Establish These Habits For Healthy Lungs

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VIPcare-Florida

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Oct 31, 2023

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Florida - Southwest , Florida - Sarasota, Bradenton & Charlotte Counties

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We take our lungs for granted. They keep us alive, and we really don’t have to give them much thought. Sure, we know we need oxygen to survive, but it isn’t something we think about daily or even regularly. It just kind of happens on its own.

Our body uses its own defense system to keep our lungs free of dirt, healthy, and functioning properly. And it usually isn’t until we start to have difficulty breathing that we really pay them any attention. Our lungs are critical to our overall health. This is why we need to prioritize lung health and do all we can to keep them healthy.

Aging Lungs

After about the age of 35, it’s normal for lung function to decline gradually with age. Just like other parts of our body, our lungs also change. This can include our diaphragm getting weaker and our lung tissue losing elasticity, causing our airways to become smaller. Another change can include our rib cage bones getting smaller, leaving less room for our lungs to expand. These changes affect lung capacity and can make breathing slightly more difficult as we get older.

Lung disease also becomes more prominent as we age, making it even more important that we do our part to keep our lungs strong and healthy. Establishing these lifestyle habits can promote healthy lungs and help you breathe with ease throughout your lifetime.

Quit Smoking Right Now

Probably the most important thing you can do for your lungs is to abstain from smoking. If you currently smoke, stop now! And if you don’t smoke, don’t start! Smoking cigarettes is the number one cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking leads to chronic inflammation and swelling of the lungs, which leads to chronic bronchitis. Smoking destroys lung tissue and triggers changes that can develop into cancer. It’s never too late to quit smoking. Quitting usually takes several attempts. So, if you try and don’t succeed the first time, don’t give up on yourself. It’s definitely worth it. By not smoking, you can lessen your risk for other chronic conditions, such as heart disease and stroke.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Exercise and being physical are important for building muscle and keeping your body in shape, but it’s also important for strengthening your lungs and heart. Exercise is one of the best habits you can establish for healthy lungs. When you exercise, your lungs and heart work together to bring in oxygen and deliver it to the muscles being used. This improves circulation and strengthens tissue around the lungs. Aerobic exercise, like walking, running, or swimming, helps to exercise your lungs so they function more efficiently. Muscle-strengthening activities, such as weight lifting, build core strength, which helps to improve posture and breathing muscles, including your diaphragm.

Prevent Infection

Over the past couple of years, we’ve learned a lot about how dangerous infections can be to our lungs. They can severely impact the function and capacity of even the healthiest lungs. Those who already suffer from lung disease, in addition to the senior population, are at a greater risk for infections.

There are several things you can do to protect yourself from infections. The best way to prevent lung infections is to keep your hands clean. You should wash your hands often with warm soap and water. This helps to prevent the transfer of germs. You should also avoid crowds during cold and flu season. Getting vaccinated against influenza can help when you’re out and about and in contact with other people. In addition, drinking lots of water and eating nutritious foods, like fruits and vegetables, can boost your immune system, helping to ward off infections.

Avoid Exposure To Pollutants

The air quality indoors and outdoors can significantly affect the health of your lungs. You should try to avoid air pollutants, such as secondhand smoke, chemicals, and car exhaust, as much as possible. These are all toxic and can damage your lungs.

Try not to go outside during peak air pollution times. You can check what the air quality currently is in your area and plan accordingly. If you exercise outdoors, avoid places where there is heavy traffic.

When you’re inside, open windows frequently to help with ventilation. Also, keep your house as clean as possible using natural cleaning products to prevent mold, dust, and pet dander. These irritants can get into your lungs and cause complications.

Get Regular Checkups

The best way to treat lung disease is through prevention. Regular checkups help to prevent and catch early signs of diseases and complications. Lung disease often goes undetected until it becomes serious. Even if you are feeling well, it’s important to have check-ups where your provider listens to your breathing and checks for any possible concerns. If caught early, your chances for recovery from lung disease, including cancer, are much greater.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Adopting these habits for healthy lungs can help keep your lungs functioning in tip-top shape. And if you have any degree of difficulty breathing, discuss your symptoms with your provider. The more you and your provider work together, the better your care and outcome will be.

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Oral Care, Monitored Meals, and Aspiration Pneumonia: What We Dont Know We Dont Know in Health Care:

What We Dont Know We Dont Know in Health Care: September 24, 2024 -Oral Care, Monitored Meals, and Aspiration PneumoniaProper oral care is crucial for maintaining optimal health. Keeping the mouth clean not only helps maintain the protective properties of saliva but also reduces bacteria in the mouth which can be a source of infection in aspiration pneumonia. In addition, monitoring meals and assisting with feeding for those at high risk for aspiration is also a necessity. The process of swallowing involves dozens of muscles that start in the mouth and include the pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. These muscles can become weakened with age and from various, often age-related diseases.  The aging population is especially at risk for aspiration pneumonia due to comorbidities, frailty, and conditions that can impair swallowing.  As a result, aspiration pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death from infection in individuals over the age of 65. One study shows that 1 in 10 deaths from pneumonia in elderly nursing home residents may be prevented by improving oral hygiene (Sjogren et al., 2008). Unfortunately, proper oral care and monitoring of meals is often overlooked in the health care setting.  Perhaps the greatest reason for this is the challenge that almost every health facility faces today: adequate staffing. When I started working in acute care as an RN over 20 years ago, nursing assistants (these are the staff generally responsible for proving oral care in an acute care setting) were typically responsible for 5-7 patients. Nurses had 3-5 patients (this was on a step down cardiac unit). Between the nurse and the assistant, we were able to provide oral care at every meal and offer one-on-one assistance to any patient that was at risk for aspiration. This is no longer the case.  RNs oftentimes look after upwards of 8 patients, and there is generally either no nursing assistant on the floor or only 1 for a patient load that can exceed 20.  Consequently, proper oral care is neglected.  I have often seen patients that are aspirating during meals, but do not have adequate staffing on hand to provide them with the supervision and monitoring that they need. This presents a hazardous catch-22: the aging individual needs to eat to maintain nutritional needs yet he/she needs assistance with eating to prevent aspirating pneumonia.   How can this be remedied? If the family is present, they can provide oral care and meal monitoring. If meal monitoring is required for an at-risk individual, its recommended to touch base with the health care team to inquire as to what the specific aspiration precautions are (every individual may have a different need and/or recommendation). A care companion can also be hired to provide the needed care. 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Both measures can play a significant role in reducing aspiration pneumonia.  If you would like more information on understanding proper oral care or any other questions that you may have regarding aging life care, please feel free to reach out to me.    Sources:1.      Sjogren P, Nilsson E, Forsell M, Johansson O, Hoogstraate J. 2008. A systematic review of the preventive effect of oral hygiene on pneumonia and respiratory tract infection in elderly people in hospitals and nursing homes: effect estimates and methodological quality of randomized controlled trials. J Am Geriatr Soc. 56:21242130. 2.      Iinuma T, Arai Y, Abe Y, Takayama M, Fukumoto M, Fukui Y, et al. 2014. Denture wearing during sleep doubles the risk of pneumonia in the very elderly. J Dent Res. doi: 10.1177/0022034514552493 3.      F Muller, 2015. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4541086/#   

Learn the latest on Heart Healthy Diets

Since the start of the year, you may have noticed an uptick of fad diets. Maybe its your mom trying a pescatarian regime, or your neighbor raving about his new Mediterranean diet. With so many diet trends buzzing around, it can be hard to separate what works from what doesnt. This is especially true when it comes to heart healthy eating.The American Heart Association released a study comparing diets and their heart healthy potential and organized the results in four tiers. With the help of Kelly Elliot, RD at Intermountain Healths Denver Midtown Clinic - Weight Loss Center, we turned the studys results into easy-to-digest bites. It is important to always be mindful of your diet to reduce risk factors for heart disease, said Kelly. 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Keep things ticking: Top 10 heart health risk factors

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SmokingSmoking (including second-hand smoke) deteriorates the cardiovascular system, increasing the likelihood of heart-related issues. This includes traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vaping nicotine. Your primary care provider can help create a quitting plan.Viet Le, PA-C at Intermountain Medical Center, warned against smokings consequences. Cardiovascular disease and smoking do not mix, he said. It is the highest risk for death and highest risk for cardiovascular events.3. High blood pressureConsider high blood pressure a silent threat with serious consequences. While it often coincides with other risk factors, hypertension is the biggest indicator of heart disease. If your blood pressure is consistently higher than 130/80, consult your primary care doctor.4. Unhealthy dietA diet high in processed and unhealthy foods has direct implications for heart health. Opting for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains supports cardiovascular well-being. 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