3 Tips to Improve your Lung Health

The lungs play a vital role in taking in oxygen into the body and releasing carbon dioxide. While you can’t control your lung function, you can improve the overall health of your lungs by taking care of it.

For people who have chronic lung disease, looking after their lungs is not an option. Whether you have a condition, you should take care of your lungs if you want to live without disease for longer. Here are three tips to improve the health of your lungs.

Try Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises help with shortness of breath and in increasing lung capacity. Practicing breathing exercises also helps you center yourself and regain calm in stressful situations. Some exercises have been known to help when you’re feeling anxious.

There are different kinds of breathing exercises, including pursed-lip breathing, which is helpful when you’re climbing stairs, lifting, or bending. There’s also diaphragmatic breathing, or belly breathing, to help lessen tiredness.

Use this guide to learn how to do different breathing exercises. If you have a chronic lung condition, consult your doctor first before trying out any breathing exercises.

Stay Active

Regular exercise helps the lungs stay healthier and the body fitter. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week.

With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, many people may find it challenging to exercise regularly. You don’t need to go to the gym to exercise; integrating physical activities in your daily life is another way to stay active. Climbing the stairs to your apartment is exercise. Walking at a brisk pace the last few blocks to the office is also exercise. Taking the bike to brief trips is exercise as well.

If you hate exercise, playing a sport or starting a physical hobby, like cycling, dancing, or Frisbee, may make it easier to stay active. Doing sports has a lot of benefits other than working out your body. It relieves stress, builds confidence, and improves mental health.

Many sports, especially high-intensity activities, also carry safety risks. Always prioritize your health and safety. If you’re tired or injured, let your body rest and recover. Also, get a good massage, and if you have sore muscles, apply kinesiology tape on the site of pain for relief.

Practice Healthy Habits

Practicing healthy habits goes a long way in improving lung health and overall health. Keep the following habits if you want to live a longer life without disease or control a chronic lung condition:

• Eat a well-balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, lentils, legumes, lean meats, and fish.
• Get at least seven to nine hours of quality sleep at night.
• Stay hydrated. Never let yourself get thirsty before drinking water.
• Avoid smoking, alcohol, and drugs.
• Go on nature walks and hikes periodically.
• Protect yourself against illnesses and infections.
• Sanitize and disinfect equipment used for personal treatments daily.
• Visit your doctor at least once a year.

When you take care of your lungs, you can do the things you love and live a full life. And because everything in the body is connected, you’re also making the other parts, like your heart and your brain, healthier by looking after your lungs.