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Our lung capacity has gotten a lot better - C C - Jan 3, 2022

https://sciencenorway.no/lungs-the-human-body/our-lung-capacity-has-gotten-a-lot-better/1956236

EXCERPT: . . . There are several possible explanations for why our lung capacity has increased so much. “We first assumed that the explanation could be that people have become taller, so that their lungs have grown larger and have greater capacity,” Vikjord said. “But we see that it takes more than just the increase in people's height to explain the increase in lung capacity that we found,” she said.

“One additional explanation may be that there are better treatments for most of the diseases that affect lung function,” she said. “At the same time, fewer and fewer people are exposed to passive smoking. We as a society have also become more aware of the negative effects of other kinds of air pollution.”

The fact that people on average have improved lung capacity means that the health service should now change its diagnostic criteria for lung diseases, the researchers suggest in The Lancet article.

Essentially, the criterion for what is normal lung capacity should be changed. “The data we use to diagnose today's patients are outdated,” Vikjord said... (MORE - missing details)


RE: Our lung capacity has gotten a lot better - Magical Realist - Jan 3, 2022

That's certainly good news. I like to think I expand my lung capacity when I do deep breathing. It stretches that tissue and promotes better oxygen absorption.