Seven ways to improve your lung capacity
Breathing exercises, physical activity and vitamin D help your respiratory system. If that doesn’t work, you can indulge your inner musician
Mon 29 Oct 2018 04.00 EDT
Stop smoking
You knew it was coming. Smoking damages the lungs, causing all sorts of problems, from lung cancer to respiratory disease. And it definitely affects your lung capacity. We have all seen the comparisons between healthy lungs and smokers’ lungs – according to the NHS, your lung capacity will have improved by at least 10% nine months after you quit smoking.
Do breathing exercises
Take a deep breath. No, really, it is that simple. There are a number of breathing exercises you can do that help keep your lungs healthy. One involves standing up with your back arched, breathing in and holding your breath for 10 seconds before exhaling – which can easily be done while watching the telly.
Consume enough vitamin D
A study released this year found that higher vitamin D levels were associated with better lung function. In the summer, depending on where you live, most people can get enough vitamin D from the sunshine. As the winter months approach and the sun disappears, it may be worth investing in vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D can also be found in foods such as oily fish, egg yolks and red meat.
Indulge your inner musician
If you are one of the many people who enjoy singing in the shower then you may be in luck, because singing can, apparently, aid lung capacity. According to the British Lung Foundation, it’s particularly helpful for patients with respiratory diseases. People with lung conditions told the foundation that controlling their breathing through singing helped manage their conditions. It is an area that is still being investigated. A study of 20 Indonesian students, published in 2015, found that the average lung capacity of choir singers was higher than that of non-singers.
Get active
One reason people want to increase their lung capacity is improve their sports performance. Helpfully, exercising regularly is one of the ways you can do that. As you should have learned in biology class, your lungs bring oxygen into the body and expel carbon dioxide – when you exercise, this process happens more quicker and makes your lungs stronger and more efficient over time.
Sort out your posture
Studies have shown that slumped sitting decreases lung capacity, because the position squeezes your lungs, making them smaller. So, for a very quick fix, sit up straight to get the best lung capacity you can. A good posture can help with back pain, too.
Improve the air quality in your home
If you live in a city, air pollution is unavoidable. Even short-term air pollution can affect your lungs. But there are steps you can take to improve the air quality at home. Keeping it clean will help get rid of dust, while keeping house plants could help keep the air fresh, depending on the species. On days when pollution levels are low, be sure to open the windows.
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폐활량 늘리는 7가지 방법
By 이용재 기자
[폐활량이 늘어나면 운동이 수월해진다. 기록도 좋아진다. 폐활량을 늘이려면 어떻게 해야 할까? 영국의 가디언이 일곱 가지 방법을 소개했다.
◆ 금연= 폐암부터 호흡기 질환까지, 흡연은 모든 문제의 근원이다. 당연히 폐활량에도 막대한 영향을 끼친다. 담뱃갑에서 건강한 폐와 병든 폐의 사진을 보지 않았나? 당장 담배를 끊어라. 금연하고 아홉 달이 지나면, 폐활량이 적어도 10% 증가한다.
◆ 호흡= 숨을 깊이 마시고 길게 뱉어라. 너무 단순한 것 같다고? 하지만 정말로 폐를 건강하게 만드는 운동이다. 등을 둥글게 젖히고 서서 숨을 들이마신 다음 10초 동안 멈췄다가 내뱉는 것도 도움이 된다.
◆ 비타민 D= 호주의 웨스턴 오스트레일리아 대학교 연구진은 올해 비타민 D 수치가 높을수록 폐 기능도 우수하다는 논문을 발표했다. 여름에는 햇볕을 쐬는 것만으로도 필요한 비타민 D를 섭취할 수 있지만, 겨울에는 일조량이 부족하다. 기름이 풍부한 생선, 달걀노른자, 붉은 고기 등을 챙겨먹도록 하자. 비타민 D 보충제를 먹는 것도 생각해볼 만하다.
◆ 음악= 샤워하며 노래하는 것을 즐기는지? 만약 그렇다면 잘된 일이다. 노래 부르기는 폐 기능을 강화하기 때문이다. 영국 폐 재단에 따르면, 노래를 부르는 것은 특히 호흡기 질환으로 고통 받는 환자들에게 도움이 된다.
◆ 운동= 생물 시간에 배운 대로, 폐는 몸에 산소를 공급하고 이산화탄소를 밖으로 내보낸다. 운동을 하면 이 과정이 보다 빨라진다. 폐가 더 강해지고, 보다 효율적으로 진화하는 것이다. 규칙적으로 운동하라.
◆ 자세= 2004년 발표된 미국 노스 웨스턴 대학의 연구에 따르면, 앉는 자세가 폐에 영향을 미친다. 구부정하게 앉으면 폐를 압박해서 폐활량이 감소하게 되는 것이다. 똑바로 앉아라. 바른 자세는 등의 통증 또한 줄여준다.
◆ 공기= 지난해 발표된 벨기에 하셀트 대학의 연구에 따르면, 짧은 동안 나쁜 공기를 마시는 것도 폐 기능에 나쁜 영향을 미친다. 거리에서야 어쩔 수 없지만 집에서나마 나름의 대책을 마련해 깨끗한 공기를 유지하도록 하자. 청소를 열심히 할 것. 맑은 날을 골라 자주 환기를 할 것. 화초를 키우는 것도 도움이 된다.