Exhaust smoke? Exhaust smoke contains irritants and carcinogens, just a little worse than cigarettes because it contains sulphur, lead etc. So avoid exhaust smoke as much as you can. It will also be helpful to avoid smoke produced by local vegetation burns. This smoke is just as bad for your lungs.
If you are allergic to pollen, dander, house hold dust, conifers or the dust mite it is best to avoid these. These allergens can enter your lungs, cause inflammation and cause broncho spasm or an asthma attack.
Doing exercises have many benefits. These increase the capacity of the lungs to exchange gas and also make the body more robust. Light jogging of about 6 to 10 minutes is very helpful.
If you are allergic to certain foods you need to avoid them. I have seen patients who unknowingly consumed peanuts (they were allergic to them) end up on a respirator. I am not in a position to know how many did not reach Emergency Department or the ICU.
If you are heavier than you should be than consider loosing weight. More weight means that your heart and lungs need to work harder to supply oxygen and nutrients and also work hard at removing waste material. The body has to transport the oxygen and nutrients through longer blood vessels. All this extra work means that your body needs more oxygen, therefore you will have to breathe harder. Loose weight and you will breathe easier too.
It is easier to breathe in humidified air because gas exchange can take place more easily. In extremely cold weather, it may be a good idea to humidify the internal home environment. Extremely dry air dries up the mucosa of the mouth and nose predisposing the patient to mouth and chest infections.
The consumption of alcohol paralyses the cilia temporarily. It is also a poison which is in part excreted by the lungs. It is for this reason that you are able to smell the alcohol on the breath of someone who has been drinking. So, as far as breathing is concerned, it is not a good idea to drink alcohol.
For years people in the UK have drinking cuppa after cuppa of tea. Until recently the reasons behind this habit were not clearly understood. Now it is known that tea contains a weal bronchodilator and hence the cuppa seems to help the breathing.
If you or your patient has a tracheostomy the air and oxygen should always be humidified because it is going straight into the lungs. If the patient is breathing spontaneously and is on room air then a humidification device known as a “Swedish Nose” must be used.
Breathing is more difficult in thin air. So if you are an asthmatic or have some other breathing problem you may want to live at sea level. You will definitely find it easier to breathe at sea level. If your breathing is really bad, and you have the money you can go down in hyperbaric chamber and relieve your breathing problems, temporarily.
A patient can measure his/her lung function using a peak flow meter. This is usually available in the GPs clinic or in the Emergency Department of your local Hospital.
A good pair of lungs is better than the best ventilator money can buy. So look after them. The next article will deal with medications which help to improve breathing. Breathing medications are usually prescribed by treating medical doctors and are patients specific.
