As we age, our lung function and capacity begin to decrease, meaning we need to do all we can to maintain respiratory health, especially to reduce the risk of contracting any serious diseases. Caring for your respiratory system starts with prevention, so follow these tips to keep yours healthy.
Quit Smoking or Vaping
If you smoke or vape, now is the time to quit. Both of these can cause significant damage to the lungs, with the true extent of vaping still not known. Health professionals state that smoking anything could be damaging to the lungs and while vaping is better than smoking cigarettes, we don’t know what kind of damage vaping could do over a long period of time. Your best bet to healthy lungs is to ditch both. This also means removing yourself from secondhand smoke inhalation, as this can be damaging too. If your partner smokes in the house, get them to smoke outside, or better yet, help them to quit.
Get Rid of Mold in Your Home
Mold exposure isn’t good for the lungs and the longer you leave mold to spread, the worse this can be. If you or a family member suffer from asthma or any other pre-existing respiratory condition, mold could be worsening your symptoms. One study found that children exposed to mold within the home environment have an increased chance of developing asthma. Painting over your mold just won’t cut it; you need to get rid of it for good. If you are living in a rental property with mold, make your landlord aware so they can make the necessary arrangements to clean the property.
Keep Your AC Clean
If you own an air conditioning unit/HVAC in your home, regular upkeep and cleaning are required to maintain good indoor air quality. Over time, your air conditioning unit can become filled with dust and particles that you will continue to breathe in without any knowledge. The biggest contributor to this is air filters that are not replaced regularly enough. When replaced, your indoor air quality will improve as the air filters will be able to effectively remove unwanted particles that can damage the lungs. You can find air filters at filterbuy.com, with sizes to fit any air conditioning system. All their products are manufactured in the US, so you know you are buying quality.
Exercise Regularly
Getting regular exercise can keep the body and lungs functioning as they should. The healthier we keep our body, the healthier our lungs will be. When you exercise regularly, your lung capacity may improve, meaning your lungs can work at a more efficient rate. The best workouts are any aerobic activities, such as jumping rope and walking. Combining this with muscle-strengthening workouts will keep your lungs functioning properly and tone your breathing muscles.
Keeping your lungs healthy starts at home. Rid yourself of any poor habits such as smoking or vaping to improve your lung health. Make sure there is no mold within your home and keep your air conditioning system cleaned and properly maintained. Exercising regularly will also keep your lungs working as they should.