Smoke and Fumes

• Lungs of a smoker
  
  Secondhand smoke, smoking and chemical fumes can damage the lungs. In fact, the American Lung Association says that secondhand smoke causes almost 50,000 deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year, including approximately 3,400 from lung cancer and 22,700 to 69,600 from heart disease. (See Reference 1.) Exposure to smoke can cause inner ear infections, irritate asthma and is said to be a known cause of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Read the labels on your household chemicals and follow all precautions. Avoid secondhand smoke and if you do smoke, quit.
  
  

Exercise

• Walking up stairs
  
  Exercise is very important to maintain and improve lung health. Try doing exercises that increase the heart rate for 15 minutes at a time three to four times a day. Try climbing stairs instead of using the elevator, and walk briskly to get your heart rate up. Crunches can also help with lung health. Crunches help strengthen the abdominal muscles that control your breathing.
  
  

Diet

• Fish and fruit
  
  A healthy diet can help you maintain excellent lung health. According to Jane Burns, a researcher at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, key nutrients, like the antioxidants found in fruits and omega-3 fats, may prove instrumental for maintaining lung health. (See Reference 3.) These antioxidants can help protect the lungs from stress and other damage. Fish and fruits are excellent choices for healthy lungs.