We hardly think about the health of the lungs, when we are talking about fitness and a healthy lifestyle. However, our lungs play a very important role in maintaining overall health. According to the studies, respiratory diseases (10.2%) comes after cardiovascular diseases (24.8%) as the most common cause of death in India.
Breathing is very important as it feeds oxygen to every cell in the body. Without this, people will get more prone to respiratory illnesses such as COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and even heart disease. That’s why it is advisable to buy a health insurance policy from a reputable insurer so that you can get financial support in case of medical emergencies. However, one should more focus on keeping their lungs healthy. Given below are 5 healthy habits that can keep your lung healthy:
Take Deep Breaths
Many experts suggest that deep breathing can help you take full advantage of your lungs’ capacity. You should slowly inhale and expand your belly with the awareness of lowering the diaphragm. You should then expand your ribs, which will allow floating ribs to open like wings. At last, you should expand and lift the upper chest.
When you are exhaling, do it completely by letting the chest fall and then contracting the ribs. Then you should bring the stomach muscles in and up to lift the diaphragm and expel all the air.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
One of the things that you can do to keep your lungs healthy is to apply some simple breathing techniques. Not only people who are experiencing breathing problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema, but healthy people can also use these breathing techniques. One of the techniques is Diaphragmatic breathing which uses the awareness of the diaphragm muscle, which separates the lungs from the organs in the abdomen. If you concentrate on lowering the diaphragm as you breathe in, you’ll get a much deeper inhale. Many professional singers use this to increase their lung capacity.
Maintain Correct Posture
Lungs are the small and soft structure that only take the space that you make for them. Not always, but sometimes you should sit tall and reach overhead, which will make more room for your lungs. You can lean back slightly in your stable chair, lift your chest, and breathe deeply as you open the front of your body.
Stop Smoking
Other than lung cancer, smoking can cause diseases such as COPD, asthma, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Toxins such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar from cigarette increase mucus content, which inflame tissues of lungs. Long-term smoking can narrow airways and can cause lungs to age more rapidly. That’s why it is advisable to quit smoking. You can take the help of professionals or loved ones.
Staying Hydrated
Staying hydrated is not only good for your lungs but for the whole body. Drinking at least 4 – 5 liters of water every day will keep the mucosal linings in the lungs thin, which helps in the better functioning of the lungs.
The above-mentioned tips and health insurance policies will ensure the overall health of your lungs.
