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November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. During this month, the American Lung Association and White House ask people across the country to speak to their health care professionals about the risks of lung diseases, and begin to take necessary preventative action. They also call on all invested stakeholders to promote and educate the public about detection, prevention, and treatment of these diseases.
There are numerous types of diseases that affect the lungs and our overall health. Lung cancer is by far the most serious and deadly, but other lung conditions can be a warning sign for future serious illness. Two of the most common lung conditions are asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which can develop at any stage of life. Viral lung diseases include the flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia. Left untreated, any of these illnesses have the potential to develop into more serious conditions.
Like all parts of your body, the lungs grow and change as we get older. In addition to changes with our overall health, physical changes in the body begin to impact how our lungs function. While a decrease in lung function is considered a normal part of aging, it’s important to take steps to maintain good lung health to avoid serious illness.
One of the most significant ways of preventing serious lung illness is to avoid smoking. Cigarettes are the number one cause of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses. The American Lung Association offers many tips to help quit smoking on their website. Smoking is not the only pollutant you’ll want to watch out for. Indoor chemicals from your workplace, or home chemicals like radon can have a direct impact on your health. Depending on where you live, you may also deal with higher levels of outdoor air pollution. Taking steps to improve your daily air quality like the use of a home air filter or the use of a respiratory mask during high risk periods can make a major difference.
You’ll also want to take direct steps to prevent or avoid infections entirely. Getting vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia (if recommended by your healthcare professional). Maintaining an exercise routine and active lifestyle keeps your lungs and body healthy. And of course, practicing proper hygiene by washing your hands and living in a clean space is very important to your continued good health.
The respiratory system has numerous ways of sounding the alarm about potential lung illness. It’s important to recognize any of these symptoms or changes and speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Any of the following can be an indicator of immediate or future issues:
As with all diseases, early detection and treatment can be the difference between making a recovery versus learning to manage an ongoing condition. It’s important to get regular check-ups with your doctor to make sure there are no hidden problems that require attention. If you have any family history of chronic lung illness, your doctor may recommend regular advanced screenings for certain respiratory conditions. Thankfully, there are numerous tests and treatments available for all varieties of lung conditions.
Provision Living’s collaborative Encircle program creates customized care plans unique to each resident. For seniors managing ongoing respiratory conditions, our team can help with everyday tasks from basic medical care, prescription management, and exercise. For those without chronic lung conditions, having a care team actively monitoring for changes in health can help prevent serious conditions. Provision Living communities use a state of the art, non-invasive monitoring technology that can help make the unknown known and even identify health issues before they arise. All of this results in the best possible care and a clear path to healthy living. To learn more about how Provision Living can make a difference, give us a call at 1-844-583-7732 or request information online.
This article is for educational purposes only. If you have questions about your lungs, or other health conditions, please consult a qualified medical professional. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911.
