The key to a happy and healthy life is a pair of healthy lungs. Diseases involving the lungs like COPD, emphysema, and cancer are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Smoking, polluted air, and occupational disease are all common causes of lung diseases. The lungs lose their elasticity and effective functioning as you get older so it is vital to have healthy lungs when that time comes to combat the effect of aging. In this article, we will discuss ways to keep your lungs healthy. You can consult a Best pulmonologist in Lahore for any lung related medical issues.

Quit Smoking

Perhaps the most predictable and the most important factor to having healthy lungs is to quit smoking. Smoking not only affects the lungs but it damages the passage leading to the lungs and it has deleterious effects on the overall health of the body. Smoking causes COPD, asthma, lung fibrosis, and lung cancer and also increases the severity of these diseases. Inhaling a cigarette causes harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide, and nicotine to go into the lung and cause damage by inflammation and increased mucus production. Tobacco smoke narrows the airways and causes inflammation, which when chronically used causes breathing problems. Smoking includes cigarettes, pipes, cigars, hookah, and even vaping.

A Good Workout Routine

A good workout routine is important in keeping your lungs healthy. This is because exercise causes your body to work harder. This in turn causes the lungs to work harder to deliver enough oxygen to the tissues of your body. The lungs become more efficient because every single part of the lung is in work to use oxygen and release carbon dioxide, and they stay in shape. Stronger and healthier lungs help to keep the lungs healthy and combat the senile changes that occur later in life.

Avoid Polluted Spaces

Polluted areas are also one of the leading causes of asthma and COPD. This also includes closed spaces like homes where people smoke indoors. Passive smoke is also a pollutant. The harmful toxins in polluted air decrease the efficiency of the lungs and cause them to age faster. This is especially important in old people since their lungs are not at a capacity to resist these harmful toxins.

To avoid it you can do a few simple things

* Wear a mask when going outside, especially in polluted areas

* Avoid passive smoking

* People who work in industries should take safety precautions.

* Open windows in the house to increase ventilation

* Weekly dusting and vacuuming of the house

* Invest in a humidifier

Proper Treatment of Lung Infections

Respiratory infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis, and asthma weaken the lungs and sometimes they destroy a part of the lung depending upon the severity of the disease. Therefore, it is important to have a timely diagnosis of lung diseases and prompt treatment of them.

It is crucial to be aware of types of lung diseases and to take precautions so you do not develop these diseases. Young and healthy lungs can take on these diseases but it is difficult to live with damaged lungs caused by these diseases later in life. To avoid these diseases, thorough washing of hands is important, and wearing a face mask is necessary especially if you are near a person suffering from lung disease.

Breathing Exercises 

Just like having a good workout routine, breathing exercises also help to keep the lungs healthy and help them to work more efficiently. Normal breathing is usually shallow and it used a small part of the lungs. Contradictory to this, deep breathing works the entire lungs and helps to distribute oxygen throughout the lung tissue. So deep breathing exercises once or twice a day is beneficial for the lungs.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated throughout the day helps the lungs to work properly. Lungs are lined with a thin mucus layer. By drinking an adequate amount of water this layer stays thin and the lungs work properly. In patients with respiratory diseases like COPD, drinking water also helps to cough to excess mucus in their lungs.

Conclusion

A healthy set of lungs improves the quality of life by a sizable amount. Healthy lungs improve the overall functioning of your body and help to keep you healthy and happy. It also makes your life easy when you reach old age and prevents several diseases like COPD, emphysema, asthma, and lung cancer which require treatment from a Pulmonologist in Karachi.