No matter whether you’re dealing with a medical condition, are concerned about your health, or are keen to stay fit – managing your lung health is essential. This can not only help prolong your life but improve your overall quality of life, ensuring that you enjoy your later years without issue or inconvenience.
So, why is lung health so important and what are some simple tips to help keep you in great shape in the years ahead?
Why is lung health so important?
A heavily used organ, your lungs are a vital part of your circulatory system and the smallest drop in performance can have dire repercussions. Your lungs are used to draw oxygen from the air and pass it through to your bloodstream. This allows for cellular respiration, allowing you to extract energy from your food and remain functional.
A reduction in lung capacity has a knock-on effect to the rest of the body. This llowers the amount of oxygen that can enter your bloodstream and makes your systems ‘work harder’ to achieve the same level of efficiency that should otherwise be readily possible.
It is worth remembering that we can survive three weeks without food, three days without water, and three minutes without oxygen. This makes it essential to care for your lungs and ensure that they stay in top shape no matter what.
Lung health becomes especially important if you currently suffer from conditions such as COPD or are recovering from surgery or have ongoing complications.
What can I do to optimise it?
If you’re looking to take care of your lungs, there are a number of steps to take that can provide significant and long-lasting benefits. This include-
Stopping Smoking: Cigarette smoking and vaping is one the biggest causes of lung injury and cessation is a significant and practical way to maintain your health. Aside from causing cancer, smoking causes inflammation and the narrowing of the passages in your lungs that transport oxygen in the bloodstream. This can be reversed but choosing to stop today is a significant and necessary first step.
Medical Intervention: Going to regular health screenings can help catch issues with your lung and body early. This is particularly important if you have a history of illness within your family or a predisposition toward certain issues. This will involve the application of a disposable o2 sensor and allow for a quick and painless reading that can give peace of mind and a better understanding about the elements of your life that may need to change.
Regular Exercise: Following cardiovascular training can help improve your lung strength and capacity. This can also provide additional benefits and allow your body to be healthier and more resistant to disease and infection. Ideally this should be done away from roads or areas of high pollution, allowing you to enjoy some fresh air and boost your mental and physical health while avoiding harmful contaminants.