TLI Staff
New Delhi: Lungs are one of the most important organs in the body providing oxygen for all bodily functions and keeping you healthy. It is important to take care of them especially amidst coronavirus outbreak as the disease is known to cause respiratory problems and in serious cases can lead to pneumonia. Also, people with comorbidities are at increased risk of facing the worst of the disease.
Our lungs thrive on movement and physical activity. But amid lockdown, our movements have been limited. As a result respiratory ailments are on rise. Asthama is one of them. It is an inflammatory disease of the airways. Upper respiratory infections (like the common cold, tonsillitis, and sinus infection) are also prevalent. The most common symptom of this is cough and these infections can also lead to runny nose, sore throat, and sneezing, wheezing and even pulmonary fibrosis.
In addition, lower respiratory tract infections (occuring in lungs or breathing airways) include pneumonia (an infection of both the lungs), bronchitis (can be described as an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs), and tuberculosis or TB (a contagious infection that usually attacks your lungs) can also be cause of a trouble. It causes cough, breathlessness, and chest congestion.
Dr Jeenam Shah, Consultant Interventional Pulmonologist, Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central share a few vital tips to boost the lung health during the pandemic.
This is how you can deal with common respiratory problems:
• Include foods such as apples, foods packed with omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts, broccoli that has antioxidants, in your diet. Beans can help fight free radicals that tend to damage your lungs. Berries contain antioxidants, and foods such as papaya, pineapple, Kiwi, cabbage, carrots, turmeric, and ginger can help strengthen the immune system.
• Exercise on a daily basis to cut down those excess kilos, and opt for relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation to relax.
• Avoid smoking or second-hand smoke or toxic inhalants and wear a mask. Hookah and Vaping can also deteriorate your lung health. Hence, avoid these as well. Cover your mouth while coughing and sneezing. Try to keep your asthma medication handy and stock the medications.
• Do breathing exercises regularly. This can help clear mucus from the lungs and also lowers the risk of a flare-up.
• The ones with allergies or any lung disease should be vaccinated for pneumonia and flu as per the advice from the doctor.