Comments on: Premature infants have trouble breathing. Why? http://esnpc2009.com/premature-infant/premature-infants-have-trouble-breathing-why-2 Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: DrJ http://esnpc2009.com/premature-infant/premature-infants-have-trouble-breathing-why-2/comment-page-1#comment-4018 DrJ Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:35:59 +0000 http://esnpc2009.com/premature-infant/premature-infants-have-trouble-breathing-why-2#comment-4018 Most of the problems lie with the lack of a surface chemical in the lungs. The alveoli of the lungs, those little balloon-like endings, should have tremendous surface tension. Imagine what it would be like to try to inflate thousands, if not millions of little balloons at once. So why don't normal babies have that problem? The answer is they have a chemical that reduces surface tension and makes it easier to inflate the alveoli. That chemical is akin to soap which lowers surface tension. Premature babies often lack that chemical. The disease is called Respiratory Distress Syndrome http://www.faqs.org/abstracts/Health/Surfactant-treatment-for-premature-babies-a-review-of-clinical-trials.html<br><b>References : </b><br>Emeritus Biology Professor Most of the problems lie with the lack of a surface chemical in the lungs. The alveoli of the lungs, those little balloon-like endings, should have tremendous surface tension. Imagine what it would be like to try to inflate thousands, if not millions of little balloons at once.

So why don’t normal babies have that problem? The answer is they have a chemical that reduces surface tension and makes it easier to inflate the alveoli. That chemical is akin to soap which lowers surface tension. Premature babies often lack that chemical.

The disease is called Respiratory Distress Syndrome

http://www.faqs.org/abstracts/Health/Surfactant-treatment-for-premature-babies-a-review-of-clinical-trials.html
References :
Emeritus Biology Professor

]]> By: Karen T http://esnpc2009.com/premature-infant/premature-infants-have-trouble-breathing-why-2/comment-page-1#comment-4017 Karen T Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:49:59 +0000 http://esnpc2009.com/premature-infant/premature-infants-have-trouble-breathing-why-2#comment-4017 Their lungs haven't had the chance to fully develop, they carry on developing right up until birth<br><b>References : </b><br>I'm a mum Their lungs haven’t had the chance to fully develop, they carry on developing right up until birth
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I’m a mum

]]> By: oskeewow13 http://esnpc2009.com/premature-infant/premature-infants-have-trouble-breathing-why-2/comment-page-1#comment-4016 oskeewow13 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:40:59 +0000 http://esnpc2009.com/premature-infant/premature-infants-have-trouble-breathing-why-2#comment-4016 Their lungs are not fully developed.<br><b>References : </b><br> Their lungs are not fully developed.
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