WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LUNG DISEASES, AND HOW TO PROTECT YOUR LUNGS

Every time we breathe, air enters our lungs and oxygen moves from our lungs to our blood. Every time we exhale, carbon dioxide moves from our blood to our lungs and is then expelled when we breathe out. This process is repeated thousands of times every day, and unless you face a respiratory issue, you likely never pay attention to the process.

Human bodies have a natural defense mechanism designed to protect your lungs and keep the harmful bacteria at a distance. However, there are still many harmful factors that can affect our lungs. You may inadvertently be causing irreparable damage to your lungs and will not even be aware of it until serious symptoms occur. With the global COVID-19 pandemic strong and healthy lungs are more important than ever. Lung health is a critical part of wellness at every point in our lives. That is the reason why taking great care of our lungs should be a priority.

Understanding the risks that your lungs can be exposed to is important so that you can take appropriate actions and alter your behaviors if necessary:

1. COVID-19:

Similar to other respiratory illnesses, COVID-19 has the ability to cause long-term lung damage. Since the disease is new and healthcare specialists and scientists are still exploring the long-term impacts, we are still not clear on what impact this will have on COVID-19 patients during their recovery and beyond. We are aware now that the type of pneumonia associated with COVID-19 affects both the lungs, is severe in nature and can often lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) which is a form of lung failure. Patients of ARDS frequently need to be put on a ventilator. Even after recovering from COVID-19, patients’ complaint of difficulty in breathing. While more information about the long-term effects of COVID-19 continues to pour through, it is extremely important to continue to protect yourself and your family from this serious disease. Always wear a mask outside of your home, wash your hands frequently and use hand-sanitizer, avoid going into crowded places and steer clear of anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

2. Smoking:

Everyone is aware of the serious health consequences of smoking cigarettes. Smoking can drastically increase risk of lung cancer. Smoking is the number one reason for the causing chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It causes chronic inflammation and narrows the passages making it hard to breathe. Cigarette smoking also exposes us to Carcinogens which are harmful to the spongy tissues that our lungs are made of. This could lead to lung cancer. The good news is that quitting smoking after years or decades can lead to an immediate reduction in your risk for lung cancer and other harmful conditions.

3. Air Quality:

Many of us suffer from poor quality of air due to pollution, symptoms may include labored breathing, cough, shortness of breath and lightheadedness with minimal exertion. While minimal exposure is unlikely to cause permanent damage, prolonged exposure can lead to multiple complications such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and even cancer. It may not be possible to avoid poor air quality completely, you can however protect yourself by closely monitoring air quality and avoiding or minimizing outdoor activity when the air quality is in unhealthy ranges. There are a multitude of mobile applications that can give you access to real-time air quality measurements. When faced with poor air quality, you can work out indoors, keep your windows tightly closed and consider using a HEPA filter in your house to reduce the fine particle material (inhalable matter) that is the cause of breathing problems.

4. Vaping:

In recent times Vaping or e-cigarettes have become popular among teenagers and young adults. This alternative to smoking is far from safe and can cause significant lung damage. Researchers do not yet completely understand the harmful impact on long-term health, they do know that the chemicals used in creating the vapor that is inhaled can include dangerous irritants including formaldehyde and acrolein. These can cause lung damage and lead to heart disease. Prolonged vaping can also cause bronchitis obliterans which causes wheezing, chronic cough, breath shortness or pneumonia which is a serious condition. Vaping is far from being safe and harmful impact to lungs is a very real possibility.

Lungs are a remarkably resilient organ and will continue to work overtime to keep us breathing. Lung diseases of any type however, are serious and need to be promptly diagnosed and treated. Talk to your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Chronic Bronchitis
• Shortness of breath
• Appetite loss
• Wheezing
• Chest pain that worsens with cough
• Cough that does not go away with traditional remedies and gets worse over time.