In world of rising air pollution, non-stop exposure to second hand smoke and poisonous fumes, our lungs are getting quite a beating each day. Per estimates of the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to increasing levels of air pollution results in almost 4.2 million deaths globally on an annual basis. Your lungs are extremely vital organs of your body, but few take care of it like it ought to be taken care of. Lung cleansing can prove highly beneficial for smokers, people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, as well as others who are exposed to various toxins from car exhausts, electricity appliances’ emissions and general air pollution on a daily basis.
Do you know that you can periodically clean your lungs to get your breathing in order and purge them of the mucus that gets clogged in the lungs and leads to chest congestion and inflammation? No? Do not worry. After you are done reading this article, you will be on your way to giving your lungs a through, and needed, cleanup.
Steam Therapy
Steam therapy involves inhaling of water vapour, preventing the closure of airways and draining mucus out of lungs. Steam adds moisture to the air which improves overall breathing and loosens the mucus that blocks the airways and lungs. It provides immediate relief. However, this is only a temporary solution and hence more research is needed to understand the overall benefits of steam therapy to treat problems related to lungs. But for any congestion that you might be having, steam trherapy provides instant relief.
Controlled Coughing
Controlled coughing can help in sending the mucus through the airways and is a good technique for naturally eliminating toxins that are trapped in the mucus. This techniques loosens the mucus and sends it up through the airways. Moreover, doctors recommend that people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should perform this exercise for cleansing their lungs.
Drain Mucus From The Lungs
Postural drainage is a technique that involves lying in various positions, in order to use gravity to remove mucus from lungs. This technique helps in breathing and treating different lung diseases. Postural drainage techniques includes different position or techniques such as lying on your back, lying on your side and lying on your stomach.
Exercise
Regular exercising can improve your overall physical and mental wellbeing and reduces the risk of numerous health conditions, including heart diseases and strokes etc. Exercise forces your muscles to exert and also increases your overall breathing rates. This leads to a greater supply of oxygen to the body muscles and improves circulation, making the body more efficient in eliminating excessive carbon dioxide from the body.
But people who suffer from COPD, cystic fibrosis, or asthma should consult a healthcare expert before adopting an exercise regime.
Green Tea
Green tea contains a number of antioxidants that help in reducing inflammation in the lungs. These compounds help in protecting the lung tissues from the harmful effects of smoke inhalation. According to a recent study in Korea, people who consumed at least two cups of green tea daily had better lung function than the ones who consumed none.
Anti-inflammatory Foods
Inflammation of the airways can make breathing difficult and can also cause heaviness in the chest along with congestion. Consuming anti-inflammatory foods can reduce inflammation and can prevent these symptoms. Some common anti-inflammatory foods include leafy greens, turmeric, cherries, blueberries, walnuts, beans, lentils and olives.
Chest Percussion
Percussion is a very effective technique to remove or eliminate mucus from the lungs. Health care experts or respiratory therapist use a cupped hand to rhythmically tap the chest wall to eliminate trapped mucus in the lungs and to clear the airways. Combining chest percussion and postural drainage can help in clearing the airways from mucus.
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