Lungs are extremely essential organs in our bodies. It's important to keep the lungs in good shape at all times. There are many ways to keep your lungs safe, but you must decide which method is most beneficial to you. Lungs aid in the performance of vital physiological functions. These are the only organs of the body that have a self-cleaning function. The lungs begin their self-healing process to recover when a person stops inhaling and intakes pollutants. When people stop smoking, their lungs go through a self-healing process. When the lungs are exposed to pollution, the chest becomes congested and mucus-filled. This mucus builds up in the lungs, making the lungs more vulnerable to bacteria and microbes. Inflammation and heaviness in the chest result as a result of this. The reality is that, like your heart, joints, and other body parts, your lungs age over time. They can become less flexible and strong, making breathing more difficult. You will improve the health of your lungs and keep them working optimally even as you get older by following such healthy behaviours.
How to Keep Lungs Healthy: Diet and Lifestyle
Avoid Smoking
Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which involves chronic bronchitis and emphysema, are also caused by cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoke can constrict the airways, making breathing difficult. It causes chronic lung inflammation, or swelling, which can result in chronic bronchitis.
You inhale thousands of chemicals into your lungs every time you smoke a cigarette, including nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar. These toxins wreak havoc on your lungs. They cause mucus to build up, make it harder for your lungs to clean themselves, and irritate and inflame tissues. Your airways gradually close, making breathing more difficult.
Exercise to Breathe Harder
Aside from not smoking, having daily exercise is probably the most important thing you can do for your lungs' health. Exercise not only keeps your body in shape, but it also keeps your lungs in shape. Your heart beats faster and your lungs function harder while you exercise. To power your muscles, your body needs more oxygen. Your lungs work harder to provide the oxygen while still expelling more carbon dioxide. This form of exercise gives your lungs the best workout. The muscles between your ribs contract and expand, and the air sacs in your lungs exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide easily. Your lungs become more effective the more you exercise. Exercise helps you develop solid, healthy lungs, which helps you resist ageing and disease. And if you develop lung disease later in life, exercise will help delay its development and keep you alive for longer.
Avoid Exposure to Pollutants
Pollutants in the air will damage your lungs and hasten the ageing process. Your lungs can easily resist these toxins when they're young and healthy. They lose some of the tolerance when you grow older, making you more susceptible to infections and disease.
Yoga Helps To Keep Your Lungs Healthy
When we practise yoga (or any other type of exercise), our lungs take in more oxygen and are able to function more efficiently. It replenishes the blood supply to our brain cells. It's one of the most effective ways to keep your lungs safe. Pranayama is a relaxing and lung-strengthening technique that can be used at the end of a yoga or workout session.
Maintain Good Posture To Maintain Healthy Lungs
You may be wondering how this can be a lung-healthy tip. We appear to compress our rib cage, which houses our lungs, when we slouch or sit in poor posture. A rib cage that is compressed causes shallow breathing and weakened lungs. Stretch at regular intervals and take deep breaths.
Eat Food Beneficial For Lungs
Sulforaphane is a compound found in vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli that destroys bacteria in the lungs and reduces the risk of lung cancer. Vitamin C-rich foods, such as bananas, kiwi, papaya, and strawberries, strengthen our lungs and keep our respiratory systems running smoothly. Watermelon, red and yellow bell peppers, and tomatoes are high in carotenoids, which are beneficial to lung health.
Laugh For Good Lung Health
Our stomach muscles function harder and our lung capacity increases as we laugh. Stale air is expelled from our lungs, and new air is inhaled. As a result, this can be a beneficial lung cleanse. So, laugh as much as you possibly can.
Use a Lung Detox Syrup
Since the lungs are self-cleaning organs that can clean themselves if exposed to air pollution and cigarette smoke on a daily basis, you can use a lung detox syrup to take extra precautions and reduce the harmful effects. These syrups improve lung capacity by flushing out accumulated toxins and clearing the airway. They can aid in the removal of harmful toxins from the lungs, as well as reduce congestion, increase endurance, and enable you to perform strenuous tasks without feeling out of breath.
Stay Hydrated
Water is just as essential for the lungs as it is for every other part of the body. According to experts, the mucosal line in the lungs stays thin because we drink a lot of water during the day. The lungs will work better and you will be able to do more strenuous things if you remain hydrated.
Work Up a Sweat
Exercising is beneficial to the lungs. It helps you maintain a healthy weight and body, as well as good lung health. When you breathe properly during workouts, the mucus in your lower lungs clears. This improves the efficiency of the lungs in delivering oxygen to the bloodstream and removing carbon dioxide from the body.
Conclusion
Both indoor and outdoor air are now contaminated with toxic chemicals and toxins. You could just inhale the toxic air. As a result, you must exercise extreme caution in order to maintain the integrity of your lungs. You should have routine checkups to determine your lung condition and take appropriate precautions. Simple lifestyle improvements and the development of a few good eating habits can keep your breathing in good shape. We've only covered the broad strokes of how to keep your lungs healthy; if you have a more specific issue, meet with a chest physical therapist for a customised exercise programme.
