Minimizing airflow turbulence in women lowers the work of breathing to levels similar to men

Abstract

When healthy young women breathe heliox gas during exercise, their work of breathing is not different from men breathing room air. Heliox inspiration reduces airway resistance and promotes laminar flow, which is a physiologically similar effect of increasing airway size. Our findings provide experimental evidence that smaller airways in women are responsible for the greater work of breathing during exercise.