Lungs are one of the most important organs in your body. If you are breathing, then you know your lungs are working for you. Although chances are you may not even think about your lungs so much. If your lungs could talk, the only thing they would ask you is to keep them healthy and not abuse them so much. They have to work continuously for you to help you breathe. Some of the most common causes of lung damage include smoking, pollution and household items like asbestos, bird protein and mold. Lung damage affects more than 200 million people in the world, 65 million of whom have moderate or severe lung disease. If you have symptoms like chronic cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or chronic chest pain then they are chance of you having some degree of lung problem. Below are some remedies to reverse lung damage.
Quit Smoking
We are all aware of the health issues associated with smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of lung damage. Although any damage done to the lungs and airways cannot be totally reversed, giving up smoking can help prevent further damage. Quitting may be all the treatment that is needed in the early stages of lung damage. It is never too late to stop smoking.
Limit Physical Activity
If you are someone with damaged lungs, breathing can be taxing and it will take more energy than the average person. Therefore , try getting plenty of sleep at night and plan for one rest period each day. Elevate your head at night and your feet during the day when your ankles swell. Rest before and after activities. Make realistic plans for chores and avoid extreme exertion, such as heavy lifting, raking and shoveling.
Use Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil has been known to be beneficial for a lot of problems including lung damage. It contains a natural compound called eucalyptol which has antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties. This can help open up your airways and can also help reduce mucus production from the lungs. One recent study suggested adding 12 drops of eucalyptus oil to 150 milliliters of boiling water and inhaling up to three times a day will give the best results.
Consume Green Tea
Green Tea contains many antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation in the lungs. These compounds even protect lung tissue from the harmful effects of smoke inhalation. A recent study involving more than 1000 adults reported that people who drank at least 2 cups of green tea per day had better lung function than those who drank none. Therefore drinking green tea is one of the important habits to reverse lung damage.
Eat Tomatoes
You will be surprised to know that tomatoes can be beneficial in the goal to reverse lung damage. According to a new study, eating tomatoes can help slow the damage to your lungs, by reversing it. Eating more than two tomatoes per day has been shown to slower the decline in lung function as well.
Eat Turmeric
Turmeric has been used as a food additive for centuries because of its various health benefits. A recent study reported that curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, has a wide variety of benefits for people suffering with lung disease. It can help prevent and modulate inflammation in the airways, plus it manages stress caused by lack of oxygen in the body. Mix turmeric and ginger with boiling water and drink daily for best results.
Maintain Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight does not necessarily mean being just reducing body weight. If you have lung damage, being underweight can be just as harmful. If you are significantly overweight, your heart and lungs have to work a lot harder. This can make breathing more difficult by putting pressure on your lungs. Being underweight means you are at a greater risk of aggravating lung damage due to less muscle strength and poor immune system function in underweight people. Therefore, just try to maintain a balanced healthy weight and see the positive effects on your lungs.
Steam Inhalation
Steam inhalation involves inhaling water vapor to open the airways. This helps the lungs to drain mucus. People with lung damage may notice their symptoms worsen in cold or dry air. This climate can dry out the mucus in the airways and restrict blood flow and makes it harder for you to breathe. Steam also adds warmth and moisture to the air, which improves breathing and can help loosen mucus inside the airways and lungs.
Stay Active
Staying active can be a double edged sword for people with lung damage. Being short of breath all the time is not the best motivator for getting up and moving around. Exercises such as walking, jogging and biking can be quite challenging. An interesting alternative can be water based exercises, such as aqua walking and swimming. Yoga has also been shown to be beneficial in the goal to reverse lung damage by improving lung function and exercise tolerance.
Healthy Diet
Having a heathy diet is an important habit to reverse lung damage. Increase the portion of vegetables and fruits in your daily diet. Reduced amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables are associated with lung damage. Fruits and vegetables contain high levels of antioxidants, which have been shown to protect against this type of damage.