Visit Alexandria Doctors Office this Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Are you breathing right? Stop reading for a second and check your breath. Is it shallow or deep? Chances are high you are breathing in a shallow manner right now. Most of us do. Chances are also high that most of us are breathing polluted air.
As per the observances of American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), throughout the United States of America and the world, lung cancer takes innumerable lives. Smoking is the commonest cause. The two most prominent causes are exposure to polluted and toxic air and passive smoking.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month is observed in the United States every November to raise awareness about the health of this spongy, soft, and pink colored tissue, which is your lung.
At Alexandria doctors office, x-ray test is available. If you or anybody you know is suffering from any lung problem, please consult a doctor at the office and undergo an examination. Although the office does not treat serious conditions, it is equipped to deal with common lung ailments and conduct various tests.
Symptoms of lung cancer (as per Centers of Disease Control and Prevention – CDC):
• Prolonged cough
• Wheezing
• Chest pain
• Blood in cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Abrupt weight loss without reason
If you or anybody you know is suffering from any of the above symptom, please consult a doctor at Alexandria clinic for urgent care.
Secret to keeping your lungs healthy
Most of us hardly utilize our lungs at their full capacity. According to doctors, normal daily activities also do not let the lungs use themselves to the fullest. Besides, when you are at rest, you use only 50 per cent of your lungs’ capacity.
Exercise and strenuous physical activities can help your lungs open up and work to their maximum. “You must make your lungs work harder,” says one of the physicians at Alexandria doctors office. “That doesn’t mean panting for breath every time, but letting your lungs take in more air. This can happen when you move a lot.”
This means a sedentary lifestyle can invite lung troubles. Healthy diet and exercise are must for healthy lungs. In addition, you must quit smoking and also avoid being near to people who are smoking.
3 Powerful exercises to utilize your lungs to full capacity
- Do deep breathing
Inhale slowly by expanding your belly and expanding your ribs and chest. Then, exhale slowly to let your chest and ribs contract and your belly go in to expel all air.
- Do count breathing
Sit in a relaxed, straight posture. Inhale to the count of four. Exhale to the count of four. Repeat several times. Then, inhale to the count of four, but exhale to the count of eight. Later, you can also try to hold your breath between inhales and exhales to the count of 4, then 8, and upto 16 as your lungs’ capacity increases.
- Laugh out loud
Guffawing is good for the lungs! No wonder laughter is called the best medicine. Laugh loudly. It exercises your abdominal muscles and clears your lungs by expelling toxins and bad air and forcing in fresh air.
Why not do it now?
Hot tip: Correct your posture
According to doctors at Alexandria clinic for urgent care, most of the troubles begin due to bad posture. Lungs is a spongy tissue, so can easily get ‘squeezed’ when you are slouching or in a bad posture. This can adversely affect its functioning. Keep your spine and shoulders straight when sitting and standing so that your lungs get enough room to fill themselves with air.
This Lung Cancer Awareness Month, pledge to take care of your lungs. Let it stay in the pink of health, literally.
