12/09/2025
π¦ The Microbiome-Lung Connection: How Gut Health Impacts Respiratory
Function
Your gut and lungs communicate more than you might realize through the fascinating gut-lung axis. The trillions of bacteria living in your digestive system don't just affect digestion, they actively influence your respiratory health, immune responses, and susceptibility to lung infections.
When your gut microbiome is healthy and diverse, beneficial bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids that have powerful anti-inflammatory effects throughout your body, including your airways. However, when gut bacteria become imbalanced (dysbiosis), it can trigger systemic inflammation that manifests as increased airway reactivity, worsened asthma symptoms, and heightened vulnerability to respiratory infections.
This connection explains why early antibiotic use in children is associated with increased asthma risk, and why some patients notice respiratory improvements with probiotic supplementation.
At Nova Pulmonary, we're exploring how optimizing gut health through targeted dietary interventions and microbiome support can complement traditional respiratory treatments for better patient outcomes.