Lung Health Best Practices

Breath is life, and here at AdventHealth, we’re all about keeping you healthy in body, mind and spirit. Having healthy lungs is a foundation for a healthy you.

According to our pulmonology expert, Azib Shahid, MD, “the most fulfilling part of my job is to see patients and treat them when they’re going through some of the hardest times of their lives, whether it’s a breathing difficulty or admitting them to the NICU, helping them and their families is rewarding because lung health is so important to our whole health.”

Keep reading to learn more about the importance of lung health and best practices to help keep your lungs strong and to know what to do if you need pulmonary care.

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Your lungs, a pair of organs in your chest, are responsible for moving air in and out of your body. When you breathe in, air enters your lungs and life-giving oxygen moves from your lungs into your blood. While this is happening, the waste gas carbon dioxide moves from your blood to the lungs so it can be breathed out. Your brain controls how fast or slow you breathe by sensing how much oxygen your body needs and how much carbon dioxide should be expelled.

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Diaphragmatic breathing can improve not only your physical lung health, but your mental health as well by providing benefits like stress relief by circulating more oxygen throughout your whole system.

The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of your lungs. Your abdominal muscles help move the diaphragm and give you more power to empty your lungs.

So what is diaphragmatic breathing? Diaphragmatic breathing, also called belly breathing or abdominal breathing, helps you use your diaphragm correctly while breathing to:

• Decrease oxygen demand
• Decrease the work of breathing by slowing your breathing rate
• Strengthen the diaphragm
• Use less effort and energy to breathe

During diaphragmatic breathing, you intentionally use your diaphragm to take deep breaths. When you breathe regularly, you’re not using your lungs to their full capacity. Diaphragmatic breathing allows you to use your lungs at 100% capacity to increase lung efficiency.

Keeping Your Lungs Healthy

You can keep your lungs healthy by taking care of yourself and making positive lifestyles choices every day.

No Smoking

Choosing not to smoke, or quitting if you do, is critical for healthy lungs. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, making up about 80% of all lung cancers. You can reduce your lung cancer risk by 70% by quitting smoking. You’ll also be decreasing your risk of other pulmonary illnesses like emphysema and bronchitis.

Get Moving

Getting regular exercise is great for your lungs and your overall health. Your muscles work harder and your body uses more oxygen during exercise. Breathing is increased from around 15 breaths to up to 40 to 60 times per minute during strenuous physical activity. Regular exercise improves your cardio-respiratory health, making it easier for your lungs to keep your heart and muscles supplied with oxygen.

For runners, some best practices and effective techniques for breathing include:

• Belly breathing: Inhale deep through your diaphragm and belly, not from your chest.
• Breath cadence control: Align your breath with your steps in a rhythmic pattern.
• Nasal breathing: Inhale and exhale through your nose instead of your mouth, activating your parasympathetic nervous system.
• Power breaths: Add intentional pressure to your exhale for stronger sprints.

The Air That You Breathe

Consider the quality of the air around you. The air that you breathe daily has a powerful influence on the health of your lungs. Check the air quality before you leave the house and plan outdoor activities accordingly. Air pollution is not just an outdoor problem. Fireplaces, wood stoves, fumes, mold, pet dander and even some air fresheners and candles can also cause issues for your lungs.

Eat Healthy

Good nutrition is always important for your health. Some foods stand out when it comes to strong, healthy lungs. Antioxidant-rich foods like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale have been shown to be good for lungs. One study found that people who consume cruciferous vegetables like these had almost half the risk of lung cancer compared to those who consumed the least amount of leafy greens.

When Should You Seek Pulmonary Care?

If you have a newly diagnosed respiratory condition or one that needs consistent care and can’t be controlled by your primary care doctor, please reach out to our specialists who treat the following conditions:

• Asthma
• COPD
• Cystic fibrosis
• Lung cancer
• Lung infection
• Pulmonary embolism
• Sleep apnea

In addition, you may have an undiagnosed pulmonary condition. Make an appointment if you notice the following symptoms or have any of these lifestyle factors:

• Breathing difficulties
• Coughing up blood or mucus
• Difficulty exercising
• Persistent cough
• Smoke regularly
• Unexplained weight loss

Healthy Lungs Equal a Healthy You

If you feel your lungs aren’t as healthy as you’d like them to be, you can breathe easier knowing we are here for you with our world-class team of pulmonologists.

Visit us here to find out more about our AdventHealth Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute and how we can help you breathe easier. You deserve to feel whole in body, mind and spirit.