The truth is that your lungs age with time, just like your heart, joints, and other body parts. They can become less versatile and lose their strength, which can make breathing more difficult. But you can better maintain the health of your lungs and keep them working optimally even into your senior years by adopting certain healthy habits.
1. Exercise
Besides avoiding cigarettes, the most important thing you can do for the health of your lungs is probably to get regular exercise. Just as exercise keeps your body fit, it also keeps your lungs fit. Your heart beats quicker as you exercise and your lungs function harder. To fuel your muscles, your body needs more oxygen. Your lungs increase their activity to provide that oxygen while eliminating additional carbon dioxide.
2. Breathe deeply
If you’re like a lot of people, you use just a small portion of your lungs to take shallow breaths from the chest area. Deep breathing helps clear the lungs and establishes a total exchange of oxygen.
3. Avoid pollutants exposure
Take a break for your lungs. Reduce as much of your exposure as you can:
- Stop second-hand smoke, and at high air pollution periods, try not to go outside.
- Stop working close to heavy traffic, as the exhaust can be inhaled.
- Make sure to take all possible safety precautions if you’re exposed to contaminants at work. Certain jobs can increase the risk of exposure to airborne contaminants in manufacturing, mining, and waste management.
