Understanding Lung Diseases

Today I am looking at the so-called common lung diseases are conditions that affect the airways, lung tissue or blood vessels in the lungs. They can make breathing difficult and reduce the body’s ability to take in oxygen. Some illnesses develop suddenly, while others last for years and require ongoing care.

Common Types

·       Asthma: Inflammation and narrowing of the airways can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and breathlessness.

·       Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A long-term condition involving airflow limitation, often associated with emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking is a major risk factor, although other exposures and genetic factors can also contribute.

·       Pneumonia: Inflammation of the lungs, often caused by a bacterial or viral infection. It can cause coughing, fever and difficulty breathing.

·       Pulmonary fibrosis: Scarring of lung tissue that makes the lungs less flexible and can cause increasing breathlessness.

·       Bronchiectasis: Damage and widening of the airways, often associated with an ongoing mucus-producing cough and repeated chest infections.

·       Lung cancer: Uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lungs. Smoking increases the risk, but people who have never smoked can also develop it.

Common symptoms include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, tiredness and repeated chest infections. These symptoms can have several causes, so they do not confirm a particular disease. A cough lasting more than three weeks, unexplained weight loss or increasing breathlessness should be assessed by a doctor. Coughing up blood also needs prompt medical attention. Severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, confusion or difficulty speaking because of breathlessness requires emergency help.

When you see a doctor the doctors assess symptoms, medical history and exposure to smoke, dust or chemicals. Depending on the suspected condition, tests may include breathing tests such as spirometry, chest imaging and blood tests. Treatment varies with the disease and its severity, and may include prescribed medicines, pulmonary rehabilitation or specialist care. Avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke, reducing exposure to harmful dust and fumes, and discussing recommended vaccinations with a healthcare professional can help protect lung health. Early assessment and appropriate treatment can improve symptoms and quality of life, even when a condition cannot be cured.

 

A Brief History of Television

Today I thought I would write a bit about the history of TV.

Television began with an extraordinary ambition: to transmit moving pictures over a distance. It was not the invention of one person, but the result of decades of experiments in light, electricity and communication. What started as a small, flickering image eventually became a familiar feature of everyday life, bringing entertainment, news and distant events into people’s homes.

Early television systems used rotating discs to scan images line by line. In 1926, John Logie Baird demonstrated a working mechanical television system in London. Its pictures were small and low in detail, but they showed that moving images could be transmitted and reconstructed. Meanwhile, inventors including Philo Farnsworth and Vladimir Zworykin developed electronic approaches. Electronic television offered better picture quality and became the foundation of broadcasting for much of the twentieth century.

In 1936, the BBC began a regular television service from Alexandra Palace in London. Television was initially an expensive novelty with a limited audience, and the Second World War interrupted its development. After the war, broadcasting expanded rapidly. During the 1950s and 1960s, television became a household fixture in many countries. Families gathered to watch news bulletins, comedy, drama, variety shows and sport, often arranging their evenings around broadcast schedules.

Regular television broadcasting began in Australia on 16 September 1956, when Sydney’s TCN-9 went on air. The Melbourne Olympic Games later that year helped introduce audiences to the possibilities of televised sport. As stations opened in more cities and regional areas, television became an important part of Australian life. Viewers initially watched in black and white; the official introduction of colour television on 1 March 1975 brought a striking change to the home viewing experience.

Later developments changed both television technology and viewing habits. Cable and satellite services increased the choice of channels, while video recorders allowed viewers to save programmes for later. Digital broadcasting improved transmission and enabled additional services, and flat-screen displays gradually replaced bulky picture-tube sets. Internet streaming took the change further, allowing audiences to choose what to watch and when, rather than relying entirely on a broadcaster’s timetable.

The history of television is therefore more than a story of better screens. It is also a story of changing routines and shared experiences. From early mechanical experiments to on-demand programmes, television has continually evolved while retaining its central appeal: bringing moving images and stories to an audience.

 

Week 42 of 2026

 

I got up at 4.50am again it is a nice morning not hot or cold just nice, it will warm up as the day progresses.

Tim slept in till around 9.30am he spent hours just scrolling through his phone as per usual.

I have had a shit all productive day just no motivation and feeling so tired. Had a 30-minute nap this morning should have had another one but didn’t.

Around 6pm when I went to change for bed, I wasn’t with it, I knew I needed help and said something about calling Tasha, Tim sent her a text she was asleep and didn’t get it. I managed somehow, Tim gave me a little bit of help, he took my socks off.

Steps: 6,110

Monday and Tim has gone to work I have had a shower and dressed in shorts for the day, now to get breakie.

It has heated up by 10am it was 29c and by midday it was 32c and I turned the air con on.

I managed a nap around 11am for about 20 minutes.

After lunch I ironed Tim’s work shirts, speaking of lunch Tim did a baked lunch which was nice

Steps: 7,119

Had a pretty good night woke at 4.30am, washed dressed and then cleaned the kitchen, swept and vacuumed. While I was sweeping out the front Jess rang and asked me to ring Sam from 10am till she answers.

I rang Sam and she answered straight away.

It started to rain around 2pm have felt not with it all day I have had 3 naps due to how tired I am.

Steps: 7,323

SANDY’S 49^TH BIRTHDAY

Had a pretty good night woke at 4.30am, to the sound of rain I washed dressed and out to the kitchen to another right mess for me to clean up.

A coldish day and a wettish day as well, I have had a good and busy morning but after lunch I will need a nap.

Yes, I had a nap, and it helped I walked up to check the letterbox and had 5 letters there 3 for me and 1 for Tim his new appointment at the JHH and the last one was for our neighbour which Tim will take over when he gets home.

Steps: 6, 595

Another good night slept through till the alarm went off, I am however, all over the place was going to do a load of washing but decided to do it when I get home. It’s shopping day so I don’t want to feel rushed.

It is only 10c this morning that is 50f and the time 6am.

Sue rang me at 8.40am to let me know her car wouldn’t start; she rang Sandy as she thinks it’s the battery.

Sue arrived around 9.30am Sandy went a jumped started the car and said she didn’t think it was the battery. After we did the shopping, the car started without a problem.

It was 11.45am when I got home have to say it has felt like a short day.

Steps:7,239

DADS HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY ALSO ISSY BIRTHDAY (SUE’S GRANDDAUGHTER)

I slept well woke at 4.30am to pee and felt wide awake so up I got, I decided I would have my shower after Tim leaves for work. So, the first things I did was open the front door, tidy the kitchen and toss the washing into the machine and start the washing.

I looked online to see what my parents old house is now worth between 750,000 and 950,000……….Damn

Sandy picked me up and took me to the cemetery and left dad’s card on his headstone. I didn’t get out of the car as I have had a fair bit of trouble walking this today. Sue drove me home and before we did, we went by the old house and just sat and talked about old times.

Steps:7,9170

Had a good night woke with the alarm this morning. It is supposed to be a cool dry day with a top of 20c or 68f. At 6am it is 12c or 53.6f.

I have had a good morning walked down and posted some letters and managed to iron Tim’s work shirts but had to stop and lay down and rest for 20-minutes before finishing the ironing.

I have had trouble walking again today.

Tim was home by 3.30pm and after half an hour he went outside to work on the new trailer.

I made a start on next year’s calendars. Will do something each day till it’s done.

Steps: 7,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This weeks links

 

Here are this week’s links

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/10/sharing-my-world.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/10/hodgepodge-here-and-there.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/10/sunday-stealing-on-monday.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Plant-Eating Dinosaurs

This week we will look at plant-eating dinosaurs, also called herbivores, they were among the most varied animals of the prehistoric world. They ranged from small, quick dinosaurs that browsed close to the ground to enormous, long-necked giants that could reach leaves high in the trees. Instead of hunting other animals, they relied mainly on plants for food.

Some of the best-known plant eaters included Triceratops, with its three horns and broad neck frill; Stegosaurus, recognised by the plates along its back and spikes on its tail; and Brachiosaurus, whose long neck helped it feed from tall vegetation. Duck-billed dinosaurs, known as hadrosaurs, had batteries of tightly packed teeth that were well suited to grinding tough plant material.

Different herbivores had different feeding tools. Some used beaks to snip leaves, while others had specialised teeth for slicing or crushing vegetation. Others would swallow their food straight down, along with small stones to help with digestion. Large bodies and long digestive systems may have helped many species break down fibrous plants. Because plants provide less concentrated energy than meat, some herbivores probably spent much of their day feeding.

Plant eaters were not helpless, they had horns, armour, tail clubs, spikes, size, speed and group living could all provide protection from predators. Together, their feeding habits and defensive features show how successfully dinosaurs adapted to many environments over millions of years.

Because they were heavy, they couldn’t outrun some meat eaters, however, what they lacked in speed was made up with strength they had enormous strength, they used their tails as a whip and feet as giant crushes inflicting serious injuries. Meat eaters generally stayed clear of them.

 

Blood Supply to the Lungs: Two Circulations, One Vital Organ

 Today I am looking at the bloody supply to our lungs

The lungs have a unique dual blood supply. One circulation makes gas exchange possible, while the other nourishes the lung tissue itself. Together, they keep oxygen moving into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide moving out.

Deoxygenated blood leaves the right ventricle through the pulmonary trunk, which divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries. These arteries follow the branching airways and form capillary networks around the alveoli. Across the thin alveolar–capillary membrane, carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood into the air spaces, while oxygen diffuses into the blood. Oxygenated blood then returns to the left atrium through the pulmonary veins.

The bronchial arteries arise from the systemic circulation, usually from the thoracic aorta or nearby branches. They deliver oxygenated blood to the bronchi, connective tissue, visceral pleura and supporting structures of the lungs. Some bronchial venous blood drains through the bronchial veins, while some enters the pulmonary veins, creating a small normal contribution to the physiological shunt.

The pulmonary circulation is a low-pressure, high-flow system designed for efficient gas exchange. The bronchial circulation operates at systemic pressure and supports the metabolic needs of the lung tissue. Connections between the two systems can provide some backup blood flow, but they can also become clinically important in conditions involving inflammation, obstruction or bleeding.

Let’s look at what happens if there is a blockage a blockage in a pulmonary artery, most often caused by a blood clot that has travelled from a deep vein in the leg or pelvis, is called a pulmonary embolism. It reduces or stops blood flow to part of the lung, so that area may still receive air but cannot exchange gases effectively with the blood. This can lower oxygen levels, increase pressure on the right side of the heart and, if the blockage is large or there are multiple clots, cause haemodynamic collapse or death. Possible symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that may worsen with breathing, a rapid heart rate, coughing up blood, dizziness or fainting. A suspected pulmonary embolism requires urgent medical assessment.

 

Week 41 of 2026

 

Daylight savings has started today, Tim is working doing rail again. It has been a warm day, I didn’t feel great this morning but improved after a 20-minute nap.

The improved state didn’t last long, and I had to have another nap 2hrs later. After that I felt much better, well till around 5pm when the restless tremor started again.

For some reason I keep thinking it is Sunday.

Steps: 7, 388

I slept well but I was up at 4.30am, I woke and felt restless, so I go up. Tim is working this afternoon he will leave around 12.30pm and should be home around 9pm.

It’s been a good day I managed to do a few things around the house and sort through a locked box of stuff, it contained the girl’s baptism certificates and a copy of my Tax File Number which I looked everywhere for last year.

Tim rang to let me know he will be home later then expected as he was asked to do an extra run.

Steps: 8,352

I slept well but when I woke up at 2.30am and discovered that Tim wasn’t home yet but when I looked outside, I could see the car and the boot opened so I knew he had just arrived home. I went back to bed and sleep till 4am when I woke again and decided to just get up.

Tim left for work around 9.30am and rang at 11am to tell me he was heading home he was over his hours.

I was able to walk down and post some letters that felt good.

It has been a nice day warm not to hot nor is it cold.

Steps:10,508

I slept well but was up and down to the toilet and by 4.15am I had enough and decided to get up.

Tim was up at 4.30am he has an early start well he said he signs on at 6am but he doesn’t like to be late. This I understand.

It is much cooler today I am long pants again, after a few warm days.

After telling myself that I needed to mop the kitchen floor for the two weeks I finally did it.

Tim has an outpatient appointment at the JHH tomorrow, but when he asked about time off for it, he was told no can do. So, he has had me ring and tell the hospital. Instead of waiting on hold I selected the call back option, it took 2.5hrs for them to ring. When I spoke to them the woman was understanding and said he will get a letter with the new appointment. I made sure they changed the address from the P O Box to the house addressed.          

Steps: 8,063

I had another good night woke at 4am, peed and went back to bed and till the alarm went off at 5am.

Tim was up and long gone he signed on at 4.30ish, he will be home around 3.30ish.

I was sweeping when the broom head came off, I knew it would at some point, but I have another one in the linen press I just have to put it together.

I am having a so so day, the weather is cool but dry.       

Steps:7,963

Dental App Monday 19^th 10am

It was another good night woke at 4.50am. I walked down and posted some letters.

Tim and I are going to Gosford to meet his sister Jenny and her husband Christ for lunch it is an hour’s drive

Lunch was good we spend an hour & a half there we went to Gosford Sailing Club, and the meal was good.

It has been a warm day, I closed my eyes on the trip there and after we had finished eating while Tim & Jenny chatted, I found myself closing my eye having an effort to keep them open, so naturally I closed them on the way home.

 

Steps: 6,689

I got up at 4.50am and after two hours I have had a wash, got dressed, swept and vacuumed, I then swept outside, finished writing yesterday’s diary entry and checked emails and I am now reading blog posts.

It was a cool start to the day but by 11am it was 30c.

Tim left for work at 10.20am I’m not sure what time he will be home just some time tonight.

Steps: 7,520