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         How to keep your lungs strong and healthy?

Lungs are the essential respiratory organs that are located near the backbone on either side of the heart. Their main function is to transfer oxygen from the atmosphere into the blood when you breathe in and to expel carbon dioxide out of the blood when you breathe out. The body's cells need the oxygen to work and grow.

The lungs never rest. In just one day, a healthy person breathes nearly 25,000 times.

The body has a natural defence system designed to protect the lungs. This works very well most of the time by keeping out dirt and fighting off germs. However, several harmful substances can damage the airways and threatens the lungs ability to work properly, which can lead to lung disease.

Some common lung diseases are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, lung cancer and acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).People with lung disease have difficulty in breathing and some diseases can even lead to respiratory failure.

Quit smoking

Cigarette smoking is the major cause of COPD and lung cancer. It narrows the air passages and makes breathing more difficult. It causes chronic inflammation or swelling of the lungs. This causes chronic bronchitis. Over time, cigarette smoking destroys lung tissues which triggers lung cancer.

Be determined to quit smoking and get help from professionals if needed.

Avoid second hand smoke

Second hand smoke comes from the smoke that smokers exhaled as well as the smoke floating from the end of the cigarette, cigar or pipe.Non smokers must avoid exposure to second hand smoke to improve their lung conditions. Second hand smoke is highly toxic and damages your lungs and your overall health.

Do deep breathing exercises daily

Breathing feeds oxygen to every cell in the body.Without, sufficient oxygen people are more prone to lung problems and even heart diseases.With regular deep breathing exercises, you can strengthen your lungs.It can also helps to clear out toxins that may have built up in the lungs.This inturn helps improve lung performance and clear airways.

Play a wind instrument

Play a wind instrument like flute, saxophone, mouth organ to improve your lung health.You need to use the lungs capacity to the fullest to play any of these instruments.This gives your lungs a regular workout and helps improve their capacity. Also singing helps to keep the lungs healthy.If music and singing are not for you,try to blow a balloon using deep breathes to increase lung capacity.

Be active with regular exercise

Perform rigorous cardiovascular activities for at least 20 minutes,5 days a week. 

Cardiovascular exercises strengthen the muscles that surround your lungs.

Swim for 30 minutes, a few times a week.

Limit your exposure to pollutants

Air pollution not only causes diseases like COPD and Asthma worse, it can also kill people.
Avoid highly polluted and industrialized areas. 
Do your best to minimize outdoor pollution and to create a cleaner environment.

Eat the right foods

Include anti oxidant rich foods and herbs like garlic,onion, cayenne pepper, ginger and turmeric.

Include good source of proteins like milk,cheese, fish,nuts and poultry in your diet to help maintain strong respiratory muscles.

Eat folate rich foods like lentils and black beans to protect your lungs from COPD. 

Breathlessness due to COPD  is often associated with low intake of folate. 

Choose complex carbohydrates such as whole grain bread,fruits and vegetables.

If you feel that visiting diagnostic centers just for giving sample is stressful, Mapmylab can arrange for home visits. Do call us on 9948492333/9948191333 to know more.