Air quality is increasingly declining, causing more people to pay attention to respiratory health. On social networks, more and more advertisements about herbal teas and functional foods believed to be beneficial for the lungs are appearing. However, according to medical experts, human lungs already have a self-cleaning mechanism and do not need to use special support products.
According to Dr. Sunil Kumar K, Senior Consultant at the Lung Intervention Department, Aster CMI Hospital (Bangalore), the lungs have the ability to remove dirt and microorganisms through natural mechanisms.
In the respiratory tract, there are cilia that help move mucus out. Mucus retains dust, bacteria and viruses, and cough reflexes help push them out of the body. Breathing clean air, not smoking and maintaining physical activity are enough to support this function," he explained.
However, lungs can still be damaged if they are frequently exposed to pollutants. Indoor environments, common harmful factors include cigarette smoke, cooking smoke, dust, mold, pet fur and chemicals from paint or spray detergents. Outdoors, traffic emissions, industrial smoke and PM2.5 fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause long-term effects.
Dr. Kumar said that prolonged exposure to pollution increases the risk of asthma, chronic respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
Common early signs that the lungs are having problems include: shortness of breath or shortness of breath when exercising, prolonged cough of unknown cause, chest tightness or heavyness, wheezing, increased phlegm volume or change in phlegm color, and feeling tired even during normal activities.
To support lung function, experts recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Deep breathing exercises, breathing with the abdomen or lip creaking help air flow into and out of the lungs more effectively. Regular physical activity and a balanced diet also contribute to protecting lung health. If coughing or shortness of breath persists, or serious symptoms appear such as coughing up blood, chest pain, fever or severe shortness of breath, patients need to see a doctor early for diagnosis and timely treatment.
