Welcome to the Positive Pulse blog! Check in with us each month for tips on healthy living, right on our website. A short snippet will be featured in the NJSAP monthly newsletter as well, which you can sign up for here.
This months topic is lung health!
There are some simple tips you can follow to keep your lungs healthy. Be proactive by adding good habits into your life and remove the bad ones for an extra dose of prevention.
DO: Keep up regular physical activity, which will make your lungs stronger. When you’re active, your heart and lungs work harder to supply oxygen to the muscles which makes your heart and lungs stronger and more efficient at getting oxygen into the bloodstream.
DO be sure to schedule routine appointments with your doctor. If you have difficulty traveling, schedule a checkup with visiting physician services that will come to your home. Regular checkups and screenings help prevent diseases even when you are feeling well. Lung cancer can surprise you because it doesn’t usually cause symptoms until the cancer has spread, making it difficult to treat. Talk to your doctor about the benefits of screening for lung cancer and if this is something you should do.
AVOID getting a cold or respiratory infection, which can easily become serious and harm your lungs if you are not careful. To avoid complications, it’s best to prevent the illness in the first place by washing your hands, avoiding crowded places and other sick people, and getting your vaccinations.
AVOID smoking. Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke can narrow the air passages and make it harder to breathe, raising your chances for chronic bronchitis and inflamed lung tissue. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss your options for quitting smoking.
AVOID chemicals, toxins, and irritants that can worsen lung disease. Pay attention to the weather and avoid exercising outdoors on bad air days where pollen counts are high. You can also check the air quality levels in your area. Test your home or workplace for radon levels and be sure to keep your home and car free of cigarette smoke.
