6 Ways to Avoid Lung Infections
Erica Sanderson | Oct 15, 2013 Nov 16, 2016
For people with COPD and other related respiratory illnesses, these tips can help keep flare-ups at bay.
New research from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that certain combined environmental factors, such as pollution and smoking, can trigger the molecule interleukin-13 (IL-13) to cause an immune response that produces excess mucous common in COPD and other respiratory illnesses.
Psychological stress has been linked to restricting the effectiveness of cortisol, a key hormone for fighting inflammation. Learn to control your response to stress better, whether through meditation, yoga, or journaling.
A proper diet can do wonders for the immune system. Get plenty of antioxidants (berries and beans have high amounts) to help fight damaging free radicals that can cause illness or disease. Cruciferous vegetables are chock full of vitamins and disease-fighting phytochemicals, along with sulforaphane, which boosts the liver’s ability to detox the body.
Some days you just don’t feel like doing your medical routine, whether it’s a nebulizer treatment, oral pills, or oxygen therapy. But consistency and compliance with your daily medications is a fundamental part of staying healthy. So even if it’s time consuming or a pain to do now, your body will make you pay tenfold later if you don’t.
You know your body best. Use good judgment on where your physical limits lie. You might have to forgo a social outing for resting at home or limit your traveling. Be honest with yourself about how you feel and make informed decisions based off of that.