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Tips To Maintain Healthy Lungs Function: Lungs are vital organs that help in the transfer of oxygen and the moval of carbon dioxide from the body. Lungs have mainly breathing tubes that are called windpipes (trachea), bronchioles and filter channel sacs (alveoli) and all these are very sensitive structures prone to get damaged or affected in adverse situations like infections/pollution/chemical exposures or diseases.

As lung functions are mainly related to breathing hence the symptoms of lung disease can be coughing, breathing difficulty, sputum production, blood sputum and wheezing. So if any person develops any of the symptoms, they should not delay visiting the doctor and getting the diagnosis and accordingly the right treatment.

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr Mayank Saxena, Additional Director - Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Noida listed some effective strategies that one can include in their routine for healthy lungs. 

Tips To Keep Lungs Healthy

Smoking Cessation

Smoking is the most harmful thing one can do as it may increase the risk of several diseases like asthma COPD emphysema and infant lung cancer. If one has a smoker in the vicinity (passive smoking) or one smoking outside the home but coming back home(thirdhand smoke) can be equally harmful. Smoking cessation (cigarette/hookah/e-cig) would be the best way forward to keep your lungs healthy.

Breathing Exercises

To keep the lungs in a healthy state we must keep ourselves active and deep breathing exercises like yoga pranayam anulom vilom are always helpful to keep the lungs in better inflated positions and hence the oxygenation. Generally, people would do spirometer and equipment-based exercises however in normal situations and health it is not recommended as it has only several indications like lung collapse etc.

Pollution Avoidance 

Air Pollution is now one of the greatest problems that we are facing. People exposed to pollution are suffering from lung diseases like asthma and lung cancer. Pollution can also cause recurrent infections so using a proper n95 mask and HEPA filter-based air purifier is very helpful and advocate for AQI more than 200.

air-purifiers

Tips To Maintain Healthy Lungs (Image Credits: Canva)

Avoid Unproven Home Remedies

People would do steaming regularly in the belief that it will benefit the lungs but inhaling steam for prolonged periods would rather be more harmful. Some people may put any material like haldi/ or home gradient which may even precipitate the bronchitis also, to avoid overuse of steam inhalation.

Avoid Self Medication

People may be using self-medication like using nebulisers or antibiotics for minor infections in the body which immunity may be able to deal with. So making infections more resistant and stronger. Avoid self-using antibiotics and always consult a doctor who would diagnose and write appropriate treatments.

Healthy Lifestyle

Drinking water, maintaining proper hydration, eating fruits (antioxidants rich) on time and doing regular exercises are always helpful.

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