What do our lungs inhale?

In 1954, the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), under the leadership of Dr Richard Doll, published the first report linking smoking to respiratory diseases. Sixty years on, society has accepted that cigarettes are our lungs’ worst enemy. 
 
However, although smoking is the leading cause of respiratory disease and lung cancer (especially in men), there are other factors that can damage our lungs’ health that we need to be aware of.
 
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. In Spain, 2.2% of the population suffers from COPD, although this number rises to more than 10% in men over the age of seventy. Due to population growth and exposure to risk factors, it is estimated that this percentage could be much higher in the future. 
 

Indoor and outdoor air quality at home

Fortunately, air quality in Spain is relatively good, even in its largest cities. Only the capital, Madrid, is on the list of the 100 cities with the worst air pollution, according to the ranking by the Swiss company IQAir, ranking 53rd. It is far behind other major metropolises, such as Seoul (No. 8), Tel Aviv (No. 11), Shanghai (No. 14) and Mexico City (No. 15). 

Nonetheless, the air in cities is often loaded with small quantities of pollutants that can be very harmful in the long run. Although the days when the air in Madrid and Barcelona contained trace amounts of cocaine may be a thing of the past, other particulates, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds that are produced by burning fossil fuels and other industrial activities are still present in city air.
 

On the other hand, guaranteeing adequate indoor air quality is also an issue at home and in the workplace. Good ventilation and frequent cleaning will prevent the build-up of allergens, dust and mould. In addition, if you work with chemicals that can increase air pollution, it is essential to use appropriate protective equipment. 

Exercise and diet: the magic formula

Although there are no miracle recipes for any disease, maintaining an active lifestyle and eating a balanced diet always come up as the best allies of good health. In the case of lung health, the American Lung Association has published several reports in which these habits have been identified as essential for the maintenance of good respiratory health.

Exercise, especially cardiovascular training, makes the body work more effectively to deliver oxygen into the bloodstream and from there to the muscles that need it. This exercise will also help condition our lungs.

A proper diet for respiratory health should include foods containing vitamin D, such as eggs, salmon or milk, to strengthen the immune system. Tocopherol (a chemical compound found in vitamin E) prevents and reduces the symptoms of asthma. It can be found in nuts such as almonds and hazelnuts or in vegetables such as Swiss chard and broccoli.