What Affects Lung Capacity?
A number of factors can affect the capacity of the lungs. The most common factors are the age of a person, their gender, and their fitness levels. The weight and height of a person will also affect lung capacity. Lung capacity is the volume of air that the lungs can hold at any one time. The average lung capacity in males is 6 litters. Women have a smaller lung capacity than men. The breathing the average human needs to survive only uses a small amount of this air and the average human breathes up to 20 times per minute. People who are resident at sea level will have a smaller lung capacity than someone who lives above sea level, because of the available oxygen levels in the air. People who live at high altitude can often suffer from altitude sickness. Pregnancy can also affect the capacity of the lungs in women; this is because of pressure on the diaphragm during pregnancy. People who have a larger lung capacity are generally taller and don’t, or have never, smoked. Professional athle
