How to Keep Your Lungs Healthy
Many people are concerned about their health however only a few of them focus on the health of the lungs. Lungs are an important organ in our body without which we can’t breathe. Lungs are important for inhaling the oxygen that keeps us alive. According to the statistics by National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute, lung diseases affect millions of people every year and there are 26 million people in the United States who are suffering from lung diseases.
Although the diseases related to the lungs are increasing but still the health of the lungs can be improved by adopting healthy habits. To get the tips from the certified person and authentic source I contacted my friend who is a pulmonologist in Lahore. After a detailed discussion on lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), he provides me some tips that can also help you to prevent any lung diseases.
Tips for Keeping Your Lungs Healthy
Practices that can help you to maintain the health of your lungs include breathing exercises, maintaining good posture, and avoiding smoke and pollution. Let’s read about all of these in detail below.
1. Say No to Smoking
Smoking makes you feel good however it increases the risk of lung cancer. Your lungs contain small air sacs (alveoli) through which blood and lungs exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen. When you smoke these air sacs get damaged that result in shortness of breath.
Therefore if you want healthy lungs then consider quitting smoking. At first, it would be difficult for you, as to avoid the smoking habit you have to break your habit patterns. Therefore you can take the help of nicotine pouches or a therapist.
2. Breathing Exercise
Preventing smoke is the first step toward healthy lungs. The next thing that you should try is lungs exercises. The best way to enjoy breathing exercise is through yoga. Join the yoga classes if you can afford it or simply try a diaphragmatic breathing exercise. This exercise is also used by many singers as it helps in increasing the lung’s capacity. This exercise is also known as belly breathing.
3. Watch Your Posture
Do you know your wrong posture can affect your lungs’ health? Lungs are made up of soft tissues and they expand and contract as per space you provide them. Therefore it is important to sit properly. To provide better space to your lungs, sit on the stable chair and lean back slightly. In this way, you will breathe deeply.
Proper posture is also important for doing breathing exercises properly. Otherwise, you will not train your diaphragm which is important for increasing the air capacity in the lungs.
4. Avoid Exposure to Pollution
Air pollution can cause asthma, lung cancer, and COPD. If you are standing with your friend who smokes then it can cause passive smoking that can also lead to lung-related diseases. Therefore it is important to avoid such gatherings.
Pollution from traffic, mining, dust, and factory waste is also injurious to health. To avoid these pollutants it is better to make your home smoke free. Not only that but also wearing a mask whenever you go out or cleaning your house.
5. Stay Hydrated
Water is essential for your health. Without water, there will be no life. Water keeps your body hydrated and prevents any skin, kidney, and other body diseases. Drinking enough water is also helpful for your lungs but how? Water helps in keeping the mucosal lining thin in the lungs which is essential for the proper functioning of the lungs.
Therefore drink enough water every day for keeping your lungs healthy.
Summing Up
Lungs are made up of soft tissues and therefore it is a sensitive and important part of our body. To improve the health of your lungs you have to adopt certain practices that promote healthy lungs. You can use the above-mentioned practices for improving your lung’s health. Besides these tips, you should also prevent the bacteria and viruses that can cause lung infection.
Read more: An Insight into the Causes and Treatment of Heartburn with Dr. Mark Swaim
To protect yourself from such viruses you have to wear masks whenever you visit any polluted place. Moreover, hand washing will also prevent such infection. So take a deep breath and start using tips.