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"The weather is so nice today, how about we go cherry picking?" Li Guoqing proposed enthusiastically, and then drove with his family to the orchard in the suburbs.
After the fruit picking, the family sat down at a quaint restaurant on the edge of the orchard and enjoyed simple but delicious farmhouse cuisine, surrounded by a tranquil rural landscape.
At the dinner table, as the delicious farmhouse dishes gradually bottomed out, the topic inevitably turned to the topic that has recently made Li Guoqing's mood a little heavy - health problems.
Li Guoqing, 61 years old, is a high school history teacher who is loved by students.
He was recently diagnosed with emphysema, which was both unexpected and troubling for him.
Just as the family was enjoying the warm time, his daughter Li Na suddenly asked: "Dad, I heard that even walking can hurt your lungs, is this true?"
This question suddenly made the otherwise relaxed atmosphere a little heavy.
How can walking, which is often seen as a healthy activity, harm the lungs?
Li Guoqing pondered for a moment and began to explain to his family that walking itself is not harmful to the lungs, but if you walk in an environment with poor air quality, such as inhaling too much car exhaust or pollutants emitted by industry, then in the long run, these harmful substances may indeed cause damage to the lungs.
Li Guoqing further explained the specific cause of his emphysema.
Emphysema is a chronic obstructive lung disease that is mainly due to damage to the alveoli, resulting in weakened respiratory function.
For Li Guoqing, years of smoking habits are the main reason. In addition, he used chalk in the classroom for a long time, and chalk dust also had a certain irritating effect on the lungs, which may also be a contributing factor to the development of the disease.
The doctor specifically reminded Li Guoqing to pay attention to four things to control the progression of emphysema.
The first is to quit smoking, which is one of the most effective measures to improve the condition.
Secondly, try to avoid outdoor activities on days with poor air quality, especially walking, etc.
Third, reduce the amount of time spent in dusty environments, such as the chalk-heavy classrooms where he works all year round.
Finally, the doctor advised him to do specialized breathing exercises and, if possible, lung rehabilitation to enhance lung function.
Although Li Guoqing has quit smoking, he still needs to make many adjustments in his daily life, such as avoiding chalk as much as possible and using dust-free whiteboard markers for teaching.
Through the doctor's detailed explanation, Li Guoqing and his family have a deeper understanding that the maintenance of lung health is not only about avoiding the direct harm of smoking, but also many details of daily life also need to be paid attention to.
Through the doctor's story, the family also learned about the cases of other patients.
For example, a worker who had been working on a construction site containing asbestos for a long time eventually developed emphysema due to prolonged exposure to harmful dust.
There was also a housewife who suffered the same illness due to her family's long-term use of wood and coal as cooking fuel.
"Amid the conveniences and challenges of modern life, how can we protect our lung health more effectively, especially for those who already have respiratory diseases?"
For people with respiratory conditions, wearing an N95 mask or higher is necessary when going out on days with poor air quality.
This mask effectively filters out most harmful particles from the air, reducing its chances of entering the respiratory system.
It is also important to monitor air quality and adjust your daily activities accordingly. Many cities have air quality monitoring stations where the public can access data in real-time via the web or mobile app.
On days with a high air quality index (AQI), avoid outdoor sports and activities, especially near streets with heavy traffic or in industrial areas.
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