How To Keep Your Lungs Healthy This Winter?

Cold air, rising pollution and increased indoor sitting makes winter a little tough for our lungs. If you notice congestion, breathlessness, frequent respiratory infection and chest tightness, it can indicate extra strain on our lungs. 

Both adults and children, especially those with breathing issues, need to be more careful. Even healthy people can get coughs, colds, congestion, or feel tightness in the chest. These can be early signs that your lungs are under stress.

At PSRI Hospital, one of the most trusted hospitals in New Delhi, lung health is treated with a comprehensive and preventive approach. If you want to find the best doctors to guide you on the different approaches you may take to ensure a lasting difference in your respiratory health, you can visit the PSRI Hospital, Multispecialty Hospital, New Delhi.  

In this blog, you will learn how to keep your lungs healthy 

Why Winter Affects Lung Health?

To all those wondering why specifically keep your lungs healthy during winter, here are the reasons for how the season affects lungs and why care is needed! 

1. Dry and chilled air can be irritating to your respiratory passages. Your air passages will constrict and become inflamed due to such conditions. 
2. In winter months, it is not uncommon for people with sensitive noses or poor respiratory tracts to have breathing problems.
3. Air pollution and other pollutants can cause damage to the lungs as well.
4. During winters people choose to stay indoors. It is when the indoor air pollutants, house dust, as well as the drying effect of the heater on the air, also put our noses in touch with germs.

How to Keep Your Lungs Healthy During Winters?

Below are some easy methods that might help you protect your lungs during winter. These need to be followed for your own safety.

Stay Warm & Maintain Indoor Humidity

• When you step outside your house, cover your nose and mouth with a mask. It will help avoid direct air going into your nose and will also warm the air before going into the lungs.
• Try to avoid using heaters, not only are they bad for your body but they also make the air dry. That dry air makes your respiratory tract irritated.
• Use humidifiers to retain the moisture content in your homes. It is because of humidifiers that your respiratory tracts feel comfortable.

 

Practice Deep Breathing and Lung Exercises

• Practice some easy exercises involving deep breathing. These will help increase the capacity of the chest, which in turn will increase the oxygen intake. You can also use yoga-based pranayama.
• If this practice is done on a daily basis for 10-15 minutes in a clean and well-ventilated area, it will make a vast difference to your health.

 

Avoid Using Tobacco & Indoor Pollution

• Do not smoke cigarettes. It can cause immense harm to your lungs.
• Do not use incense sticks and don’t light them inside. They emit aromas that may irritate your respiratory tract. These materials add to indoor air pollution.
• Ensure good ventilation indoors, since the air during winter tends to further strain the lungs.

 

Boost Immunity with Healthy Food

• Eat healthy food. By eating seasonal fruits and vegetables, you can keep your body fit. Foods that contain antioxidants and are rich in vitamin C can help in fighting  body infections that might occur during winter seasons.
• Hot food, soups, and herbs helps to keep your throat healthy and your lungs strong during this cold season.
• Avoid eating junk food, fried, and sweet snacks. They make your immunity system weak. Attempting to stick to healthy food on a regular basis is beneficial for overall well-being.

 

Stay Hydrated & Physically Active

• Drink liquids that are warm. Drinking water, soups, and herbal teas will also be helpful in loosening the mucous.
• Light exercise, even if done indoors, can help improve efficiency in the lungs and increase respiratory capacity.

 

Get Flu & Pneumonia Vaccinations (If Advised)

• Vaccines have a great effect in lowering the chances of getting severe respiratory infections, especially for elderly individuals, children, and those who have chronic diseases.
• Elderly individuals and those with chronic conditions should consult doctors at PSRI multispeciality hospital New Delhi.

 

Signs Your Lungs Need Extra Care During Winters 

During the winter months, symptoms related to respiration can be easily confused with the “season” and can thus be overlooked. However, if warning symptoms are treated, lung problems can be avoided. Some of these symptoms that may indicate your lungs require special care:

Cough Which Keeps Coming Back

A cough that persists for more than 5 to 7 days or weeks and/or becomes progressively worse at night or in a cool or cold atmosphere could be indicative of an infection or lung problem.

Whistling Sounds While Breathing

wheezing, which indicates that the passages are constricted and is found in asthma, allergies, and irritation due to cold and pollution.

Shortness Of Breath

Difficulty breathing when doing ordinary daily chores, like walking, climbing stairs, or even when resting, can be a manifestation that the lungs are not able to work satisfactorily to meet the body’s demands.

Tightness Or Discomfort In The Chest

Sometimes, a feeling of pressure, heaviness, or tightness in the chest could suggest a limitation in airflow, especially in patients with asthma or COPD.

Frequent Colds or Respiratory Infections

If you are prone to catching colds, flues, and bronchitis, which keep coming back to you, chances are your lung defenses are weak, or your immunity is low.

Use of Inhalers and Medications

Patients already having respiratory disease may find an increased usage of inhalers or relief medications, which would suggest poor control of symptoms.

Fatigue And Poor Exercise Tolerance

Emotions of fatigue or the inability to conduct normal daily physical functions can come about due to lowered consumption of oxygen inspired due to lung problems.

Conclusion

Winters can be harsh on your lungs, but with proper precautions and treatment, they can do wonders for you. By knowing more about the reasons, effects, and precautions, you can take necessary steps for yourself and your family members as well. 

Reach out to PSRI Hospital, which is the best hospital in Delhi for proper treatment to keep your lungs safe throughout the winter season. Call our experts now at 084848 48417. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some good foods that help the lungs work better during winter?

Antioxidants and vitamins in foods can help the lungs work better in the winter season. Warm foods such as soups, broths, and ginger, garlic, and turmeric milk can also help you.

How does indoor heating impact lung health?

The indoor heating systems tend to make the air dry. It can make mucus sticky, making it more difficult to remove dust, air pollutants, and pathogens.

Can Steam Inhalation Work in Clearing the Lungs?

Steam inhalation can give temporary relief from congestion in the nose or chest by loosening the mucus. It is useful in cases involving the common cold or sinusitis.

Is the winter season bad for people who suffer from mild allergies?

Cold, dry air causes irritation in the airways, in addition to increased exposure to dust mites, pet dander, or mold.