How To Keep Lungs Healthy

Your lungs do a fantastic job every day. They supply large amounts of oxygen to your blood system, which allows you to work, play, and live well. They remove carbon dioxide and other gaseous waste that is unnecessary to your body. There are several things you can do to keep your lungs healthy and protect them against disease.

1. If You Smoke, Get Help To Quit

And if you’re a non-smoker, stay that way. Smoking is the leading cause of severe lung diseases like lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoke contain over 4,000 harmful chemicals – 50 of which are known causes of cancer. Even if you’ve smoked for a very long time, it’s never too late to quit and reap the benefits of a smoke-free life. Quitting smoking is difficult, but there are several resources available to you.

2. Avoid Second-Hand Smoke

Second-hand smoke is a complex mixture of chemicals resulting from the combustion of tobacco. Like primary smoke, it can cause illness and death. Two-thirds of cigarette smoke is not inhaled by the smoker but released into the surrounding air.

 Here Are Some Things You Can Do To Avoid Secondhand Smoke:

• Ban smoking from your home, car, and workplace.
• Place “no smoking” signs in your home, car, and workplace.
• Support smoke-free businesses and activities.
• Make sure your kids are not exposed to second-hand smoke at daycare or with relatives or friends.

3. Wash Your Hands Properly With Normal Soap And Water

It is estimated that 80% of common respiratory infectious diseases like colds and flu are spread through the hands. You can reduce your risk of getting sick by learning how and when to wash your hands.

• Teach your children to wash their hands well.
• Post information about handwashing in your workplace.
• Avoid antibacterial soaps and cleansers – they can lead to antibiotic resistance.
• Use an alcohol-based hand wash gel when you don’t have access to soap and water.

4. Be Aware Of Air Pollution And Help Make The Air Healthier

Indoor and outdoor air pollution can cause health problems, especially for people with lung diseases. Polluted air can irritate or even destroy lung tissue. Even a low level of air pollution can lead to health problems. Children, seniors, and people with chronic (long-term) illnesses are the most vulnerable. Monitor your local air quality index – if outdoor pollution is high, stay indoors. There are several things you can do to protect indoor and outdoor air quality:

Outside

• Do not leave your car’s engine running when you are parked; avoid open fires.
• Avoid using pesticides and other chemicals on your lawn and in your garden.
• Use public transportation.
• Support laws aimed at improving air quality.

Inside

• Control the humidity level in your home: For example, use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove humidity. Keep the relative humidity between 30% and 50% in the house.
• Maintain your ventilation devices: Have your furnace, heat pump, and central air conditioner inspected and cleaned regularly by professionals.
• Clean Surfaces: Keep surfaces exposed to moisture such as baths, showers, and kitchen counters clean and dry.
• Manage dust (especially if you are allergic to animal dandruff and dust mites): Dust mites thrive in mattresses, sofas, upholstered furniture, and bedding. To remove them, wash your bedding in hot water (at least 54.5 ° C or 130 ° F). Keep carpets clean and dry.
• Ventilate the area: Be sure to circulate fresh air around your house. Open your windows when cleaning, installing new carpet, or doing other household projects.

5. Protect Yourself Against Lung Health Risks At Work

People who work in specific fields like construction or the mining industry have a greater risk of developing lung diseases like lung cancer, asthma, and COPD. If you are frequently exposed to dust, asbestos, or chemicals in your job, wear protective equipment, including a gas mask, and ventilate your workplace.

Also read: The Benefits Of Using Online Pharmacies

Maintain a Healthy Home in a Post Covid World

Maybe the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over yet. But the beginning of the end is very apparent, at least in the U.S., while other countries, like India, continue to struggle with its sickly and deadly effects. But as we gradually approach what will certainly be a post-COVID world sooner than later, a renewed sense of cleanliness, wellness, and health in the home is pervasive.

In short, people will continue to be germ/virus conscious long after the last case of COVID-19 is diagnosed. Who wants to take chances on getting the disease just because it’s said to have been eradicated?

But COVID isn’t the only thing to worry about when it comes to hidden dangers inside the home. Says a new report, most of us spend at least half our lives inside our homes. At the same time, we rarely take into account the direct connection between our housing and our overall health.

Home health concerns aren’t just limited to germs and the COVID-19 virus either. For instance, maybe your filthy air conditioner filter needs replacing. Or maybe your toxic chemical-filled, hard tap water requires filtering by a Brita under sink water filter. Perhaps moldy carpets need to be ripped out and hard wood floors installed in their place. Perhaps the chipping, lead-based paint needs to be removed. All of these changes will make your home a healthier place to live. But for now, let’s concentrate on keeping your home as germ free as possible.

That said, here are some effective ways you can maintain a healthy home both while the COVID-19 Pandemic winds down and after it’s been declared eliminated.

Plastic and Steel

Viruses tend to hang around on plastic and stainless steel surfaces longer than other materials like wood. You should be consistently spraying all surfaces regardless of their make, and also scrubbing them to make sure they are clean.

The Kid’s Toys

There’s nothing more covered in germs than little kid’s rubber toys. You will want to wash them in warm soapy water on a daily basis. This includes the toys your kids use in schools and at home.

If you can’t wash them yourself, then run them in the dishwasher and/or spray them with a 70-percent ethyl-alcohol rinse.

Cell Phones

You should clean your phone every time you return from an outing or work. Use an alcohol rinse or an alcohol wipe.

Flooring

Floors are easily covered not only in dirt and dust, but whatever you’ve stepped in outside is easily transported inside. That is, you keep your shoes on upon entering your home, like most people do. The best solution to dirty carpets is to use a steam mop along with a spray cleaner.

However, whether or not steam kills germs and/or something as powerful as the COVID-19 virus, is something that’s still up for scientific debate. But steaming can’t hurt. Some people will tell you steam kills up to 99-percent of all germs. One benefit of steam is that it will not leave a chemical residue which can harm your pets or your kids.

Clothes

With people starting to get out and about more often, you still need to wash your clothing and clothe masks in warm/hot soapy water and preferably in a washing machine in soft, filtered water. Clothing with less outdoor exposure, like pajamas, can be washed in cold water.

Windows

Windows gather dust, dirt, and grime on the outside, germs and bacterial agents on the inside. Use an alcohol-based spray inside and out. But on the inside the experts will tell you a mixture of vinegar and water will do the trick. Who knew?

Dust Covered Rugs

You should vacuum at least once per week, pandemic or no pandemic. Believe it or not, your home is filled with toxins. Vacuuming and dusting at least once per week will assist in mitigating your exposure.

Bathrooms

This is probably no brainer, but you need to clean your bathroom every other day, including floors and walls. Make sure you get all the handles and spigots. Yes, you will need to clean the toilet thoroughly, maybe even on a daily basis if you have some rugrats running around. That means getting up inside the bowl to clean all the little nooks and crannies. It’s not a glamorous job, but proper hygiene is very important.

Your Food

You are not the only person to touch your food. Not by a long shot. You are merely the last person to touch it. That means you should wash all your fresh produce and fruits prior to consuming. Always rinse thoroughly. Even if your iceberg lettuce comes wrapped in clear plastic, never serve without washing it. It’s harvested not only with the help of chemicals and other toxins to keep the bugs at bay, but also manure. That alone should make you want to clean your veggies.

Also, it pays to rinse your chicken as soon as you remove it from the package. The same goes for packages beef and pork products.

The Air

Air purifiers for every bedroom will help keep the environment free of dust and toxins. This is especially important if you suffer from allergies. Air fresheners, it should be noted, do not clean the air. They also leave a chemical residue that is said to cause more damage than good.

Also, You can find more helpful resources at Popbom.