Our lungs are an important part of our body as it helps to keep us strong and healthy throughout our life. Well, in our day-to-day lives we do not take much care of our lungs until we experience breathing problems. Having healthy lungs is equally important as anything else because the global pandemic has taught us the repercussions of negligence that we do with our bodies. The more negligent we will be, the most worsen our health will be. Having healthy lungs is very important in life and this can only be possible with proper exercise and adopting an active lifestyle while keeping every unfair means such as smoking, pollutants and other risk factors away. With the help of this article, we will try to figure out some of the best breathing exercises that you can do at your home to improve your lung capacity.
How You Can Keep Your Lungs Healthy
Every cell which is present in our body needs oxygen to stay healthy and alive. Whereas the carbon dioxide that we exhale is a waste made by the cells during their normal functioning. This wastage in the form of carbon dioxide has no use in our bodies and should be put out. This process of taking fresh oxygen from outside and moving out the waste product is primarily done by our lungs. Our lungs are designed in such a manner, that it helps our body to make this particular process efficiently, every time we breathe in and out. This is the job of healthy lungs that should be done normally, any discrepancies towards this functioning will lead to various problems. Below are some of the things that we should quit at the earliest to have a better functioning of our lungs.
- Quit Smoking – Smoking is dangerous for our lungs, as it includes many harmful chemicals i.e., nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar. These toxins damage our lungs in an utmost way. Smoking increases mucus in our lungs, thus making it difficult for our lungs to clean themselves. Besides all, breathing airways in our body narrow gradually, making it difficult for us to breathe. To have healthy lungs smoking should be quit at the earliest.
- Keep out from Pollutants – As global warming is depleting the need for clean and fresh air from the earth, we should be extra cautious to protect our lungs, whenever we move out. As the environment is exposed to pollutants in the air, chances seem high of damaging our lungs. Well, it might not be affecting some, but as we get older, our resistance power tends to lose, making us more vulnerable to infections and diseases. As our environment is filled with life-threatening pollutants, in such a condition it is our responsibility to take utmost care of ourselves to have healthy lungs.
- Regular Exercise – Performing regular exercise is probably the most important thing you can do for the health of your lungs. Just as exercise keeps your body in shape, it keeps your lungs in a healthier state too. When you exercise, your heart beats faster and your lungs work harder. Your body needs more oxygen to fuel your muscles. Your lungs step up their activity to deliver that oxygen while expelling additional carbon dioxide.
Best Exercises for Healthy Lungs
1.) Pursed Lip Breathing – Pursed Lip Breathing is one of the breathing exercises for healthy lungs. This exercise reduces the number of breaths you take and keeps your airways open longer. More air can flow in and out of your lungs so you can be more physically active. To practice it, simply breathe in through your nose and breathe out at least twice as long through your mouth, with pursed lips.
2.) Belly Breathing – Belly breathing is one of the breathing exercises for healthy lungs. Belly breathing or abdominal breathing is an exercise that is treated best for the lungs. Practising this exercise allows strengthening your abdominal muscle and offers to train your brain to breathe from your diaphragm, not from your chest. Breathe out through your mouth at least two to three times as long as you inhale. Be sure to relax your neck and shoulders as you retrain your diaphragm to take on the work of helping to fill and empty your lungs.
3.) Yoga – Practicing yoga is one of the breathing exercises for healthy lungs. A meticulous exercise like yoga will certainly be a stress buster and a boon to having healthy lungs. It has been observed that practising yoga will ease your health, anxiety and physical tension. The controlled breathing pattern in yoga will keep you mentally and physically strong, thus allowing your lungs to intake more air, compare to normal circumstances.
4.) Laughing – Laughing is one of the breathing exercises for healthy lungs. Laughing is a great exercise to work the abdominal muscles and increase lung capacity. It clears out your lungs by forcing enough stale air out that allows fresh air to enter into more areas of the lung. Laughter is good for the lungs as it provides an aerobic workout for the diaphragm. Laughter empties the lungs of more air than they take in, which results in a cleansing effect in much the same way that an act of deep breathing does.
5.) Buteyko Breathing – Buteyko Breathing is one of the breathing exercises for healthy lungs. The idea behind Buteyko Breathing is that people tend to hyperventilate to breathe faster and more deeply than necessary. Rapid breathing can increase symptoms like shortness of breath in people with asthma. Buteyko breathing uses a series of exercises to teach you how to breathe slower and deeper.
6.) Box Breathing – Box Breathing is one of the breathing exercises for healthy lungs. This is a powerful but simple relaxation technique that aims to return breathing to its normal rhythm after a stressful experience. It may help clear the mind, relax the body, and improve focus. Box breathing is also known as resetting the breath or four-square breathing. It is easy to do, quick to learn, and can be highly effective in stressful situations.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
