All the cells in your body require oxygen. Without it, they couldn't move, build, reproduce, and turn food into energy. In fact, without oxygen, they and you would die! How does one get oxygen? Our Respiratory system takes care of that. Breathing in air supplies us with this essential element, which our Blood circulates to all parts of the body. But honestly, not many of us must have given a thought to this wonderful and spontaneous mechanism. Your Lungs are real hard workers! Whether you're wide-awake while pepping for that big date or asleep during lazy afternoons, you don't have to think about breathing. It's so important to life that it happens automatically. Once in a while it makes you feel its presence-that is when you Cough, sneeze, or get hiccups. If you don’t breathe, you cannot live. You can't see your Lungs, but it's easy to feel them in action. Most of us are not breathing properly by breathing air up into our Chest. Look at yourself in the mirror. Your Lungs hang all the way down toward the bottom of your rib cage. More than likely, you're not filling them up with the precious air they need. Most of us inflate just the upper portion. That extra oxygen you gifted your body with is now moving through your bloodstream, slightly increasing your flow, and getting rid of excess waste and fat. All that in a matter of seconds! But we don’t really pay much attention to our breathing pattern. Infact we take our system for granted. For our car, we can rely on a mechanic to perform maintenance. But we cannot do the same with our body! Either we take care of it or ourselves goes undone causing problems for the future.

Taking care of our Lungs is very important and many mostly ignore this. We, through this section, wish to increase your awareness and offer you a lifestyle support to feel great all the time!

Do's

First step that you can take, to show that you care for your Lungs, is to quit smoking. When you smoke tobacco, the Lungs absorb nicotine present in it. It quickly moves into the bloodstream, where it is circulated throughout the Brain. It acts on the nerves that control respiration to change breathing patterns. To quit smoking keep a positive stand, drink enough water and follow a proper diet.

Do deep breathing daily. Usually we use only 25% of our lung capacity, leaving 75% of our lung capacity unused. Deep Breathing allows us to utilize full capacity of our Lungs. This provides more oxygen to our bodies, and energizes and rejuvenates every organ and Cell in our bodies. To get the feel of proper diaphragmatic breathing, wear loose clothing and lie on the back. Place the hand on the upper Abdomen, where the Diaphragm is located. Breathe in and out slowly. The Abdomen should expand outward as you inhale and contract as you exhale.

Keep the rooms well ventilated. Ventilation helps in bringing in fresh air. Keep the doors of all rooms for proper circulation.

Maintain low indoor humidity. Do encasement of mattresses with moisture-impermeable covers. Excess moisture, high humidity and water leakage often lead to the growth of mould. It also increases risks of airway inflammation, Asthma and upper Respiratory infections. The humidity can be lowered by frequent vacuuming, allowing sunlight and keeping the room well aired.

Eat foods rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin E and beta-carotene. These nutrients are essential for healthy function of delicate lung and bronchial tissues, including the removal of irritants that we get from auto exhaust, smoke, volatile solvents, and unclean air. Diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as fish and eggs help in decreasing the Respiratory sensitiveness, thereby helping in controlling the allergies.

Today we live in a mechanical world but we need to find time for exercise. Walking is the best exercise but one can also go for aerobic or Yoga. This greatly improves the quality of life.

Dont's

Avoid junk foods, foods high in saturated fats, and/or simple sugars (including white sugar and white flour), and/or salt. They increase histamine production in the body, which increases inflammatory and allergic reactions. Consume more of natural and organic food. Stay away from pollution. It damages the lung Alveoli and increases the chances of Lung cancer. Wear pollution mask when going in any polluted areas. Avoid exposure to fumes, dust and dirt. Use masks while cleaning the house. Avoid use of aerosol products such as mosquito spray and perfumes, avoid using mats and coils. They contain chemicals that can trigger allergic reaction or can even aggravate the Respiratory problems. Say ‘no’ to houseplants. They are the major source of allergens and moulds because of the damp soil and the pollens.

Holistic approach means considering the person as a whole entity. It is not just about treating his bodily symptoms but also the mind and spirit, which are a part of his existence too. Alternative medicine is made up of a rich array of techniques, principles, and medical systems. Much of what is labelled as alternative medicine comes to us from other cultures or from ancient healing traditions. But they all have a holistic approach and now they are being widely used not only to treat diseases but also to preserve health. In cases of Asthma- Acupuncture, chiropractice, Homoeopathy, Ayurveda, all have already proved their potential. Massage Therapy also offers a special type of Massage called tui na which reduces Anxiety associated with Asthma. It improves symptoms and even improves lung functioning capacity. Biofeedback is also very effective in treating most of the breathing disorders. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses herbs to alleviate breathing associated complaints. But major contribution of alternative therapies is that they also help in perseverance of health. They have been widely used to take care of our precious Respiratory system. Yoga in addition to general relaxation and reduction of stress, improves the lung function and exercise capacity. Most people use only a fraction of their lung capacity for breathing. This in the long run affects our state of health. Meditation, which also involves special, breathing techniques, helps to improve the endurance and breathing pattern. Pranayam which means to control prana or life, regulates the breathing which in turn controls mind. Healing is usually not as simple as taking a pill or a natural remedy. Healing goes deeper than curing and occurs when the Root cause is overcome and the systems of the mind-body, including emotions and spirit are strong and vital. Lets improve our quality of life one breath at a time. You can survive a lot of days without eating, and live lifelong without hearing or vision. But you can’t live even a few minutes without breathing. Here lies the significance of lung care.