Why is pneumonia so dangerous? - Eve Gaus and Vanessa Ruiz
-
0:07 - 0:10Every time you breathe in,
air travels down the trachea, -
0:10 - 0:13through a series of channels
called bronchi, -
0:13 - 0:17and finally reaches little clusters
of air sacs called alveoli. -
0:17 - 0:20There are some 600 million alveoli
in the lungs, -
0:20 - 0:23adding up to a surface area
of roughly 75 square meters— -
0:23 - 0:25the size of a tennis court.
-
0:25 - 0:30These tiny sacs, only one cell thick,
facilitate a crucial exchange: -
0:30 - 0:33allowing oxygen from the air
we breathe into the bloodstream -
0:33 - 0:36and clearing out carbon dioxide.
-
0:36 - 0:39Pneumonia wreaks havoc
on this exchange. -
0:39 - 0:43Pneumonia is an infection of the alveoli
that causes them to fill with fluid. -
0:43 - 0:46There are many different kinds
of pathogens that can cause pneumonia. -
0:46 - 0:50The most common ones
are viruses or bacteria. -
0:50 - 0:54These microscopic invaders enter the body
via droplets either in the air we breathe, -
0:54 - 0:57or when we touch our eyes, noses,
-
0:57 - 1:00or mouths after touching
a contaminated surface. -
1:00 - 1:04Then, they face the respiratory tract’s
first line defense: -
1:04 - 1:06the mucociliary escalator.
-
1:06 - 1:11The mucociliary escalator consists of
mucus that traps invaders and tiny hairs -
1:11 - 1:15called cilia that carry the mucus toward
the mouth, where it can be coughed out. -
1:15 - 1:19But some of these invaders
may get past the mucociliary escalator -
1:19 - 1:22into the lungs,
where they meet the alveoli. -
1:22 - 1:24Because alveoli serve
as critical exchange points -
1:24 - 1:27between the blood and air
from the outside world, -
1:27 - 1:31they have their own specialized types
of white blood cells, or macrophages, -
1:31 - 1:36which defend against foreign organisms
by enveloping and eating them. -
1:36 - 1:40When pathogens enter the lungs,
the macrophages work to destroy them. -
1:40 - 1:45The immune system releases additional
white blood cells in the alveoli to help. -
1:45 - 1:49As these immune cells fight the pathogens,
they generate inflammation— -
1:49 - 1:52and fluid as a by-product
of the inflammation. -
1:52 - 1:53When this fluid builds up,
-
1:53 - 1:57it makes gas exchange inside
the alveoli much more difficult. -
1:57 - 2:01As the level of carbon dioxide
in the bloodstream begins to rise, -
2:01 - 2:05the body breathes more quickly to try
to clear it out and get more oxygen in. -
2:05 - 2:09This rapid breathing is one of the most
common symptoms of pneumonia. -
2:09 - 2:14The body also tries to force the fluid out
of the alveoli through coughing. -
2:14 - 2:17Determining the cause of pneumonia
can be difficult, -
2:17 - 2:21but once it is established,
doctors can prescribe antibiotics, -
2:21 - 2:25which may include either antibacterial
or antiviral treatments. -
2:25 - 2:29Treatment with antibiotics helps
the body get the infection under control. -
2:29 - 2:31As the pathogen is cleared out,
-
2:31 - 2:36the body gradually expels or absorbs
fluid and dead cells. -
2:36 - 2:39The worst symptoms typically fade out
in about a week, -
2:39 - 2:42though full recovery may take
as long as a month. -
2:42 - 2:46Otherwise healthy adults can often
manage pneumonia at home. -
2:46 - 2:49But for some groups, pneumonia
can be a lot more severe, -
2:49 - 2:52requiring hospitalization and oxygen,
artificial ventilation, -
2:52 - 2:56or other supportive measures
while the body fights the infection. -
2:56 - 2:58Smoking damages the cilia,
-
2:58 - 3:02making them less able to clear even
the normal amount of mucus and secretions, -
3:02 - 3:06let alone the increased volume
associated with pneumonia. -
3:06 - 3:08Genetic and autoimmune disorders
-
3:08 - 3:12can make someone more susceptible
to pathogens that can cause pneumonia. -
3:12 - 3:15Young children and the elderly
also have impaired clearance -
3:15 - 3:17and weaker immune systems.
-
3:17 - 3:19And if someone has viral pneumonia,
-
3:19 - 3:23their risk of bacterial respiratory
infection is higher. -
3:23 - 3:26Many of the deaths from pneumonia
are due to lack of access to healthcare. -
3:26 - 3:29But sometimes, even with appropriate care,
-
3:29 - 3:34the body enters a sustained fight against
the infection it can’t maintain, -
3:34 - 3:37activating inflammatory pathways
throughout the body, -
3:37 - 3:39not just in the lungs.
-
3:39 - 3:41This is actually a protective mechanism,
-
3:41 - 3:44but after too long in this state organs
start shutting down, -
3:44 - 3:47causing shock and sometimes death.
-
3:47 - 3:49So how can we prevent pneumonia?
-
3:49 - 3:52Eating well and getting enough sleep
and exercise -
3:52 - 3:54helps your body fight off infections.
-
3:54 - 3:58Vaccines can protect against common
pneumonia-causing pathogens, -
3:58 - 4:02while washing your hands regularly helps
prevent the spread of these pathogens— -
4:02 - 4:05and protect those most vulnerable
to severe pneumonia.
- Title:
- Why is pneumonia so dangerous? - Eve Gaus and Vanessa Ruiz
- Speaker:
- Eve Gaus and Vanessa Ruiz
- Description:
-
View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-is-pneumonia-so-dangerous-eve-gaus-and-vanessa-ruiz
Every time you breathe, air travels down the trachea, through a series of channels, and then reaches little clusters of air sacs in the lungs. These tiny sacs facilitate a crucial exchange: allowing oxygen from the air we breathe into the bloodstream and clearing out carbon dioxide. Pneumonia wreaks havoc on this exchange system. Eve Gaus and Vanessa Ruiz detail how pneumonia attacks the lungs.
Lesson by Eve Gaus and Vanessa Ruiz, directed by Artrake Studio.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TED-Ed
- Duration:
- 04:06
lauren mcalpine approved English subtitles for Why is pneumonia so dangerous? | ||
lauren mcalpine accepted English subtitles for Why is pneumonia so dangerous? | ||
lauren mcalpine edited English subtitles for Why is pneumonia so dangerous? | ||
Tara Ahmadinejad edited English subtitles for Why is pneumonia so dangerous? | ||
Tara Ahmadinejad edited English subtitles for Why is pneumonia so dangerous? |