How to Keep Your Lungs Healthy
Healthy lungs are one of the quintessential aspects of being fit. When the lungs are not properly functioning, the release of oxygen into the blood becomes difficult, which could result in death. It implies that, just as the heart is vital to keeping a human alive, the lungs also play a crucial role in ensuring humans stay alive.
Generally speaking, the older we get, the weaker our lungs become but we humans also tend to put ourselves in positions where the lungs are exposed to damages. No doubt, the body has its defense system, which naturally protects the lungs but constant exposure to pollution, unhealthy habits, and poor lifestyle create havoc for the lungs. We are suggesting here some of the essentials that will help to keep your lungs healthy.
Exercise
Exercising is known to benefit the body muscles, but something one might not know is that exercising keeps the lungs healthy. When individual exercises, the lungs tend to work harder. How? The heart beats faster, and the body requires more oxygen to fuel the muscles, causing the lungs to work harder in delivering oxygen and removing excess carbon (IV) oxide. The more an individual exercises, the more efficient the body gets at pumping oxygen into the bloodstream and sending it to the muscles. Activities such as walking, running, or jogging is functional exercises for the lungs.
Quit Smoking or Don’t Start
It’s no news today that cigarette is the leading cause of cancer of the lungs. Asides from cancer, the well-known chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (abbreviated as COPD) is a lung disease caused by smoking. Smoking a stick of cigarette results in the individual inhaling hundreds to thousands of toxins (tar, nicotine, etc.) into the lungs. What cigarettes do? It narrows the air passages, resulting in difficulty in breathing. It also causes the lungs to swell, which causes chronic bronchitis. As earlier said in the first sentence, “the older we get, the weaker our lungs get,” this can become void when smoking is introduced into the lungs. The lungs begin to age faster than the standard time frame, leading to an aftermath of a young body with older lungs.
Flee from Pollutants
Exposure of the lungs to air pollution could result in lung damage and speed up the aging of the lungs. It is advisable to avoid secondhand smoke, staying too long in heavy traffic with your nose unprotected, going out, or exercising unprotected during climate change and natural disasters that can cause pollution of the air. These pollutants are not limited to outdoor air but also indoor. Ensure to install the adequate number of fans, air conditioners, and other methods of ventilation in the home or workplace. A clean environment is another vital step to keeping the lungs healthy. Ensure chimney, fans, exhausts, etc. are adequately taken care of regularly.
Prevent Infection
Catching a cold or having other respiratory infections such as pneumonia can cause harm to the lungs, especially as the individual ages. Avoiding congested areas and ensure to keep the hands regularly clean (i.e., washing the hands with soap). Most importantly, individuals should undergo vaccination for influenza.
Deep Breathing
Deep breathing helps the lungs work harder. When you breathe deeply, a full exchange cycle of oxygen takes place, thus clearing the lungs. Deep breath comes from within (i.e., the core) while shallow breathing comes from the chest area to the nose.
Regular Check-up
Always see a specialist or the doctor regularly to check the body for diseases or infection to detect any early symptoms. It will help the individual keep his body in check if found positive to any virus.
These steps should be practiced by both the infected and the fully healthy to avoid further or rapid aging of the lungs.
It’s never too late to protect your lungs from damage. Chronic smokers are advised to quit smoking now to save their lungs and keep it at the right age. Exercising is an all-round bodybuilding aid which helps keep the lungs working right. Avoid smokes from trucks, cars, factories, etc. If exposed to any of these, ensure to cover your nose to prevent inhaling these toxins. To stay alive, the human needs the lungs. The lungs are just as vital as the heart. Keep it clean!
