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  Our lungs are an essential part of our bodies. Through them, we receive oxygen that goes into our bloodstreams and cells. This oxygen drives the release of energy from the food we eat—energy that our organs require to function properly.
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The lungs also reduce body acidity by taking out carbon dioxide, protect the heart during certain kinds of collisions, and enables human speech. If your lungs are healthy, you’ll be stronger and more able to take on different sorts of high-pressure activities. But if they’re not in good shape, you’ll have a poorer quality of life than you should. Here are seven ways to keep your lungs fit.

Exercise Frequently

Physical exercises like running and intense sports can put your lungs to work in ways that make them stronger. These activities improve your body’s efficiency at getting oxygen into its system and moving them to your muscles. If you keep up with exercising over time, you’ll be less likely to run out of breath.

Avoid Smoking

Smoking can cause damage to lung tissue, impair the lung’s ability to process oxygen, and lead to lung cancer and other diseases. Secondhand smoke—that is, smoke from other people’s cigarettes –can also be harmful. There are significant health risks from traditional charcoal stoves as well. Stay away from these if you want to protect your lungs.
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Enhance Indoor Air Quality

The quality of indoor air can be compromised by dust, artificial fragrances, trapped smoke or fumes, and any number of other pollutants. To maintain an indoor environment that’s good for your lungs, clean the dust on materials and surfaces within that space. Make sure there’s good ventilation too, so that air passes in and out of the room and removes potentially harmful pollutants.

Eat Foods Containing Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds formed by the body as an adverse reaction to environmental pressures. If you eat food rich in antioxidants, you’ll be protecting your lung cells from getting damaged by free radicals. Foods rich in antioxidants include guava, oranges, mangoes, pawpaw, tomatoes, pepper, ginger, thyme, and sweet potatoes.

Take In A Lot Of Fluids

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps to maintain the thin mucosal lining in your lungs. With this lining in stable condition, your lungs will continue to function normally, other factors held constant.

Laugh More Often

Laughing exercises your abdominal muscles and helps to increase your lung capacity. It also drives out stale air and draws fresh air into your body. When done often enough, it could improve your breathing.

Practice Breathing Exercises

There are several breathing exercises you can engage in to boost your lung health. Examples include pursed-lip breathing, which makes your airways open longer; and belly breathing, which strengthens your diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps you breathe. Both these activities will do your lungs a lot of good.

Final Words

Everyone should make their lung health a priority. This article shows you some ways to do so. Work with the tips we’ve presented here, and you’ll see improvements in your lung’s performance over time. Featured Image Source: The Indian Express
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This article was first published on 28th February 2021 and updated on March 11th, 2021 at 5:08 pm

ikenna-nwachukwu

Ikenna Nwachukwu holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He loves to look at the world through multiple lenses- economic, political, religious and philosophical- and to write about what he observes in a witty, yet reflective style.

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