can one's body produce new air sacs if they die (due to inhalation of concentrated hydrochloric acid)?

Question

if not, what should one do?

Answer 1

No. The human body produces new alveoli (air sacs) until age 2 or so. Then they just get bigger until age 8, at which time the lungs are pretty much done growing.

In the case that someone has a lung injury such as the one you've described, there is nothing available to reverse the damage. If the affected area is large, a doctor may suggest having the injured area removed to make it easier for the body to "feed" the healthy lung tissue.

The patient should see a good pulmonologist regularly to have their current lung function assessed and monitored. The airways themselves may also be damaged, and the patient may need to take daily medications to prevent or reduce inflammation in the lungs. Damage in the airways is also not really fixable, and may cause continued problems.

There are breathing exercises that can help improve the strength of the respiratory muscles and make sure that the lungs stay open and in good help.

Most important will be to prevent further damage. That of course, means no smoking, as well as avoiding other harsh chemical smells or wearing a HEPA mask (available at your local drug store) in places where there are chemical smells or heavy dust (nearby construction, attics and basements, downtown traffic, a freshly painted room). Getting a flu and pneumonia vaccine annually will be very important.

Now for the good news: Most of the time, we only use about 1/6th of our lung capacity - even when we're doing some walking. Unless the person's damage is really extensive, they should still be able to pursue gentle activity.

Answer 2

No, your body won't produce new air sacs. Take care of your lungs...treat them like gold. If you are the one who inhaled that awful substance then I'm so sorry. Better get it checked out by a doctor. Good luck.

Answer 3

no..that is so sad..once the air sacs are dead..you can't do anything to bring them back..like with emphysema too..the only solution would be a lung transplant

Answer 4

Unfortunately, no. That's the same reason why it's unhealthy to smoke. If I were you and this was a work related accident, I would definitely look into medical compensation.