We all possess poor habits, but something which affects our well-being as well as our standard of life can be detrimental to our health in the long run. A good example is lung health. It's simple to take our lungs for granted given that we can breathe normally. However, even a slight impairment of our breathing can have a significant effect on our general health and quality of life. The top pulmonologists in Gurugram suggest that getting rid of such habits can help to prolong the life of our lungs and protect them from various diseases and ailments.
These four practises may be harming your lungs.
Smoking: Pulmonary capacity, or the amount of oxygen-rich air that your lungs can contain, is directly impacted negatively by smoking. Cigarette smoking alters the fundamental structure of your lungs, making it more challenging for the chambers to grow and contract effectively while breathing. Smoking actually alters your lungs on all fronts, right down to the tiniest cilia and capillaries that function to draw in oxygen and flush out pollutants. Additionally, smoking makes the lungs more susceptible to infection. The bronchial tubes generate a lot more mucus when there is inflammation, which affects the ability to breathe and exchange oxygen. In order for your lungs to function normally, many of these structures and processes are restored when you stop smoking.
Bad stance: Sagging and crouching are unhealthy for your lungs as well as your back. That's because your lungs have less room to expand when you slouch or hunch over. Any amount of compression can change how your lungs function, making it more challenging for them to take in breathable air and distribute it throughout the bloodstream. Shallow breathing might also result from poor posture. You do not receive as much oxygen into your system as you may be when you don't take full breaths. Shallow breathing actually weakens your lungs over time, making it hard to fill them to the capacity.
Not working out: Your skeletal muscle and other tissues demand extra oxygen when you're moving about. Due to the increased demand, your lungs will need to exert themselves a little more intensely. Regular exercise makes your lungs stronger over time, enhancing the way they perform in general. Additionally, since we usually breathe more deeply while exercising, our lung capacity can also be increased. Simply riding a bike, and swimming are all excellent aerobic exercises for your heart and lungs. However, bolstering your back, core muscles, as well as your neck are also crucial exercises because they support maintaining open airways for better inhalation and exhalation.
Poor diet: We are all familiar with the proverb "You are what you eat." Your entire body, including your lungs, is affected by this. You can better control your weight by adhering to a healthy food plan, so you reduce your chances of becoming obese, which represents one of the potential risk components of lung and breathing issues. Sugar and Trans fats in your diet are linked to rise in inflammation across the board, especially in the lungs. Additionally, studies show that fibre-rich diets are linked to improving overall lung health at any age.
It's not always simple to change behaviours, but being aware of the advantages of a few small ones can significantly improve your lung health. To know more about your lungs and habits you can incorporate in your day-to-day life, book an appointment or contact the best pulmonology doctors in Gurugram.
Dr. Bandana Mishra, Head of the Department and Senior Consultant
Pulmonology
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