social policies should make lung health a national priority.