Quitting smoking reduces your chances of getting lung cancer up to half.
You've already taken the first, most important step to improving your lungs' health --- quitting smoking. According to the American Heart Association, blood circulation and carbon monoxide levels normalize shortly after taking that last puff, breathing improves dramatically in short order, and within the next two to three months lung function improves by almost 30 percent. Adding other simple activities to your lifestyle can help reduce the damage caused by years of smoking and increase your lungs' health to improve your breathing.
Instructions
1. Avoid irritants. Chemicals, air pollution, secondhand smoke and cold or excessively humid air might cause your lungs to swell, creating breathing difficulties. Give your lungs the best chance to recover from the smoking's strain by staying away from strong perfumes, cleaning products with powerful odors and smoking areas. Stay indoors on days with bad air quality, below-zero temperatures or high humidity.
2. Practice good hygiene to reduce the chances of catching illnesses that affect your lungs. Wash your hands frequently, take good care of your teeth and mouth, avoid crowded areas during flu season and get a flu vaccine annually.
3. Exercise. At least 30 minutes of vigorous, aerobic exercise three times a week increases cardiovascular health and helps with breathing. Deep-breathing exercises also help increase lung capacity and muscle strength. Several times a day, draw in a deep breath through your nose, and hold it for as long as you can before exhaling. Try to increase the amount of time you can hold your breath.
4. Eat properly. Gassy foods bloat the abdomen, and the distention puts pressure on the lungs, so avoid overindulging in beans, cabbage, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, onions, apples and other foods that cause you to bloat. High-potassium foods help rebuild muscles and thus strengthen breathing. These foods include dairy products, bananas, oranges, pineapple, potatoes and red meat.
5. Cut down on salt. Too much salt intake can result in water retention, affecting breathing.
6. Drink six to eight glasses of water daily. Hydration thins the mucous that gathers in your lungs, making it easier to expel and easing breathing difficulties.
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