One of the most natural things we do every day is to breathe. It happens without even thinking about. In fact, we take about 25,000 breaths each day.
As we breathe, oxygen enters the bloodstream, is delivered to cells and removes carbon dioxide from our body. It’s an important job, which is why it’s necessary to do what you can to reduce your risk of lung disease.
According to UTMB Health, there are six things you can do to keep your lungs healthy:
- Avoid air pollution or products of combustion.
- Avoid respiratory illness. This means you should avoid sick people, practice good hand hygiene, try not to touch your face and vaccinate against respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and the flu.
- Do not vape or smoke. You should stay away from secondhand smoke and, if you smoke currently, quit as soon as possible.
- Exercise and stay active.
- Improve indoor air quality with filters.
- Practice breathing exercises.
Typical warning signs of lung disease can include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing, excessive mucus production or frequent respiratory infections.
A pulmonologist can help distinguish between different lung conditions, as not all wheezing is due to asthma and not all shortness of breath in smokers is related to COPD. An accurate diagnosis is essential for proper treatment.
Lung cancer prevention
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with more than 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
However, there is hope through these two prevention strategies.
- Don’t smoke. The CDC reports that nearly 90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking. You can significantly reduce your risk of developing lung cancer by never smoking, or if you currently smoke, by quitting.
- Get lung screening. Early detection through routine screening can lower the risk of dying from lung cancer. Screening is recommended for people between the ages of 50 and 80 who have a moderate smoking history and have smoked within the past 15 years. Early detection can improve outcomes by identifying the cancer when treatment options are most effective.
UTMB Health’s Division of Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine is committed to preventing and treating respiratory diseases. The health system provides care for patients with respiratory conditions and serves as a valuable resource for regional physicians involved in managing these conditions.
To learn more, click or tap here.