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"Oh, what's wrong with me? I used to run like the wind, but now I run two steps and gasp like this?"
Aunt Li Jihua, 58, stood on the edge of the park's playground, her hands on her knees, panting. Aunt Li Jihua usually has a regular life and loves sports, especially likes to go to the park every morning to run.
In recent months, however, she has felt that she has become more and more strained when running, and she often loses her breath. At first, she thought that she was just getting older and not as strong as before, but then her condition became more and more serious, so she decided to go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination.
The results of the examination were unexpected, and Liu Fei told the doctor that she was suffering from emphysema. Aunt Li Jihua asked: "Doctor Liu Feijiang, I usually pay attention to my health and insist on running every day, how can I get this disease?"
Dr. Liu Feijiang said: "Teacher Li, running is a good habit, but not everyone is suitable for intense running. Especially when you reach a certain age, or if you have an underlying respiratory disease, you should pay more attention to adjusting your exercise style. ”
Aunt Li Jihua asked, "Then can I continue running?" "Of course you can, but you have to remember the 'three don'ts'." "Don't run on days when the air quality is poor. Air pollution can burden the lungs and is especially detrimental to people with emphysema. ”
"Don't run in extreme weather conditions, too cold or hot weather can put more strain on your heart and lungs. Instead of strenuous sprints or long runs, choose gentle jogging and take care to adjust the pace of your breathing. ”
Aunt Li Jihua carefully wrote down Dr. Liu Feijiang's advice, but she was still curious about the cause of emphysema. Seeing this, Dr. Liu Fei added some causes and precautions for emphysema.
He mentioned that in addition to genetics and long-term smoking, emphysema may also be related to long-term exposure to certain chemicals, dust and other harmful substances.
But in the case of Aunt Li Jihua, it may be related to her years of intense exercise habits, especially running in an environment with poor air circulation.
"Actually, there is one thing that many people overlook, and that is the breathing technique when running. Dr. Liu Feijiang suddenly said, "Many people run and ignore the way they breathe. The correct way to breathe should be to breathe deeply, breathing in your abdomen rather than your chest. ”
Aunt Li Jihua suddenly realized that she often had a rapid wheezing when she ran, almost always breathing through her chest. This discovery made her reflect on her running habits over the years.
Dr. Liu Fei explained: "In the long run, the lungs will not be able to expand sufficiently, and over time, it may accelerate the damage to the lung tissues. ”
In the next few months, Aunt Li Jihua adjusted her running habits according to the advice of Dr. Liu Feijiang. She chooses to jog on the park's boulevard on a morning when the air is fresh, focusing on deep breathing in her abdomen with each run. She also joined a yoga class to learn how to use yoga to improve breathing and increase flexibility.
Time passed day by day, Aunt Li Jihua not only ran more easily, but also felt a lot more relaxed. One day when she came back from running, she said to Dr. Liu Feijiang: "Dr. Liu Feijiang, I feel that I am much healthier now than before!"
However, she still had a question that bothered her: "Doctor Liu Feijiang, if I want to participate in a half marathon, do you think my condition is appropriate?"
Dr. Liu Fei replied, "Mr. Li, your positive adjustment is very good, but considering your emphysema, I suggest that you should keep the status quo first. ”
"Half marathons are more demanding on lung function and can put unnecessary strain on your lungs. We can start with an easier 5km health run and gradually observe and adjust. ”
"Then if I do more strength training, will it also help my lungs?" asked Aunt Li Jihua. Dr. Liu Feijiang said: "Teacher Li, in fact, in addition to traditional aerobic exercises such as jogging, proper strength training is also very beneficial to improve the strength and function of respiratory muscles. Strength training strengthens the pectoralis major and rectus abdominis muscles, which are key muscles that help us breathe effectively. ”
"Our lungs not only need adequate oxygen exchange capacity, but also strong muscle support to make every breath effective," Dr. Liu explained. ”
"For example, strengthening the rectus abdominis and diaphragm muscles can help you better control the pace of your breathing while running and reduce the burden on your lungs caused by improper breathing. ”
What do you think about the lungs that can hurt your lungs?