The lungs are vital organs for humans. The main function of the lungs is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.
when lung function disturbed, it can cause various problems in the body. One of the causes of the emergence of various problems and pathology in this vital organ are the dirty lungs.
There are various things that can cause the lungs to become dirty and unhealthy, including cigarette smoke, dust, toxins, viruses, and bacteria. These particles can enter the lungs when you breathe in contaminated air.
Quoted from the page alodokter.com, although in reality the lungs are organs that can heal and clean themselves of dirt particles. However, if exposure to particles is excessive or too frequent, it can interfere with its function.
Therefore, it never hurts to try various ways to clean the lungs so that these organs remain healthy and function optimally.
1. Stop smoking
Long-term smoking can cause inflammation and cell damage in the lungs that can lead to diseases, such as COPD and even lung cancer. One study revealed that the sooner a person quits smoking, the greater the chance that their lungs will heal and the lower the risk of permanent lung damage.
Therefore, if you want to cleanse your lungs, the first step is to quit smoking.
2. Avoid cigarette smoke
Even if you don’t smoke, often inhaling or being exposed to secondhand smoke can also make your lungs dirty. This is because cigarette smoke that comes out of the mouth and burnt cigarettes contain hundreds of dangerous toxins when inhaled.
Therefore, as much as possible, avoid being with people who smoke.
3. Eat foods rich in antioxidants
The next way to cleanse the lungs is to eat antioxidant-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables. This is because antioxidants have anti-inflammatory effects that can protect and reduce the risk of damage to organs, including the lungs.
4. Avoid exposure to pollution
As with cigarette smoking, frequent exposure to pollution can make the lungs dirty and damaged. Therefore, if you are doing outdoor activities with poor air quality, you should use a mask to protect your lungs.
5. Do the steam therapy
The next way to cleanse the lungs is to perform steam therapy to clear mucus in the lungs and respiratory tract. The trick, boil warm water using a saucepan, then inhale the steam.
6. Eat anti-inflammatory foods
To collect sanitary linesmokers’ lungs tend to become inflamed, which can make it difficult for them to breathe. Research has shown that eating anti-inflammatory foods can reduce inflammation in the body.
However, there is so far no scientific evidence to suggest that eating anti-inflammatory-rich foods will prevent lung inflammation. It’s just that eating anti-inflammatory foods doesn’t hurt to try. Examples of various anti-inflammatory foods are blueberries, cherries, spinach, kale, olives and almonds.
7. Using the air purifier
Using a home air purifier can clean and improve indoor air quality for the better. The air that is inhaled and enters the lungs will be cleaner because the existing dirt particles have been filtered by the instrument.
8. Prevents the spread of infection
Infection prevention is also a way to cleanse the lungs. In order for the lungs to be protected and not susceptible to infection, there are several things you can do, namely:
- Wash your hands with soap and running water.
- Keep your teeth and mouth clean.
- Get vaccinated against flu, pneumonia and COVID-19.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Controlled cough
Coughing is the body’s way of naturally expelling toxins that have become trapped in the mucus in the lungs. Controlled cough exercises are believed to be able to loosen excess mucus in the lungs and send it through the airways.
Perform the following steps to clear the lungs of excess mucus:
- Sit in a chair with your shoulders relaxed.
- Keep both feet flat on the floor.
- Fold your hands over your stomach.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose.
- Slowly exhale as you lean forward as you push your arms towards your stomach.
- Cough 2 or 3 times while exhaling, keeping your mouth slightly open.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose.
- Rest and repeat as needed.
How to cleanse the lungs through postural drainage and exercise
This method involves lying down in different positions using gravity to expel mucus from the lungs. These exercises can improve breathing and help treat or prevent lung infections.
The postural drainage technique varies depending on the position, the method is quite simple, namely:
- Lying on the floor or bed
- lying on your side or lying on your stomach on a pillow
- Slowly inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth
- Each exhalation should last twice as long as the inhale
- Continue like this for a few minutes.
In addition to using postural drainage techniques, regular exercise has been shown to improve a person’s physical and mental health, as well as reduce the risk of various health problems. When a person exercises, the muscles will be pushed to work harder, thus increasing the body’s breathing rate and resulting in a greater supply of oxygen to the muscles.
Exercise has also been shown to improve blood circulation, making the body more efficient at removing excess carbon dioxide, which the body produces during exercise.
By doing various ways to clean the lungs above, the respiratory organs are expected to be cleaner, stronger and healthier. This of course will also have a positive effect on the overall health of the body.
