The lungs are located in the thorax and are so large that they occupy most of the available space.
Through them, oxygen is allowed to enter the body (inspiration or inhalation) and carbon dioxide is expelled (expiration or exhalation).
In 2020, the pandemic had already made the population question how to strengthen these organs that were affected with symptoms that even made breathing difficult.
The pollution and forest fires of recent months in Guatemala, as well as the recent rains have made us think again about lung health and how this situation affects us..
These pollution particles can cause nasal congestion and cause heartburn and other complications. They can also aggravate the respiratory condition of people with chronic heart and lung diseases, who are at a higher risk of inhaling these particles.
Mayo Clinic allergist Arveen Bhasin also describes that “common symptoms include cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, eye irritation, sneezing and sore throat.”
The arrival of rain also increases the number of respiratory illnesses. It is common to see more people with flu, influenza, bronchitis and pneumonia.
These are characterized by symptoms such as fever, malaise, cough, muscle and joint pain, and nasal congestion. In the case of children, respiratory syncytial virus can also affect them, causing high fever, body aches, loss of appetite, and weakness.
It is important to remember that chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) are among the leading causes of death and disability in the Americas. CKD includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and other chronic respiratory diseases such as occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension.
How to care for the lungs of children and adults?
Pediatric pulmonologist Mario Melgar shares that in childhood, Breastfeeding is the first step towards building defenses in babies’ lungs.
EContact between mother and child not only reduces the incidence of respiratory diseases but also the future appearance of other diseases such as diabetes.
Vaccination remains ideal for protecting the health of new generationsMelgar adds, “the pneumococcus vaccine, for example, reduces the chances of developing this bacteria, which is the one most closely related to infections and causes pneumonia, otitis, meningitis and other serious illnesses.”
In favor of vaccines, the pediatric pulmonologist, José Miguel Leal believes that both adults and children must keep their vaccination schedules up to date. He adds that during cold weather there is a tendency for more respiratory infections such as respiratory viruses, seasonal coronavirus and influenza because when it is cold we get closer to each other and windows are closed, which affects ventilation and this makes contagion more frequent.
It should not be forgotten that in certain seasons pollen is released in some seasons in which there are children who are allergic to it and suffer from sneezing and mucus without it being an infection.
Other lung care
Gerardo Martínez, a physician, surgeon and pulmonologist, explains that there is no single vitamin that helps us or a magic food that allows us to have lung health.
For Martinez, among the cheapest preventive medicines, but most difficult to reach among the population are: exercise frequently, do not smoke, and sleep between six and eight hours a day.
For his part, Francisco Orlandi, oncologist and head of the Oncology Medicine Unit at the National Thoracic Institute in Santiago, Chile, reflects that quitting smoking is a way to maintain lung health and reduce future deaths from lung cancer. In Latin American countries, cooking with firewood and charcoal should also be avoided, as this poses a risk.
Nutrition is a key point. There is no single food that strengthens the immune system, everything is based on healthy eating habits, a varied diet, in quantity and quality that provides the necessary nutrients for optimal health and nutrition.
Consuming fruits and vegetables to ensure adequate intake of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) helps strengthen the immune system.
It is generally recommended to include a food from all food groups on your plate at each meal time. A very practical idea to make your plate look and be healthy is to take into account divisions, such as the healthy eating plate, ¼ cereals, ½ vegetables and/or fruits, ¼ foods of animal origin.
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