12 Ways to Keep Your Lungs Strong and Healthy - Article Health

How to prevent lung disease
If you take good care of your lungs, they can last a lifetime. “The lungs are very durable if they’re not attacked from the outside,” says Norman H. Edelman, MD, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association (ALA). With a few exceptions, your lungs don’t get into trouble unless you get them into trouble, he says.

Don’t smoke...anything
Smoking is, hands down, the worst thing you can do to your lungs on a regular basis.

Fight for clean air
While U.S. air is cleaner than in the past, more than 154 million Americans still live in areas where air pollution is a threat to health, according to the ALA’s annual State of the Air report.

Exercise more
Exercise in itself won’t make your lungs stronger, Dr. Edelman says, but it will help you get more out of them.

Beware of outdoor air pollution
In some areas, especially in the summer, ozone and other pollutants can make working out or even spending time outdoors an unhealthy proposition.

Improve indoor air
Air pollution isn’t just an outdoor problem. There are a number of indoor sources, including fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, mold, pet dander, construction materials, and even air fresheners and some candles.

Eat right
There is evidence that antioxidant-rich foods are good for your lungs. (Research suggests it has to be food, not supplements.)

Protect yourself on the job
Many jobs can put your lungs at risk, from construction work to styling hair. (Here are some of the worst jobs for your lungs.)

Don’t skimp on shots
Respiratory infections can be particularly devastating if you have COPD or other lung problems. Get the flu shot in time for flu season, and if you’re 65 or older, get the pneumococcal vaccine too.


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