#WorldLungDay: Top tips to keep your lungs healthy
This World Lung Day, residents are asked to take a deep breath and think of those who are not able to.
THE theme for this year’s World Lung Day, recognised each year on September 25, is Care for your lungs. The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) expanded on four ways to keep your lungs healthy.
Shaun McLaughlin, who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at an early age, said he knows the difficulty of not being able to breathe with ease. The chronic condition eventually damaged McLaughlin’s lungs to such an extent that he needed a double lung transplant.
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“He was on the waiting list for a new pair of lungs for two years, during which time he was on oxygen 24/7. Just to climb a flight of stairs seemed like an impossible task,” said the managing director of Transplant Education for Living Legacies, Stella de Kock.
He was one of the lucky patients who survived long enough to receive a double lung transplant in 2011. Four years after his transplant, Shaun became a father to twin girls.
FIRS tips for healthy lungs:
Say no to tobacco
Tobacco causes 8 million deaths each year and is the main cause of many lung diseases. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4 000 chemicals, many of them are toxic and can cause cancer.
Get vaccinated
Pneumococcal pneumonia, COVID-19, influenza and whooping cough are examples of respiratory infections that can be prevented by vaccination. Vaccination can also help to protect other people.
Breathe clean air
Air pollution has a negative impact on human health and exposure to it can affect 100% of the population, from unborn babies to the elderly.
Regular exercise
When you exercise, your heart beats faster and your lungs work harder. Your body needs more oxygen to fuel your muscles. Your lungs step up their activity to deliver that oxygen, while expelling additional carbon dioxide. In addition, your lungs expand during exercise compared to when not exercising, preventing compression of the lower lung areas.
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