Lung age represents a calendar age that corresponds to an individual's current lung function. Essentially, it's a way to understand how well your lungs are performing relative to what's expected for a person of a specific age. It's important to note that in healthy individuals, there can be a considerable variation in lung age.
This means:
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A higher lung age than your actual age suggests your lungs are performing worse than expected for your age. This can be due to factors like smoking, exposure to pollutants, or underlying lung conditions.
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A lower lung age than your actual age suggests your lungs are performing better than expected for your age.
Understanding Lung Function and Lung Age
Lung age is typically determined through a spirometry test, which measures how much air you can inhale and exhale, and how quickly you can exhale. These measurements are then compared to average values for people of the same age, sex, height, and ethnicity.
It's also important to consider that individual lung function tends to follow predictable patterns (centiles) over time. Some individuals may naturally start with a slightly higher "lung age" even before factors like smoking come into play.
Factors Affecting Lung Age
Several factors can influence lung age:
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Smoking: Smoking is a primary driver of accelerated lung aging.
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Exposure to pollutants: Air pollution, dust, and chemical fumes can damage the lungs.
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Underlying lung conditions: Conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis can affect lung function and increase lung age.
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Genetics: Genetics also plays a role in lung function and susceptibility to lung diseases.
Why is Lung Age Important?
Knowing your lung age can be a motivating factor for improving lung health. It provides a more understandable metric compared to raw spirometry results and can encourage individuals to adopt healthier habits, such as quitting smoking or avoiding exposure to pollutants. Early intervention is crucial to prevent further lung damage.
