With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and with its host of difficulties, people have become way more health-conscious than before. Switching to a better diet plan, keeping up with regular workout routines, we have been consciously trying to get healthier especially during such unprecedented times. However, out of all health practices, do we engagingly put efforts to protect or maintain the health of our lungs?
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that, unknowingly we have been taking our lungs, and their health pretty lightly. While the intensity of complications related to the lungs was already high, the spike in covid-cases and its various symptoms have made the overall respiratory health of utmost importance. The majority of us are at home and it is vital to address severe respiratory issues like COVID-19 pneumonia and seek medical advice with a pulmonologist online to avoid other critical medical problems. However, here are a few ways one could adopt to keep your lungs healthy amid the pandemic:-
- Practice deep breathing
Deep breathings help clears the lungs, and fill the entire area with complete oxygen exchange. According to various studies, practicing deep breathing even for few minutes can bring many benefits to your lungs. This is a form of exercise that one could do anywhere, anytime. Sit somewhere comfortably, slowly breathe in through your nose, and then eventually try to hold your breath for a bit longer seconds. Shallow breathing is done through our nose, while the long breathings comes from within straight from our stomach. Consciously try to take deep breathing as it can help keep your lungs stronger.
- Quit smoking
By now, everybody must be aware that smoking tobacco can make one prone to lung cancer. Smoking is also linked to various other diseases like asthma, COPD, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. When you smoke, you are inhaling hundreds and thousands of harmful chemicals into your lungs, making your lungs airways narrow eventually leading to difficulty in breathing. No matter how long you have been smoking, deciding to quit today can protect you from getting severely ill.
- Avoid exposure to pollutants
Unknowingly, we all are getting exposed to pollutants that can make our lungs damage over time. For example, even you do not smoke but are in close contact with a smoker, that can bring possible damage to your lungs. Passive smoking is equally dangerous. Likewise, exercising near heavy traffic, not dusting your home frequently, staying in a poorly ventilated room can all bring difficulty in breathing and to your lungs. Hence proper precautionary measures have to be taken to keep the health of your lungs from damage or aging.
In the current circumstances, we need to follow covid-19 care, and also to get medical attention especially if you notice symptoms of respiratory diseases which include discomfort in your lungs, constant coughing, breathing problems, or chest pain when you cough. Try to incorporate all possible healthy habits and precautions as these conscious efforts can keep your lungs healthy lifelong!