Your digestive and respiratory systems, at first glance, seem very separate in their activities. In reality, however, the systems work together intimately in several ways. The results of respiratory activity allow the digestive tract to function, and vice versa.

An understanding of how the respiratory and cardiovascular systems interact requires knowledge of how each of the systems function independently. The cardiovascular system in the human body is made up of the heart and blood vessels, which are divided into arteries, veins and capillaries.

Reverse breathing -- also called Taoist breathing -- reverses the natural in-out movement of the stomach found in natural breathing. It occurs when the diaphragm is pulled into the chest during inhalation and drops down into the stomach on exhalation according to Yoga Journal.

Vitamins play a vital role in sustaining a healthy respiratory system and reducing your risk of diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia and asthma. Chronic lower respiratory diseases are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

Breathing can be a conscious or unconscious act. We can hold our breath or breathe deep even while the rest of our body is asleep. Without the respiratory system our body could not get the vital oxygen it needs to function. Lungs themselves are made of a soft, spongy material that contain no muscle at all.

Your respiratory system is responsible for supplying your blood with oxygen. Your lungs allow you to absorb oxygen and breathe carbon dioxide out. Your trachea filters air you breath, while your diaphragm -- a rounded muscle -- supports healthy breathing.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by increased mucus production and airway narrowing due to swelling and tightening of the airway muscles. Inhalers are frequently used to manage asthma and treat attacks. They deliver medication directly into the lungs rather than traveling through the bloodstream.

The lining of your respiratory system, extending from your nose through the airways of your lungs, is coated with mucus. This clear, sticky substance helps keep the airways clean by capturing particles and chemicals from the air you breathe.