5 Things You Can Do to Improve and Protect Your Lungs

With all this attention being paid to the Corona Virus outbreak, I wondered what a person could do to improve and protect the health of their lungs – especially if one is a smoker.  So, I did a little research and came up with a 5 relatively easy things.

1. Avoid exposure to pollutants

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that indoor pollution is typically worse than outdoor. That, plus the fact that many spend most of their time indoors these days, increases exposure to indoor pollutants.

Give your lungs a break. Reduce your exposure as much as you can:

Here are some tips for decreasing indoor pollutants:

• Dust the furniture and vacuum at least once a week.
• Open a window frequently to increase indoor air ventilation.
• Avoid synthetic air fresheners and candles that can expose you to additional chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene. Instead, use an aromatherapy diffuser and essential oils to more naturally scent the air.
• Keep your home as clean as you can. Mold, dust, and pet dander can all get into your lungs and cause irritation.
• Use natural cleaning products when possible, and open a window when using products that create fumes.
• Make sure you have adequate fans, exhaust hoods, and other ventilation methods throughout your home.

2. Exercise to breathe harder

Getting regular exercise is probably the most important thing you can do for the health of your lungs. Just as exercise keeps your body in shape, it keeps your lungs in shape too.

When you exercise your body needs more oxygen to fuel your muscles. Therefore your heart beats faster and your lungs work harder. Your lungs must step up their activity to deliver that oxygen and get rid of additional carbon dioxide.

Exercise increases your breathing from about 15 times a minute to about 40 to 60 times a minute. That’s why it’s important to regularly do aerobic exercise that gets you breathing hard.

This type of exercise provides the best workout for your lungs. The muscles between your ribs expand and contract, and the air sacs inside your lungs work quickly to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. The more you exercise, the more efficient your lungs become.

If you’re not doing any aerobic exercise now, don’t go out an immediately sign up for the next marathon. Start on a gradient. Walking is a good start and also our next tip.

3. Breathe deeply

Most people take shallow breaths from their chest area, using only a small portion of your lungs. Deep breathing helps clear the lungs and creates a full oxygen exchange.

To try it yourself, sit somewhere quietly, and slowly breathe in through your nose alone. Then breathe out at least twice as long through your mouth. It may help to count your breaths. For example, as you inhale count 1-2-3-4. Then as you exhale, count 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.

Shallow breaths come from the chest, and deeper breaths come from the belly, where your diaphragm sits. Be aware of your belly rising and falling as you practice. When you do these exercises, you may also find you feel less stressed and more relaxed.

4. Prevent infections

As we all have recently learned, Infections can be particularly dangerous for your lungs, especially as you age.

The best way to avoid lung infections is to keep your hands clean. Wash regularly with warm water and soap, and avoid touching your face as much as possible.

Drink plenty of water and eat lots of fruits and vegetables — they contain nutrients that help boost your immune system.

5. Quit Smoking entirely or switch to Smokeless ecigs.

We’ve all heard how smoking can cause harm to lungs so there is nothing new here. However, if you’re not ready to quit smoking altogether, you can switch to a less harmful method by smoking Smokeless eCigs. Many of our customers have reported health gains by switching. You can read testimonials here.