5 TIPS FOR EASIER BREATHING!
IMPROVE YOUR RESPIRATORY HEALTH WITH THESE SIMPLE STEPS
BREAK THE HABIT: One of the best ways to improve the health of your lungs — and of your entire body — is to stop smoking. Not only is it the major cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, it also makes breathing more difficult in general. Check out the American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking program (lung .org/quit-smoking) to get started.
WORK OUT: Research shows that regular exercise makes your lungs stronger. So, the more active you are, the easier your breathing will be. “Your muscles will require less oxygen to move, and they will produce less carbon dioxide,” says the National Institutes of Health. “This will reduce the amount of air you will need to breathe in and out for a given exercise.”
STAND TALL: Slouching shortens the muscles at the front of your body and reduces your ability to breathe in fully. Standing up tall with your shoulders back, knees straight and belly tucked in may improve your ability to bring in oxygen by as much as 30 percent.
STAY HYDRATED: Drinking water throughout the day helps to thin the mucus lining your airways and lungs. When the mucus becomes too thick, it can slow down overall respiration and make you more susceptible to illness, allergies and other respiratory problems. Shoot for three liters a day.
EAT YOUR BERRIES: They’re delicious, nutritious and good for your lungs! Red and blue fruits like blueberries and strawberries are rich in a flavonoid called anthocyanin, which studies have shown can slow down your lungs’ natural decline as you age.