How to Maintain Your Health for the Respiratory System

A healthy respiratory system is essential for maintaining the quality of breathing, as your lungs fill with air to regulate the functioning of your body. Respiratory issues caused by smoking, allergies or poor air quality in your home result in difficulty breathing and over time increase the risk of infections. The key to maintaining a healthy respiratory system is making healthy lifestyle choices including abstaining from smoking and keeping your environment free of pollutants that irritate your lungs.

Things You'll Need

• Air purifier
• Baking soda
• Vacuum cleaner
• Face mask
• Humidifier

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Instructions

• 1

  Avoid smoking and second-hand smoke. Inhaled smoke damages your cilia, hair-like fibers in the trachea that prevent mucus, allergens and dirt from reaching your lungs. The smoke temporarily paralyzes the cilia, which allows dirt to easily make its way to your respiratory system.

• 2

  Clean the air in your home. Air purifiers remove indoor pollutants from the air, which cleans the air of allergens you would have breathed in. Replace or wash the filter in the air purifier to get rid of dust and allergens that accumulate in the filter. These trapped allergens are blown back into the air if the filter is not routinely cleaned or replaced.

• 3

  Avoid using air fresheners. While air fresheners cover up unpleasant odors in your home, they also release chemicals into the air that over time can make you feel sick. Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda onto carpeting and rugs. Allow the baking soda to set in the fabric for two to three hours and vacuum it up to neutralize odors naturally. Pour 1 to 2 tsp. of baking soda into your trashcan to eliminate odors.

• 4

  Vacuum or sweep your floors daily to cut down on dust buildup. Wear a face mask to cover your nose and mouth while cleaning to prevent inhaling allergens that blow around in the air while you are dusting.

• 5

  Use a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the air. Dry air in the home causes scratchy throats and coughing, but a humidifier prevents that from happening by distributing moisture throughout your home. Set the humidifier to 50 percent to 60 percent humidity to avoid adding too much moisture to the air, because this encourages mold growth. Clean your humidifier's water basin daily with hot water to prevent bacteria from growing inside of it.

• 6

  Exercise for 30 minutes daily. Cardio activity such as swimming, running or biking increases your heart rate, which causes your lungs to expand to receive more air. Over time exercise strengthens your lungs' ability to hold oxygen and improves your respiratory system.