Imagine being responsible for upkeep of an air purifying filtering system. It sits in the middle of the room. It will only take you a few days to realize how much grime, dirt and other pollutants gather on the filter.
Now replace the filter with your lungs. You might not be able to see the particles otherwise suspended in the air, but always think of the filter to recognize the sheer number of pollutants that your lungs get exposed to.
And while you cannot clean your lungs per se, but you certainly can take steps to lower the damage being done to your lungs, especially considering how our everyday habits harm the health of our lungs, meriting then the intervention of a Pulmonologist in Lahore.
Everyday habits that are harming your lungs
Being negligent about personal hygiene
If there is one thing that COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, it is the relationship between our hygiene practices and the health of our lungs. Any negligence can expose our lungs to viruses that can harm their health.
Therefore, be very careful about your hygiene. Make sure to clean your hands often. Don’t touch your face or nose with dirty hands.
Furthermore, also don’t be negligent of your oral hygiene; if you don’t brush your teeth and floss, you then allow the bacteria in the oral cavity to flourish. This increases the risk of respiratory infections as well.
Being sedentary
There are plenty of problems that being sedentary posits. While most people think of the impact on weight, it is not all there is to having an inactive lifestyle. Being sedentary also has implications for the health of your lungs. It can increase the risk of lung cancer as well.
Exercise, on the other hand, is beneficial for your lungs. It helps in making the muscles of the lungs stronger. Exercises that target the muscles of the chest and the neck help in improving the ease in breathing as well. Similarly, regular exercise also makes the muscles of the diaphragm stronger as well.
Having a poor posture
You would think that a poor posture affects just your appearance, but that’s a very simplistic understanding of the issue. A poor posture, especially when you have hunched shoulders and back, can not only cause spinal health issues, but it can also make breathing difficult as well.
Naturally, when your stance is slumped, your organs are squished together, therefore, your lungs don’t have enough room to expand. This affects your lungs’ ability to function properly. Moreover, it can also make it difficult for the exchange of gasses, and consequently, make disbursing oxygen more challenging.
Hence, be sure to work on your posture. Keep your back straight, your shoulders leveled, your chin jutting out rather than tucked in.
Not being careful about the air quality
We are often not in the habit of checking the air quality before we step outdoors, but this very lack of concern might be damaging our lungs. Before you step out of the house, make sure that you always check the air quality; all it takes one quick search on the internet.
If your venturing outdoors is extremely imperative, then at least wear kN95 mask that filters the pollutants out.
Smoking, or being around smoke
Everyone knows how harmful smoking is for your lungs; most cigarette packs contain the warning on the packaging so there is no room for one to plead ignorance.
From the risk of lung cancer to lung diseases like bronchitis, cigarettes cause a lot of damage to your lungs. Hence, it is very important that you quit smoking. Even being around smoke can cause you harm, so avoid smoking stations as well.
Not consulting a doctor
If you are facing any breathing problems or issues with your pulmonary health, consulting your Pulmonologist in Karachi is vital. Otherwise, not addressing the problem can exacerbate it.