Healthy Lungs

Articles

Oct 1

October is Healthy Lung Month, when we focus on the ways we can keep our lungs and respiratory system in optimal health. Many of us do not address our lungs unless we experience a problem breathing. As with so many diseases and disorders, prevention is key. Neglecting our lungs can promote the development of infection and disease from bronchitis, polluted air, smoke, or mold inhalation. We can start to focus on taking care of our lungs at an early age and continue to be mindful of our lung health throughout our lifespan. Breathing is so critical to life and it is important that we do not take that for granted.

How Your Lungs Are Affected

There are many ways to prevent lung disease or to improve the overall quality of breathing by implementing a few mindful practices.

Allergies & Pollutants

The change of season often comes with seasonal allergies, which can cause obstructions in the airway and difficulty breathing. Sometimes during the start of the fall season, we engage outdoors in lawn or garden cleanups and may be exposed to excessive amounts of pollen, dust, and allergens. These particles can disrupt the lung’s function in delivering oxygen to the body and can cause discomfort, among other things. Pollution is another major concern, although difficult to control entirely. If you live in an area or city with a high degree of pollution, it can have an impact over time on your family’s lung health. One way to help get clean air into the lungs is to find your way to a natural area like a forest or open field. Natural spaces can help you breathe cleaner, help you maintain lower levels of stress, and can provide a space to engage in movement or activity.

Smoke Inhalation

Although it may be commonly known today, in the past, many individuals were not aware of the impact smoking has on your lungs. Smoking can be the cause of many different respiratory problems such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, asthma, or emphysema. The buildup in the lungs can result in difficulty breathing and can block the airways and passages from functioning. It is critical that smoking be eliminated from your household to ensure you are able to prevent smoke from affecting your child's lungs. When smoke is in the vicinity of an individual, particularly a child, they may also feel the negative impact it can have on the lungs.

Keep Clean

Even without overt allergies to things like pet dander or pollen, children can develop irritations when excessive amounts are present. Making sure to regularly dust your home, vacuum carpets, wash blankets, and clean rugs will help keep your child’s respiratory system more healthy. In the process of cleaning, it is also helpful to consider any chemical cleaners you are using to clean the house, as these can also become irritants for some children. Look into using unscented or gentler cleaning solutions as a way to mitigate the impact that harsh cleansers can have. Keeping a regular practice of cleaning the house will also help you identify larger issues such as mold.

Maintain Doctor Check-Ups

The best way to ensure your child is not experiencing any respiratory issues is to keep regular check-ups with your healthcare professionals or pediatrician. It is also helpful to explain to your children what shortness of breath feels like, and why the doctor checks your breathing during examinations. This can help them be more alert to changes, or recognize problems as early as possible.

Exercising Your Lungs

Keeping your lungs active helps keep them healthy as we age. Regular exercise is so important for the better function of our whole body, including and perhaps especially the lungs. You can practice expanding the space within your lungs and working on stamina to increase endurance. The lungs also have a great impact on your ability to speak. Air flowing through your vocal cords creates the vibration for your child to talk, cry, shout, sing, or make any sound. Encouraging them to experiment with the sounds they can make will only help them to work out those muscles and use the lungs in different ways and make them stronger.

Infection

A respiratory infection can be dangerous and should be prevented in any possible instance. The flu and colds can become worse when untreated and eventually could lead to pneumonia. Addressing any respiratory health concerns is always best sooner than later. If you are at risk of developing pneumonia, it is best to seek medical attention immediately. You can take measures to prevent the spread of illness by keeping your hands clean and washing them with soap and water whenever possible. Avoiding contact with those who are ill during the cold and flu season can help you prevent spreading their illness to your family. Another concern that is at the forefront of health discussions at this time is preventing COVID-19, which can cause symptoms of shortness of breath and in some cases, develop into pneumonia. Whenever a concern arises, it is best to speak to your healthcare professionals to navigate the best path for you or your family’s individual circumstances.

Engage in Healthy Lung Month by talking with your children about the lungs and how important they are for our lives. Encourage kids to breathe deeply and describe what they feel or what they notice about each breath in or out. You might start a conversation about coughing, laughing, hiccuping, or singing and how your lungs are used in each one. Talk to the team at Tilton’s Therapy about how our team of occupational, physical, or speech therapists could help your child’s strength and mobility.