Taking in a nice deep breath is one of life’s great pleasures; unfortunately, it’s one of those pleasures that people tend not to notice until it’s gone. Your lungs are a magnificent part of your body, and they deserve your attention. Healthy lungs mean lots of oxygen-rich blood coursing through your veins which, in turn, means higher levels of focus, creativity, and energy.
The following will explore a few of the basic ways you can help keep your lungs healthy and enjoy the impacts of a well-oxygenated body. Of course, if you have a respiratory condition, you might need to take additional steps to protect your lungs as instructed by a healthcare provider.
Breathe Through Your Nose
This tip is so easy; you have to do it. Breathing through your nose not only results in 30% more oxygen being absorbed by your body but your nose is specifically designed to clean the air that you breathe (that’s why you’ve got all those hairs in your nose). Cleaner air is gentler on your lungs.
If you can’t breathe through your nose often, you need to address this. Congestion is not part of life; it’s a message from your body that breathing is extra hard. The culprit might be pollution, allergies, or an unclean environment. Figure out what is causing this breathing difficulty and sort it out.
Address Mold ASAP
If there are spots of mold anywhere in your home, this needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Mold releases toxic spores which you breathe in; these spores make things hard for your lungs; they also cause a series of respiratory problems and can cause symptoms like headaches, fatigue, dizziness, lack of focus, and more.
Have a professional come and take care of the mold or clean it with a mask on and lots of ventilation. Mould is remarkably easy to clean and fairly easy to prevent.
Once the mold is gone, be sure to address the humidity of your space. Mold grows in damp environments, and this means you might need a dehumidifier (especially in the bathroom). You might also need to properly seal off your home—moisture can enter through cracks and crevices as well as poorly caulked windows.
Keep Your Supplies Updated
If you’re someone that using respiratory aids, you want to be sure that you keep an eye on expiry dates and update anything that is about to go bad. Your respiratory care supplies should also be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions, as this will help keep them functioning. You may need to purchase cleaning products specifically for respiratory devices.
Stop Using Aerosol Products
Aerosol products might seem like you can direct their spray, but you can’t, not really. Air circulation is a massive topic, but basically, air swirls and mixes itself so effectively that studies have found it incredibly likely that you’ve breathed in the same air that Caesar exhaled in his last breath—no matter where you are.
If you’re spraying products in your home like hairspray, spray deodorant, air freshener, or spray cooking oil, you are breathing that product in. It might smell clean to you, but it’s actually a toxin your body needs to combat, making things hard on your lungs.
Avoid Fragranced Products
Similar to the point above, fragranced products are a major concern to health that aren’t getting enough attention in this regard. Fragrance causes inflammation which impacts every type of chronic illness that we know about today.
Your lungs are not designed to be breathing in chemicals all day, and the fragrance is simply a collection of chemicals that companies don’t have to list in the ingredients description on the back of products because the concoction is a trade secret.
Be wary of products labeled “scent-free,” as often this means extra fragrance was added to cover up the already existing scent. Look for “fragrance-free” or “hypoallergenic.”
Use An Air Filter
A recent Harvard study found that one in five deaths on earth are premature and caused by poor air quality. Pollution is rampant (even in rural farming communities as this is where pesticides get sprayed), and studies have found that indoor air is worse than outdoor air. Do yourself a favor and get an air filter, at least for your bedroom at night.
The above information should have drawn your attention to small changes that can have a big impact on your lung health. It’s important that you never ignore sensations tied to breathing, as this is how your body tells you that something isn’t ideal.