How to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Respiratory Diseases in Texas


While some respiratory diseases are hereditary, many common ones are not. They are often caused by exposure to triggers at work or home, which is encouraged by practices that increase susceptibility and risk. 

You can prevent simple and chronic respiratory diseases through objective preventive practices. This article discusses some effective strategies to help you reduce the risk of developing respiratory diseases. 

Why Respiratory Diseases are Becoming Common 

Most respiratory diseases should be rare because they are preventable. Instead, they are becoming increasingly popular and widespread, and the main reason for their popularity is an increase in risk factors

Air pollution is one of the most popular risk factors on the rise. People are exposed to more pollution indoors due to cooking with solid fuels. Similarly, more vehicles on the road and increased production from manufacturing industries increase outdoor air pollution, even in residential areas, exacerbating the risk of respiratory diseases. 

Tobacco smoking is another leading risk factor for respiratory diseases. The number of young smokers and addicts is increasing, exponentially increasing the risk of respiratory disease as the population ages. Public smoking also exposes people to second-hand smoke, which is also a high-risk factor for non-smokers

Occupational hazards like exposure to harmful chemicals at work also increase the risk of respiratory diseases. 

8 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Respiratory Diseases

The most effective way to reduce respiratory disease risk is to adopt living practices that eliminate the disease threat. Consider some top strategies you can adopt: 

Maintain Quality Indoor Air at Home

Indoor air pollution from paint and cleaning products, dust mites, and gas stoves can increase the risk of respiratory diseases if proper ventilation is not provided. You can reduce the risk from these sources by regularly cleaning your home and keeping it well-ventilated. 

In the kitchen, use an exhaust fan to remove impure air and prevent its circulation throughout the house. You can also invest in alternative cooking options, like an electric stove. To keep indoor air fresh and clean, you can use indoor plants, essential oils, and activated charcoal as natural air purifiers at home. You can also install air purifiers with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. 

Prioritize Personal Hygiene

Poor personal hygiene aids the spread of germs and allergens that cause respiratory disease. Good personal hygiene is an excellent way to reduce this risk and prevent respiratory diseases. Wash your hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes. Wear a nose or face mask when working in places with high contaminant exposure. Extend your hygiene practice to your pets and your home. 

Wash and groom your pet regularly to remove possible contaminants and allergens. Vaccinate them regularly to keep them disease-free and reduce your risk. In addition, clean your house regularly and disinfect surfaces to prevent germ and allergenic contamination. 

Exercise Regularly and Stay Physically Active 

Poor physical activity results in weak muscles and an immune system easily susceptible to disease contamination. Regular exercise and physical activity help boost your immune system to fight against diseases. 

Since these exercises and activities help you breathe more, they help strengthen the muscles around your lungs. This improves your lung capacity and oxygen utilization and reduces airway inflammation. It also allows your body to better fight threats to respiratory diseases, reducing your susceptibility. 

You don’t need intense exercise to achieve this. Simple home exercises and deep breathing can improve lung function and strengthen muscles. To stay physically active, spend more time doing simple everyday activities like walking and working. 

Eat Healthy 

A healthy diet provides nutrients that support lung function and the immune system, preventing inflammation and lung tissue damage. To reduce the risk of respiratory disease, you must be objective about your food consumption. Seek foods and nutrients that directly promote respiratory health. Prioritize the following nutrients in your diet to boost respiratory health: 

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C 
  • Vitamin E
  • Antioxidants 
  • Calcium
  • Fibre
  • Isoflavones 

Food rich in these vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals prevents inflammation and oxidative stress in your lungs. You’ll get most of these nutrients from fruits, vegetables, dairy products, proteins, and oil. 

Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Heaving drinking and extended alcohol abuse can also cause respiratory diseases by altering the airways. When this happens, it disrupts inhalation and reduces saliva production, allowing more bacteria in the mouth which can cause lung infection. 

Besides making your lungs susceptible to attack, alcohol abuse also reduces your body’s ability to fight infection. As a result, bacteria will easily find their way to your lungs and trachea and infect them with the least resistance. 

Reducing alcohol consumption is an excellent way to reduce your risk of respiratory disease. Instead of alcohol, drink more healthy fluids like water and herbal tea to reinforce your health and immune system. 

Avoid Occupational Hazards

Occupational hazards like continuous exposure to harmful chemicals are another leading cause of respiratory diseases. For example, asbestos exposure can easily cause the rare mesothelioma cancer. 

You can reduce your risk by avoiding employment that exposes you to toxins and conditions threatening your health. Alternatively, wear protective equipment when working in a high-exposure environment to reduce the risk of respiratory diseases. 

You’re entitled to some benefits if you already have respiratory diseases, like mesothelioma, due to occupational hazards. Get a Texas mesothelioma lawyer to help file a claim and secure your benefits. 

Quit Smoking 

Tobacco smoking injures and damages your lungs, making them susceptible to bacteria infection and spread. Quitting smoking allows your lungs to begin healing from this damage. 

It also restores cilia functions and eliminates mucus in the respiratory tract, preventing common respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

If you’re not a smoker, you can reduce the risk of respiratory disease from smoke inhalation by avoiding vaping and second-hand smoke. Vaping and especially second-hand smoke are as deadly as smoking tobacco. 

Use Recommended Vaccinations

Some common respiratory viruses like the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have vaccines to help prevent their infection. You can take these vaccines to protect you from these diseases. 

Vaccines introduce milder variations of these viruses into the body, so the immune system produces antibodies against them. This way, the body will easily reproduce these antibodies and fight the virus when exposed, preventing infection. 

Endnote

Respiratory diseases are becoming common due to the spread and popularity of risk factors such as air pollution, tobacco smoking, and occupational hazards like chemical exposure. However, you can reduce the risk of contracting respiratory diseases by maintaining quality indoor air, prioritizing personal hygiene, eating healthy, exercising regularly, reducing alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking. 

About Author /

Our Editorial Team are writers and experts in their field. Their views and opinions may not always be the views of Wellbeing Magazine. If you are under the direction of medical supervision please speak to your doctor or therapist before following the advice and recommnedations in these articles.

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