Glenn McConell chats with Professor Jerry Dempsey from the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health on "Is the lung built for exercise". Jerry is a legend and the most recognizable name in the area, having examined the respiratory system and exercise for 60 years. He is 84 and although he says he retired at 82 he is still heavily involved.

We discussed responses of the respiratory system to acute exercise and the regulation of respiration. He outlined how in most people there is reserve in the respiratory system such that it is not limiting to VO2 max or endurance performance. However, there can be substantial reductions in arterial oxygen levels during heavy exercise in some very well trained athletes indicating that the respiratory system can become the main limiting factor to VO2 max in these individuals.

The lung does not appear to adapt to exercise training in young people but perhaps does in older individuals. However, more research is needed on this. Lungs lose elasticity with aging and may become even more limiting. With removal of a portion of the lungs in humans, the remaining lung tissue can expand, and chronic hypoxia causes adaptation, but does exercise? Some recent evidence of cross talk from muscles to the lungs with exercise and also evidence of the benefits of exercise on the lungs of smokers.

Exercise-induced asthma in athletes: some it is actually laryngeal dysfunction, some asthma and some have both. In elite athletes chronic very high of ventilation in cold air can damage the airway. But still important to exercise. Need better studies on exercise and asthma. Respiratory muscles are trainable and fatigable. Need better studies on exercise and asthma. Respiratory muscles are trainable and fatigable. Respiratory muscle training improves exercise performance in heart failure patients.

Thoroughbred horses have lungs that are really limiting, also nasal breathers which is not good for getting large volumes in and out. Unlike exercising humans, they might benefit wearing nasal strips!!

There are gender differences such as women have smaller airways at a given lung volume and higher upper respiratory tract infections. Twitter: @Inside_exercise @GlennMcConell1