People often tend to take breathing for granted. This fascinating process is carried out by the lungs, whose health we largely fail to cater to before it’s too late.
Several factors can endanger your lung health. You will be surprised to know how some simple everyday habits are putting your lungs at risk. These habits are explained below:
Table of Contents
1. Not Exercising
Having an inactive lifestyle that is devoid of exercise can be damaging to your lungs. Exercise is the key to healthy lungs as it helps improve their function resulting in better oxygen circulation throughout the body. It helps keep your lungs in a good shape so they can perform their function normally without any hindrances. Moreover, regular exercise protects the lungs against diseases as well. Therefore, be sure to make it part of your daily routine.
2. Poor Posture
A poor posture may lead to a plethora of health concerns and can take a toll on your lung health. Sitting with a hunched posture can make breathing difficult hindering the ability of the lungs to expand and contract properly. Therefore, always make it a priority to maintain a good posture by keeping your back straight, and your shoulders pulled back. Make sure your head is aligned with your spine and avoid tilting your neck or slouching.
3. Smoking
Everyone knows smoking is bad for health, even the smoking pack contains a risk warning. Yet so many people partake in it. It is a highly addictive habit which means your lungs continue to take damage which can be injurious to your health over time.
Hence, it is important to quit smoking. People who smoke to cope with their depression, or other mental health problems should instead visit the right outlets for help like a therapist or counselor. Smoking is one of the worst habits for your lungs and can cause all sorts of problems from excessive coughing, bronchitis, and lung cancer.
When you smoke, you are not only doing your lungs a disservice, but are also exposing others to smoke, and endangering their health as well.
Therefore, do the responsible thing and quit smoking. You can benefit from nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and hypnosis when weaning off cigarettes.
It’s never too late to quit smoking! While some damage is permanent, leaving smoking starts to improve your health in a matter of mere hours as the carbon monoxide levels in the blood start to come back to normal.
4. Being around smoke
Whereas you may not be smoking yourself, your colleagues or friends might be. Being in the company of smokers can leave you exposed to secondhand smoke. This phenomenon is known as passive smoking.
Passive smoking is extremely dangerous and can increase your risk of lung diseases. Hence, be firm about not being around smoking. If for instance, someone is smoking a cigarette next to you, try going somewhere else or politely ask the person to put it out or smoke it a little far away from you.
5. Vaping
Like other fads like shisha or hookah smoking vaping has now become a trend. The harsh reality is that e-cigarettes and vapes are no better than cigarettes, and can harm your lungs despite popular belief.
Vapes also carry toxins that can damage the body. Apart from increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, they can also cause lung injury. Vaping can also exacerbate a case of asthma if you have it already and may even lead to asthma if you do not have the condition.
Furthermore, vaping also increases the risk of collapsed lung. It has also been linked to pneumonia, coughing, and inflammation in the lungs.
6. Not seeing your doctor
Lung health concerns should not be taken lightly. Many people ignore their long health and refuse to consult a pulmonologist which can lead to severe health complications. Therefore whenever you experience problems with breathing, excessive coughing, chest tightness, etc., it is recommended to get yourself checked by an expert for a timely diagnosis and treatment for your condition.
