Lung Health Tips * Nutrition & Eastern Herbs *
Posted by Dave Leong on May 20th 2010
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Lung Health Tips * Nutrition & Eastern Herbs *
Put a Spring in Your StepFlowers are blooming, the clouds are parting and the breeze feels great - spring is upon us. More people are out walking, jogging and riding bikes. While the warmer weather makes it easier for us to enjoy the outdoors, not everyone has an easy time breathing the fresh spring air. We typically breathe more than 20,000 times per day. When we do, our lungs take in oxygen from the surrounding air and deliver it to the bloodstream. This helps the cells in our bodies function and multiply. But when we're exposed to unhealthy levels of pollution, it weakens our lungs and our ability to breathe. Read on for useful information about how to support your lungs the natural way.* Every Breath You TakeThe American Lung Association differentiates your lungs from most of the other organs in your body because, "their delicate tissues are directly connected to the outside environment." With each breath you take, the contents of the air infiltrate your lungs, including germs, smog, tobacco smoke and other harmful substances. As you breathe in these elements, they can cause damage to your airways and threaten your lungs' ability to work at full capacity. While your body is well-equipped with natural defenses to ward off these pollutants, here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of lung disease:
Lung Health: An Eastern Medicine Point of ViewDid you know that asthma is the most common lung disease? Other lung disorders include chronic bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer. While many theories offer an explanation of the origins of these diseases, Dr. Graeme Shaw's experience leads him to believe that hyperexcitability of the cell membrane could be a contributing factor. Join Dr. Shaw as he explores this common cause and recommends some healthy lifestyle choices in his article, "Lung Disease, Asthma, Emphysema, Bronchitis and Lung Cancer: Common Causes and What You Can Do."*
Watch Out For These Warning SignsIf you haven't been taking good care of your lungs, don't allow yourself to get too stressed, as that could lead to other health issues. Instead, pay careful attention to your health and consult your doctor as soon as possible if any of these warning signs occur:
Exercise Can Help Your LungsChances are, if you have chronic lung problems, you also have difficulty exercising. Since shortness of breath can be a tremendous obstacle to exercise, your motivation to engage in physical activity may be very low or even nonexistent. The truth is, muscle fatigue is an even greater issue than breathlessness in patients with lung problems. According to an article in the New York Times, even though exercise does not directly improve lung function, it may help strengthen limb muscles, which improves endurance and reduces shortness of breath. Long-term exercise may even help control exercise-induced asthma (EIA). In cases of EIA, thorough warm-up and cool-down periods before and after a short burst of exercise can significantly reduce EIA events.* |
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