The main function of lungs is to ensure gas exchange between air and blood and participate in the distribution of oxygen. They are part of the respiratory system which includes the airways, pulmonary vessels and respiratory muscles. The respiratory system supplies oxygen to the blood, which then carries it to the organs and evacuates carbon dioxide. Lungs keep us alive: their bronchi are the system for capturing air and particles such as dust or unwanted microbes. Unfortunately, there are many diseases that affect the lungs: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or emphysema. These sometimes disabling pathologies require regular monitoring by the pulmonologist and sometimes by the cardiologist. So how to clean the lungs? To counter some harmful effects on the lungs it is possible to act naturally and purify them.
Don’t smoke or quit smoking
Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer but it is not the only disease that can cause damage to the respiratory system. Tobacco use is implicated in most lung diseases, including COPD, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and asthma, making these diseases even more serious. For example, smokers are 12-13 times more likely to die of COPD than non-smokers.
Every time you smoke a cigarette, you inhale thousands of chemicals into your lungs, including nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar. These toxins damage the lungs. They build up mucus, make it more difficult to cleanse the lungs, and irritate the tissues. The airways gradually narrow, making it harder to breathe.
Il smoking also leads to faster aging of the lungs. Eventually, the chemicals can promote the development of cancerous lung cells and are responsible for approximately 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths in both men and women.
Regardless of age or how long you’ve been smoking, quitting smoking can help cleanse your lungs tremendously. Within 12 hours of quitting smoking, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood returns to normal. Within months, lung function begins to improve. Within a year, your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker. So the longer you remain a non-smoker, the more your condition improves.
Do exercises to breathe better
Besides avoiding cigarettes, regular exercise is probably the most important thing you can do for lung health.
When you exercise, your heart beats faster, your lungs work harder, your body needs more oxygen to fuel your muscles, and your lungs work harder to supply oxygen while expelling more carbon dioxide.
According to a recent study, breathing increases from about 15 times per minute to about 40-60 times per minute during exercise. That’s why it’s important to do regular aerobic exercises that allow you to breathe deeply.
This type of exercise is the best workout for your lungs. The muscles between the ribs expand and contract, and the air sacs within the lungs work rapidly to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. The more you train, the more efficient your lungs become.
Building strong, healthy lungs through exercise helps you better resist aging and disease. Even if you develop lung disease over time, exercise helps slow the progression and keep you active longer.
Avoid exposure to pollutants
Exposure to pollutants in the air can damage your lungs and accelerate aging. When you are young and strong, your lungs can easily resist these toxins. But as they get older, they lose some of this resistance and become more susceptible to infection and disease.
It’s important:
- avoid secondhand smoke and try not to go outside during peak air pollution periods;
- avoid training near areas of heavy traffic as there is a risk of inhaling exhaust fumes;
- if you are exposed to pollutants while working, be sure to take all possible precautions. Certain jobs in construction, mining, and waste management can increase your risk of exposure to air pollutants.
L’Indoor pollution is generally worse than outdoor pollutionr. This, coupled with the fact that many spend most of their time indoors, increases exposure to indoor pollutants.
Here are some tips to reduce indoor pollution:
- make the house a zone smokeless;
- dusting furniture and vacuum cleaner at least twice a week;
- frequently open a window to increase indoor air ventilation;
- avoid synthetic air fresheners and candles which can expose you to additional chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene. Use a diffuser for aromatherapy and essential oils to perfume the air in a more natural way;
- I will keep the house the cleanest possible. Mold, dust, and pet dander can get into your lungs and cause irritation;
- if possible, use natural cleaning products and open a window when using products that emit vapors;
- make sure you have fans, extractor hoods and other suitable ventilation methods throughout the house.
Prevent infections
Infections can be particularly dangerous for the lungs, especially as we age.
The best way to avoid lung infections is to keep the clean hands. Wash regularly with warm soapy water and avoid touching your face as much as possible.
Drink lots of water and eat lots of fruits and vegetables because they contain nutrients that help strengthen the immune system.
Below we indicate the recipe of one beverage effective that helps to clean up smoker and ex-smokers from lung secretions.
The necessary ingredients are:
- 1 liter of water
- 400 grams of onions
- 2 tablespoons turmeric powder
- 400 grams of whole cane sugar
- a ginger root
You have to mix the water and sugar, then add the chopped onion and grated ginger to the pan over low heat. Once the mixture starts to boil, just add the turmeric powder and continue cooking until the preparation has reduced by half. Allow the mixture to cool then filter the water and place it in a suitable glass container, preferably to be kept in the refrigerator. Consume 2 tablespoons of this drink in the morning on an empty stomach and two hours before dinner, to be taken every day for two weeks.
It’s important to keep your immunizations up to date, get the flu shot every year, and get your pneumonia shot if you’re 65 or older.
Take a deep breath
Deep breathing helps clear the lungs and creates a complete exchange of oxygen.
In a study published in theIndian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, the researchers asked a group of 12 volunteers to perform deep breathing exercises for 2, 5 and 10 minutes. They tested the volunteers’ lung function before and after the exercises.
They found a significant increase in vital capacity after 2 and 5 minutes of deep breathing exercises. Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air volunteers can exhale from their lungs. The researchers concluded that deep breathing, even for a few minutes, is beneficial for lung function.
Breathing exercises can make your lungs more efficient. You can try it, just sit in a quiet place and inhale slowly through your nose only. Then exhale at least twice as long through your mouth. It can be helpful to count your breaths. For example, as you inhale, count 1-2-3-4. Then, as you exhale, count 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.