Introduction: Sheldon Cohen, a distinguished professor at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, is well-known in the medical community, and he has deeply studied the mystery between human health and longevity, especially the impact of lung function on health.
Professor Cohen believes that lung function is not only the key to maintaining the quality of daily life, but also one of the important indicators of whether a person can live a long and healthy life. He stressed that protecting lung health is the foundation and prerequisite for achieving the goal of longevity.
In modern society, with the intensification of environmental pollution and the change of lifestyle, it has become particularly important to nourish and protect the lungs. So, how to scientifically and effectively nourish the lungs? This is a question that many people are puzzled about. Lung nourishment is not just about simply avoiding smoking and reducing air pollution, but also about comprehensive conditioning in all aspects of life.
How did the lungs of the Chinese "deteriorate" step by step?
The mainland is a country with a large population, and the total number of patients with respiratory diseases has exceeded 100 million.
Among adults over the age of 20, the number of people with COPD is close to 100 million, which is a staggering number.
There are about 45.7 million people with asthma aged 20 and above, and about 8.7 million people with asthma in children and adolescents. Every year, there are about 781,000 new cases of lung cancer in China, which is also a staggering number.
In the face of the high morbidity and mortality of these respiratory diseases, we have to face an embarrassing reality: low awareness rate, low medical treatment rate, low examination rate, and low standard treatment rate.
This stark contrast has undoubtedly brought tremendous challenges to the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases on the mainland. So, how do Chinese lungs "deteriorate" step by step? The answer to this question is not simple, it involves many factors.
smoking
Smoking is the number one enemy of lung health, and China has a large smoker population, and smoking not only directly harms the smoker's own lung health, but second-hand smoke is a potential threat to the surrounding population. Long-term smoking can cause damage to lung tissue, increasing the risk of lung cancer.
air pollution
Air pollution is also an invisible killer of lung health, and with the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization, air pollution is becoming a serious problem.
A large amount of harmful substances such as particulate matter and sulfur dioxide are emitted, which not only affects air quality, but also directly threatens people's lung health. Long-term exposure to polluted air makes the lungs susceptible to damage, causing various respiratory diseases.
Bad lifestyle habits
Bad lifestyle habits are also quietly eroding people's lungs, lack of exercise, irregular diet, reversal of work and rest and other bad lifestyle habits will lead to a decrease in the body's immunity, and the ability of the lungs to resist diseases will also decline accordingly.
Occupational factors
Some specific occupations, such as miners, construction workers, etc., are exposed to dust and other harmful substances for a long time, which can easily cause occupational diseases such as pneumoconiosis, which seriously damages lung health.
Lack of awareness of early prevention and treatment
Lack of awareness of early prevention and treatment of lung diseases is also an important cause of damage to lung health, many people have insufficient awareness of lung diseases, ignore early symptoms, and often wait until the condition is serious to seek medical treatment, missing the best time for treatment.
Whether the lungs are good or not, you can see in 3 places
Breathing conditions
Breathing is the most direct manifestation of the lungs. If you find yourself constantly having trouble breathing, such as feeling out of breath when climbing stairs or doing light exercise, it could be a sign of declining lung function.
Also, if you cough often, especially if it's a persistent dry cough, it could also be a sign of a lung problem.
Skin conditions
Skin conditions also have a relationship with lung health. If your skin is often dull, dull, or has frequent breakouts, pimples, and other problems, it could be a sign of too much toxin accumulation in your lungs.
Because the lungs are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body, if the lungs don't function well, it can lead to a lack of oxygen to the skin.
Lip color
Healthy lips should be rosy. If your lips are often purple or bluish in color, this may be a sign of a lack of oxygen in your lungs. This may be due to lung disease that prevents oxygen from being adequately delivered to the bloodstream.
Bad lungs and can't eat prawns?
The health of our lungs is closely related to our eating habits. One might wonder if people with bad lungs should avoid eating prawns.
In fact, as a nutritious food, prawns contain high-quality protein, trace elements, and a variety of vitamins that are beneficial to the human body. Eating prawns in moderation is beneficial and harmless for most people.
However, for people with poor lung conditions, whether or not they can eat prawns does require more careful consideration.
On the one hand, certain substances in prawns may trigger allergic reactions, which is undoubtedly a burden on the lungs.
On the other hand, the nature of prawns is cold, and excessive consumption may damage the spleen and stomach, which in turn may affect the health of the lungs.
But this does not mean that people with bad lungs should not eat prawns at all. The key is how to mix and consume in moderation. For example, you can choose to cook prawns with other warm ingredients to balance out their cold nature.
At the same time, moderate intake of prawns to avoid excessive consumption is also an important part of protecting lung health.
The doctor reminds: In addition to seafood, try to touch less of the 3 foods
Bacon
As one of the traditional Chinese delicacies, bacon is deeply loved by people because of its unique taste and flavor. However, for people with poor lungs, bacon can be a health hazard. So, why can't people with bad lungs eat bacon?
The production process of bacon requires a long period of curing and smoking, which may produce substances that are harmful to the human body. When cured, meat absorbs a lot of salt, and long-term consumption of high-salt foods may cause blood pressure to rise, which in turn will increase the burden on the lungs.
During the smoking process, bacon may produce carcinogens such as benzopyrene, which can cause damage to lung tissues and even cause cancer.
Spicy and irritating foods
For people with poor lungs, spicy and irritating foods may put a strain on the lungs, causing symptoms to worsen. This is because spicy foods can irritate the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, making them congested and edematous, increasing the production of secretions, which can aggravate symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.
At the same time, spicy foods can also cause acid reflux, further irritating the respiratory tract and making the condition more severe. In addition, irritating foods such as chili, ginger, garlic, etc., all contain high spicy ingredients, which can stimulate the body's nerve endings, causing the body to produce a sense of heat, which will increase body temperature and shortness of breath, thereby increasing the burden on the lungs.
Moreover, these foods may also irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause problems such as indigestion, which in turn affects the body's nutrient absorption and metabolism, and is not good for the recovery of the lungs.
Deep-fried food
Fried foods are usually high in fats and calories, and excessive intake can lead to weight gain, further burdening the lungs. Secondly, harmful substances that may be produced during frying, such as acrylamide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can cause damage to the lungs and aggravate pre-existing respiratory diseases.
In addition, fried foods are often difficult to digest, and long-term consumption may lead to gastrointestinal disorders, which in turn can affect the normal function of the lungs.
Moreover, fried foods usually lack nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, and long-term use of fried foods as the staple food can easily cause nutritional imbalance and affect the self-repair and defense ability of the lungs.
Take these 5 major measures to nourish the lungs and protect the lungs, and you must adhere to them when you are over 50 years old!
Quit smoking and limit alcohol
Smoking is one of the main causes of lung disease, and it is extremely damaging to the lungs. Therefore, quitting smoking is the first measure to nourish and protect the lungs. At the same time, excessive alcohol consumption can also cause adverse effects on the lungs, and the amount of alcohol consumed should be limited.
Keep indoor air fresh
Indoor air pollution is also an important factor affecting lung health. In order to keep indoor air fresh, you can reduce air pollution by opening windows frequently, using air purifiers, and avoiding smoking indoors.
Exercise in moderation
Moderate exercise can enhance lung function and improve the immunity of the respiratory system. It is recommended to choose an exercise method that suits you, such as walking, jogging, swimming, etc., and stick to it for a long time.
Eat a balanced diet
Diet also has a big impact on lung health. It is recommended to maintain a balanced diet and consume more foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, etc., to strengthen the resistance of the lungs.
Regular medical check-ups
Regular physical examinations can detect lung diseases in time, intervene early and avoid deterioration of the condition. It is recommended that people over the age of 50 have at least one lung examination every year, such as chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, etc.
Reading extension: "Squat" every day to nourish two lungs
Traditional Chinese medicine often refers to the lungs as "delicate", not only because it is responsible for our respiratory function, but also because it plays a vital role in coordinating and assisting the heart and managing the flow of qi, blood and fluids throughout the body.
Imagine if our lung function is low, then not only will our ability to exercise be affected, but more importantly, we may be more susceptible to lung diseases such as COPD, which will undoubtedly put a heavy burden on our family life.
Nourishing the lungs has become a part of our daily life that cannot be ignored. Exercise, as one of the effective means of nourishing the lungs, is accepted by the majority of people. Among them, the simple and practical method of squatting is loved by many health enthusiasts. So, how to do the squatting exercise to nourish the lungs?
1. We need to choose a spacious space to ensure that there is enough space for squatting movements;
2. Then, we can start from a standing position, with our feet shoulder-width apart and our hands hanging down naturally;
3. Then, we squat down slowly, trying to keep our buttocks close to the ground, but not completely touching;
4. In this process, we need to keep breathing natural and don't hold our breath;
5. When our hips are close to the ground, we can pause for a moment, then slowly stand up and return to the initial standing position.
Squatting is not only simple and easy to do, but also has a significant effect, by repeating this action, we can effectively exercise the function of the lungs and improve the efficiency of the respiratory system.
At the same time, this exercise can also promote the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body, enhance the body's immunity, and thus help us better resist the invasion of various diseases.