The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that heart disease causes one out of every four deaths in the United States. This is a sobering statistic, especially for an increasingly sedentary, overweight society. Your lungs and your heart are the two most important organs, responsible for the oxygenation and circulation of blood to the rest of your body. Using good practices can help increase heart and lung strength to reduce your risk of heart- and lung-related death and give you a better quality of life.
Step 1
Lie on the floor and place your hand over your belly. Breathe in normally and watch your hand. If it rises, you're breathing properly. If your hand is stationary, practice pulling air in deeply so your hand moves.
Step 2
Participate in at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity each day. The best type of exercise for your heart and lungs keeps you moving in a rhythmic pattern. Walking, running, swimming and biking are all good choices that will strengthen your heart by raising your heart rate for those 30 minutes.
Step 3
Exercise in natural ways as well as formally. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or take brisk walks around the mall. Looking for cool, dry places to exercise can help keep your airways open for better oxygen intake.
Step 4
Stop smoking if you're a smoker. Smoking weakens your lungs by leaving a fine film of tar on the cilia, or tiny hairs that line your airways, making your lungs susceptible to infection. Quitting smoking gives your body a chance to heal, reduce airway inflammation and rebuild cilia for healthier lungs.
Step 5
Schedule regular visits to your doctor to talk about your heart and lung health, specifically if you're a smoker or heart disease runs in your family. Through checkups, your doctor can assess your heart and lung strength, check your risk for disease and suggest prescriptions that can help improve organ function and reduce risk factors for heart disease, like high cholesterol.
