Lung cleansing techniques may
benefit people who smoke, people who get regular exposure to air pollution, and
those with chronic conditions that affect the respiratory system, such as
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis.
Breathing toxins such as cigarette smoke and other toxins can harm
the lungs and even cause serious health problems. It is critical to keep the
lungs healthy to keep the rest of the body healthy.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to air
pollution results in 4.2 million deaths worldwide. Cigarette smoking is the
cause of death for one in every five people in the United States.
In this article, we discuss some of the methods people can use to
cleanse their lungs.
Is it possible to cleanse your lungs?
Lung health is vital for a person's overall health. The lungs are
self-cleaning organs that will begin to heal themselves once their exposure to
pollutants stops, for example, when someone quits smoking.
After the lungs have had exposure to pollution, such as cigarette
smoke, a person's chest may feel full, congested, or inflamed. Mucus gathers in
the lungs to catch microbes and pathogens, contributing to this heavy feeling.
People may be able to relieve chest congestion and other uncomfortable
symptoms by using specific techniques to clear the lungs of mucus and
irritants.
Some of these methods may also help open up the airways, increase
lung capacity, and reduce inflammation, all of which can help reduce the
effects of pollution and smoke on the lungs.
Ways to clear the lungs
Breathing exercises and lifestyle changes to help remove excess
mucus from the lungs and improve breathing are discussed below.
1. Steam therapy
Inhaling water vapor to open the airways and help the lungs drain
mucus is known as steam therapy or steam inhalation.
People with lung conditions may notice their symptoms worsening in
cold or dry air. The mucous membranes of the airways might become dry and limit
blood flow in this climate.
Conversely, steam adds warmth and moisture to the air, which may
improve breathing and help loosen mucus inside the airways and lungs. Inhaling
water vapor can help people breathe more easily and provide immediate relief.
A small study of 16 men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe, found that steam
mask therapy decreased heart and respiratory rates much more than non-steam
mask therapy.
However, the participants did not report lasting improvements in
their respiratory function.
This therapy may be an effective temporary solution, but
researchers need to do more research before fully understanding the benefits of
steam therapy on lung health.
2. Controlled coughing
Coughing is the body's natural way of expelling toxins trapped in
mucus. Coughing with control loosens excess mucus in the lungs and sends it up
the airways.
Doctors recommend that people with COPD perform this exercise to
help clear their lungs.
People can cleanse their lungs of excess mucus by following the
steps below:
- sit down on a chair with the shoulders relaxed, keeping both feet flat on the floor
- fold the arms over the stomach
- slowly inhale through the nose
- slowly exhale while leaning forward, pushing the arms against the stomach
- cough 2 or 3 times while exhaling, keeping the mouth slightly open
- slowly inhale through the nose
- rest and repeat as necessary
3. Drain mucus from the lungs
Postural drainage is lying in different positions to allow mucus
to flow from the lungs using gravity. This technique can enhance breathing and
assist in treating and preventing lung infections.
Postural drainage techniques differ depending on the position:
1. On your back
- Lie down on the floor or on a bed.
- Place pillows under the hips to ensure that the chest is lower than the hips.
- Inhale slowly through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth. Each exhale should take twice as long as the inhale, called 1:2 breathing.
- Continue for a few minutes.
2. On your side
- Lie on one side, resting the head on an arm or pillow.
- Place pillows under the hips.
- Practice the 1:2 breathing pattern.
- Continue for a few minutes.
- Repeat on the other side.
3. On your stomach
- Place a stack of pillows on the floor.
- Lie down with the stomach over the pillows. Remember to maintain your hips higher than your chest.
- For further support, fold the arms under the head.
- Practice the 1:2 breathing pattern.
- Continue for a few minutes.
4. Exercise
Regular exercise can improve people's physical and mental health
while also lowering their risk of developing various diseases, such as stroke
and heart disease.
Exercise makes the muscles work harder, which raises the body's
breathing rate, allowing more oxygen to reach the muscles. It also improves
circulation, allowing the body to remove the excess carbon dioxide produced
during exercise effectively.
Regular exercise will cause the body to adapt to meet the demands.
Muscles will learn to use oxygen more efficiently and produce less carbon
dioxide due to this exercise.
Although exercising may be more difficult for people with chronic
lung conditions, these individuals can also benefit from regular exercise.
People with COPD, cystic fibrosis, or asthma should seek medical advice before
beginning a new exercise routine.
5. Green tea
Green tea is high in antioxidants, which may help to reduce lung
inflammation. These compounds may even protect lung tissue from the negative
effects of breathing smoke.
A recent study involving more than 1,000 adults in Korea reported
that people who drank at least 2 cups of green tea per day had better lung
function than those who drank none.
Green tea is available for purchase online.
6. Anti-inflammatory foods
Inflammation of the airways can make breathing difficult and cause
the chest to feel heavy and congested. Eating anti-inflammatory foods can
reduce inflammation to relieve these symptoms.
Foods that help fight inflammation include:
- turmeric
- leafy greens
- cherries
- blueberries
- olives
- walnuts
- beans
- lentils
7. Chest percussion
Another effective way to remove excess mucus from the lungs would
be percussion. A healthcare professional or respiratory therapist will tap the
chest wall rhythmically with a cupped hand to dislodge trapped mucus in the
lungs.
Excess mucus can be cleared from the airways by combining chest
percussion with postural drainage.
Outlook
Toxins from cigarette smoke or air pollution that enter the lungs
can affect the whole body. These toxins eventually become trapped inside mucus.
Good respiratory health depends on whether or not the body
effectively removes mucus from the lungs and airways.
People who have damaged lungs may have a harder time clearing
mucus from their system than others. Excess mucus production or unusually thick
mucus can block the lungs in chronic illnesses like COPD, asthma, and cystic
fibrosis.
Lung cleansing techniques, including postural drainage, chest
percussion, and breathing exercises, can help dislodge mucus from the lungs and
airways. Steam therapy may offer temporary relief to people who suffer from
congestion or chronic respiratory conditions.
Exercise regularly, drinking green tea, and eating anti-inflammatory foods are all lifestyle changes that can help to enhance lung health and reduce the risk of disease.