4 simple tips to check your lungs yourself

Exercise tests such as stair climbing and jogging can help assess respiratory function and detect lung abnormalities.

The lungs are an important organ in the respiratory system but are easily damaged. Master, Doctor Tran Duy Hung, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi, advises some simple lung function tests below so that everyone can proactively perform them at home.

Walking up stairs

How to do it : Take the stairs slowly and gently from the first floor to the third floor. Remember to keep a steady, slow pace like a normal walk.

People who can climb stairs easily without stopping to rest have healthy lungs. On the contrary, lung function is problematic when they have difficulty breathing, cannot catch their breath, or are too tired, needing to rest many times when climbing stairs. At this point, you need to see a respiratory doctor soon.

Stair climbing exercises help check lung health. Photo: Freepik — Stair climbing exercises help check lung health. Photo: *Freepik*

Running in place

Running in place is an easy way to test your lung health through physical activity.

How to do it : Stand up straight and run in place at a moderate, steady pace, not too fast or too slow. Try to control your breathing while running.

If you can maintain running in place for more than 5 minutes without stopping, your lung function is good. If the running time is less than 5 minutes, your lungs may be weak.

Breath holding method

This test helps assess the ability of the lungs and airways to store air and oxygen.

How to do : Take a deep breath and inhale, try to inhale as much as possible, let your lungs expand as much as possible, and your belly swell. After inhaling, you need to control and hold your breath, do not let the breath escape through your nose or mouth to avoid affecting the results.

If you can hold your breath for 30 seconds or more, your lung function is quite good. If you can hold your breath for less than 20 seconds, your lung function may be having problems.

Candle blowing method

To perform this test, you need to prepare a candle or oil lamp.

How to do it : Place a lit candle or oil lamp at the same level as your mouth and about 20 cm away. Take a deep breath and blow out the candle.

This test evaluates lung function by the maximum volume of air exhaled in the first second. If you can blow out the candle with just one strong blow, your lung and respiratory health is okay. If you have to blow out the candle several times to put it out, your lung and respiratory health is not good.

Exercise helps improve breathing ability, increase lung capacity, and deepen breathing. Exercise also stimulates the body's immune system, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases.

Dr. Hung noted that after performing the above exercises, people with reduced lung function should go to the respiratory department for a specific examination and treatment as prescribed if necessary.

In addition to exercise, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle affect the health of the whole body, including the respiratory system. Maintaining a healthy diet, rich in fiber, vitamins and drinking enough water every day helps keep the lungs healthy. Getting vaccinated against influenza, pneumococcal, and whooping cough can increase immunity and prevent respiratory diseases caused by viruses.

Dr. Hung advises smokers to quit smoking to improve lung function and prevent many dangerous lung diseases. Smoking is the leading cause of chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer.

Khue Lam

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