Aging and respiratory diseases

Abstract

Since the respiratory system is the only organ in human body directly exposed to the outside atmosphere, it is repeatedly influenced by stimuli from outside over many years. It is therefore difficult to identify aging as senescence in the diseases of the respiratory system, because these diseases develop as the overall result of various influences from outside due to exposure for many years as well as the disposition of the individual, in addition to the endogenous and universal effect of senescence. In the present report, the relationship between changes of the physiological function and morphological findings of the pulmonary and bronchial system in aging was described. As one of the representative diseases of the aged, chronic pulmonary emphysema is cited. Outline of chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma was then described, with emphasis on the relationship between prognosis of these chronic obstructive lung diseases and aging. Pulmonary tuberculosis, still remaining as one of the representative diseases of the elderly, was then pointed out as a problem in Japan. While it was not possible to discuss pneumonia and lung cancer, attention should be focussed on pneumonia occupying the position of the most frequent cause of death in the elderly.