When it comes to your physical well being, there are few
things more important than “Lung Power”.
But without your awareness, you are probably losing lung capacity. They
tend to shrink with age.
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LUNGS SHRINK WITH AGE?
Sooner or later….
Sooner or later….
- You get tired more quickly,
- You have less strength and virility
- You get colds and the flu more often,
- You take longer to recover from illness.
Did you know?
oxygen to your blood begin to die off.
- At 20 – Your lungs stop growing and lung
capacity has stabilized.
- At 30 – your lungs start to decline. The Alveoli (air sacs) that deliver oxygen to your blood begin to die off.
- At 35 – you lose 20 percent of your lung
capacity.
- By 50 – you lose 40 percent of your vital lung capacity.
- By 50 – you lose 40 percent of your vital lung capacity.
- And, the decline continues for LIFE!
If you get the flu or pneumonia at age 40, you can usually
shrug it off – because you have extra lung capacity to sustain yourself. However, if you are older (65 years or more)
and you catch the flu or pneumonia, you won’t have the reserve lung capacity to
get over the sickness. Normal everyday
activity becomes harder to deal with when energy reserves are declining. That is why the death rate is so much higher
for seniors who get these respiratory diseases.
Here’s another
shocker – Lack of Oxygen Reserves causes 50% of all Heart Attacks!
You CAN build your lungs back!
The process of moving air in and out of the lungs is called
pulmonary (lung) ventilation. Breathing
is always important, and, doing it properly is most important during
exercise. During a workout (resistance
training) do not hold your breath - exhale on exertion. By breathing properly
you train your body to breathe more deeply and effectively.
Here are the main benefits to improved Lung Power:
- improve your lung capacity and
minimize the loss of lung volume.
-
focus on
your lung’s elasticity
-
improve
stamina to help you perform better in your sport
-
improve
your posture and
-
improve
the function of your diaphragm, great if
you love singing (even if you’re bad at it like me - lol)
Basically, bigger lungs supply your body with more oxygen and help to
remove carbon dioxide.
Here are a few simple Methods to build up your respiratory
system:
Method 1: Diaphragmatic breathing
“Belly breathing,” which
engages the diaphragm, is the natural way of breathing (not the chest).
In a comfortable
position, start slowly and inhale ever deeper until you are filling your lungs
completely. Maintain a steady rhythm and
breathe in from your belly. On the
exhales, simply let the air go. (I do this as part of my regular practice of
the Wim Hof method)
Method 2: Pursed-lips breathing
Inhale slowly through
your nose. Breath out even slower
through pursed lips. Pursed-lips
breathing slows your breathing down and keeps the airways open longer,
improving the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Proactive rather than Reactive
Prevention is the
best medicine. Keeping your lungs
healthy is much more efficient than trying to repair them. Here are some pointers to keep your lungs
healthy;
- Stop
smoking, and avoid secondhand smoke. or environmental irritants.
- Eat
foods rich in antioxidants – this helps build organ tissue.
- Get the
flu vaccine to help prevent lung infections and promote lung health.
- Avoid
environmental irritants and improve indoor air quality.
- Exercise! – it improves Lung Capacity.
Aerobic activities like running. skipping, or swimming give
your heart and lungs the kind of workout they need to function efficiently.HIIT -High Intensity Interval Training are great if you are strapped for time.
Muscle-strengthening activities like Weight-lifting,
Resistance Training, Core training, Yoga or Pilates build core strength, improves
your posture, and tone your breathing muscles.
By taking steps to preserve your “LUNG POWER” you can slow
the natural decline and restore your lung capacity of your youth. It’s never too late to start!
