How to Cleanse Your Lungs?

In recent years, increasing smoking rates, air pollution, COVID-19, pneumonia, and other infections pose a serious threat to lung health. While cleansing organs such as the liver and intestines is often discussed, it is also crucial to take action to cleanse the lungs.

According to experts, the lungs have a limited ability to repair and clean themselves. Of course, it is extremely important for us to take certain supportive steps to ensure this process works healthily.

Winter is coming... It is essential to keep our lungs strong, especially against infectious diseases such as the flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19. Chest Diseases Specialist Dr. Seha AKDUMAN explains how to do this...

How Are the Lungs Cleansed?

One way to strengthen the lungs is through lung cleansing. This can be defined as the removal of toxins and mucus. However, it should definitely not be seen as a “detox”; it can be described as the process of restoring lung function. 

Here's what you can do for your lung health:

• Quit Smoking and Vaping

The first step to achieving healthier lungs is to quit smoking, regardless of how long you've been smoking.  

• Exercise

Swimming and brisk walking are beneficial for increasing lung capacity. Increased breathing rate also helps expel polluted air. 

• Don't Forget Breathing Exercises

Proper breathing exercises allow oxygen to reach the air sacs in the lungs. This helps prevent mucus buildup. 

• Drink Water

Water helps eliminate toxins from the body and thins the mucus in the lungs, facilitating its expulsion. Therefore, it is beneficial to drink 2-2.5 liters of water throughout the day. 

• Ventilate Your Home

Clean the air by frequently opening the windows in your home or workplace. Reduce the use of chemical cleaning products and personal care products. 

• Get Your Vaccinations

Flu and pneumonia vaccines will provide protection against infections and prevent possible damage. 

• Get Plenty of Oxygen

Plenty of oxygen promotes cell renewal in the lungs and also supports mucus expulsion. Therefore, spending time in oxygen-rich environments such as the seaside, forest, or highlands is beneficial to help cleanse the lungs. Spending 15-20 days in oxygen-rich environments is beneficial. 

• Pay Attention to Your Diet

Foods rich in vitamin C, omega-3, vitamin A, antioxidants, and probiotics, such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, carrot, orange, lemon, salmon, walnut, and yogurt, help reduce inflammation. However, healthy eating alone is not effective if other risk factors, especially smoking, are not eliminated for lung cleansing.  

• Get Regular Sleep

Lung cells also renew themselves at night, so try to get adequate and quality sleep. 

• Wear a Mask

Wear a mask, especially in crowded areas such as public transportation or during times of high air pollution.

Preventable Risk Factors for Lung Health

Risk factors that threaten lung health can arise from different causes, including disease, genetics, environment, and lifestyle. However, preventable risk factors for lung health can be listed as follows.

1- Tobacco products, cigarette and e-cigarette use: According to statistics, approximately 85% of lung cancers and the vast majority of COPD cases are caused by smoking. Electronic cigarettes, whose use has been increasing in recent years, can also cause DNA damage and inflammation in lung tissue. It should not be forgotten that passive smokers are also at risk.

2- Air pollution: Affects the health of billions of people worldwide and causes deaths. Exposure to air pollution increases the risk of asthma, COPD, and lung cancer, especially in children.

3- Respiratory infections: Again, especially in recent years, infections such as COVID-19, RSV, and pneumonia are risk factors, particularly for patients with lung diseases such as COPD and elderly patients.

4- Occupational exposure: People who are forced to work while exposed to substances such as asbestos and coal dust are at increased risk for lung cancer.

How Can You Tell If Your Lungs Are Healthy?

If a person does not have difficulty breathing in their daily life, does not feel tightness in their chest, does not experience coughing or phlegm problems, does not experience breathing stops during sleep at night, and can walk without difficulty for 10-15 minutes, their lungs are most likely healthy.
However, concrete data is obtained through regular checkups. A respiratory function test should be performed once a year, and the lungs should be checked.

Do Lungs Always Regenerate Themselves? 

Lungs are organs that clean themselves as long as they are not exposed to pollutants. However, their ability to regenerate is limited. While they have the capacity to repair some damage, this is not possible in cases of irreversible damage such as fibrosis (hardening of lung tissue due to causes such as viruses, exposure to tobacco smoke, or genetics).

How Long Does It Take for the Lungs to Completely Clear?

For the lungs to completely clear themselves, it is first necessary to quit smoking, make lifestyle changes, and be in an environment where clean air can be breathed. However, even if these conditions are met, it can take months or years to complete, depending on many factors such as the person's overall health, age, and the extent of the damage. 

What Happens After Quitting Smoking? 

According to American Cancer Society data, recovery begins within minutes of quitting smoking. Within the first 24 hours, the nicotine level in the blood drops to zero. Between 1 and 12 months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease, and 10 years after quitting, the risk of lung cancer reaches half that of a smoker. The risks of bladder, esophageal, and kidney cancer also decrease.