Lung strength has become a topic of conversation over the last few years due to COVID-19. How can I exercise and strengthen my lungs, so they are in better shape even before getting sick? How can I heal my lungs after being sick? The experts at PulseAir are here to help you know how to strengthen your lungs.
Do Breathing Exercises
There are plenty of different types of breathing exercises you can do to help your lungs. This allows you to get fresh oxygen into your lungs, increase oxygen levels and increase your diaphragm’s working capacity. We’ll cover a few of our favorites here:
- Belly Breathing: Breathe through your nose and fill your belly with air. Breathe out of your mouth two to three times longer than it took you to breathe in through your nose.
- Pursed Air Breathing: More air can flow in and out of your lungs with this exercise. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth for as long as the belly breathing technique – but with pursed lips.
Practice these exercises 5 – 10 minutes each day!
Watch What You Put into Your Body
You want to keep your insides healthy like your outside. Take care of your body by not smoking, eating foods rich in antioxidants, getting your vaccinations, exercising on a regular basis, and improving your indoor air quality by changing your filters and adding plants! It's also important to stay hydrated, so be sure to drink multiple glasses of water each day.
Fix Your Posture
Checking yourself every so often to sit or stand up straight will help improve your lung function. Your lungs can only expand in the room you give them, so if you are constantly slouched, then your lungs can’t expand as much which can make them weaker.
Get a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
If you are continuously experiencing breathing issues, it's important to speak with a doctor. PulseAir offers pulmonary function testing (PFT). Pulmonary function tests measure how well the lungs take in and release air and how well they move gases (such as oxygen) from the atmosphere and into the body’s circulation. Ask your doctor about lung testing if you are older than 40 years and you are a current or former smoker who has either a chronic cough, wheeze, frequent sputum (i.e. bringing up mucous most days), frequent or lengthy colds, and/or shortness of breath while doing everyday chores.