Why and how can people live with one lung because surely if we can live with one lung why werent we born with only one?

Question: Why and how can people live with one lung because surely if we can live with one lung why werent we born with only one?
- Keywords:
  death,
  lung,
  organ,
  respiration
Asked by Melon to Angela on 19 Nov 2014.
- Angela Stokes answered on 19 Nov 2014:
  
  Hi Melon
  
  We can indeed live with only one lung, but respiration is not as efficient. The lungs have a huge surface area for gas exchange, eveolution gave us just the right amount….. reducing by 50% makes you more breatless so while you can survive you would be out of breath more quickly.

Melon commented on 19 Nov 2014:

thank you, people with one lung, do they have to take any medication or need anything to help them breath?

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Angela commented on 19 Nov 2014:

Hi Melon

Yes, sometimes they do, it really depends on how well their other lung works.

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Question: Why and how can people live with one lung because surely if we can live with one lung why werent we born with only one?