Breathing is something we do constantly, yet it seems to be something people don’t often think about. Whether you’re conscious of it or not, this simple action supplies your body with the energy to sustain your most basic human functions, and, most importantly, keeps you alive. But because it’s something many people don’t need to focus on, we often overlook the overall health of our lungs. Use these tips for keeping your lungs healthy to reduce the likelihood of disease and ensure you’re always breathing easily.
Take Steps To Prevent Respiratory Infections
Common colds and minor respiratory infections aren’t typically causes for concern, but they do have the potential to develop into something more serious. Because of this, it’s vital that you practice some effective strategies to reduce how often you develop these ailments. Some potential steps could include washing your hands often with soap and water, avoiding crowds when the likelihood of infection is at its highest, and getting properly vaccinated.
Avoid Exposing Yourself to Air Pollution
In the interest of protecting your lungs, you should also try to prevent exposing yourself to excessive indoor and outdoor air pollution. These irritants could be anything from cigarette smoke to dirt and dust floating from vents, and they can hinder your ability to breathe over time. As such, you’ll need to go the extra mile to limit your interactions with these toxins if you want to preserve healthy lung function.
Continue Exercising (Especially Cardio)
Another important tip for keeping your lungs healthy is to maintain your regular exercise routine—specifically cardio. Cardiovascular exercises such as running or biking make the heart speed up. This causes it to pump more blood through your veins and carry more oxygen to various parts of the body. As your body’s need for air rises, you begin breathing harder to keep up. This trains your lungs to improve airflow as well as works out your heart.
Practice Controlled Breathing
You can also improve general airflow by performing a few breathing exercises. For people living with a respiratory ailment such as asthma, it’s possible to develop symptoms of hypoxia or hypoxemia upon failing to get enough oxygen. These conditions can be very uncomfortable and lead to a multitude of other health issues. For this reason, experimenting with different ways to breathe can help you bypass airway constrictions and promote additional air movement though the lungs. A few common techniques include diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lips breathing, and relaxed deep breathing.
