Healthy lungs are the unsung heroes of our body’s intricate machinery, tirelessly working to supply the oxygen our cells need. Their importance extends far beyond enabling us to breathe. Throughout our lives, maintaining healthy lungs plays a pivotal role in our overall well-being. From infancy to old age, robust lung health ensures that we can fully engage in physical activities and fortify our immune systems against various threats.
Whether you’re an athlete, an office worker, or a retiree, the significance of lung health is universal, impacting not only how we feel day to day but also our long-term quality of life. Today we’ll explore some surprising statistics about lung diseases and give you tips to keep you breathing easy and light:
BRMS recommends:
- Don’t smoke, and limit your exposure to second-hand smoke as much as possible
- Know the early warning signs of COPD, including wheezing, shortness of breath, and chronic mucus production
BRMS recommends:
- Get a lung cancer screening if you’re between the ages of 55 and 80 and currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years
- Pay attention to radon levels in your home. This colorless, odorless gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking
- Avoid exposure to year-round particle pollution, which is also a known carcinogen
BRMS recommends:
- Know your asthma triggers and avoid them as much as possible
- Take asthma medication as prescribed by your doctor
- Exercise regularly to strengthen your breathing muscles and boost your immune system
With a deeper awareness about how crucial lung health is, it’s clear to see that regularly exercising, breathing clean air, and living mindfully will help you improve your long-term health. By doing so, we not only ensure a healthy future for ourselves, but we also set a powerful example for future generations. Through embracing the importance of our lung health, we unlock the door to a life filled with vitality, energy, and boundless possibilities.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd) †
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html ††
https://aafa.org/asthma/asthma-facts/ *
https://www.lung.org/research/sotc/key-findings ‡
https://www.lung.org/research/state-of-lung-cancer/key-findings
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/copd.htm
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd)
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
https://www.lung.ca/7-tips-keep-your-asthma-under-control
https://aafa.org/asthma/asthma-facts/
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/resources/data/cigarette-smoking-in-united-states.html?s_cid=OSH_tips_GL0005&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TipsRegular+2021%3BS%3BWL%3BBR%3BIMM%3BDTC%3BCO&utm_content=Smoking+-+Facts_E&utmerm=smoking+facts+and+statistics&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmICoBhDxARIsABXkXlK3wqZiIO13l7CFbXvATPkHV0U2d7CivVmN76RI7XGfLATsm5CstmwaAmDWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds