One Person Only Has One Lung: You Can See If Your Lungs Are Bad By Checking These 3 Places – You Can't Hide It

According to Professor Sheldon Cohen of Carnegie Mellon University, lung function is one of the important indicators of health and longevity. Therefore, the idea of 'long-lived first nourish the lungs' is to some extent reasonable. But as for how to nourish the lungs, many people have a vague understanding.

1Check Lung Capacity

Lung capacity = Tidal Volume + Forced Vital Capacity + Forced Expiratory Volume.This refers to the total amount of air expelled after a full, maximal inhalation and subsequent exhalation. Lung capacity is an indicator of how well the lungs function. The larger the lung capacity, the deeper a person's breathing, and the more complete the cleansing of the lungs. At the same time, a larger lung capacity also predicts a person's ability to withstand exercise.

An adult’s lung capacity is approximately 3000-4000ml, and the lung capacity of athletes can reach 6000ml. Lung capacity decreases with age.

2Observe Breathing

From a Chinese medical perspective, the lungs are responsible for respiration. When the lungs are unwell, the earliest signs will be noticeable in breathing. People with good lungs have smooth, effortless gas exchange, strong respiratory muscles, and slow, deep breaths. Conversely, if breathing is irregular, rapid, or accompanied by chest tightness, it indicates poor lung function.

It is best to observe breathing abnormalities in the morning, when you can pay attention to your breathing frequency and depth. If you experience breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, or chest tightness, you should pay attention to it.

3Observe Skin

From a Chinese medicine point of view, healthy lungs directly affect the skin and hair. This 'skin and hair' refers to our skin, hair follicles, and other tissues, which all need the nourishment of lung qi. People with good lung function and healthy lung function have good skin conditions. Conversely, if the lungs are dysfunctional, it can affect skin health.

Chinese medicine often refers to the lungs as ‘fragile organs’. They not only control our breathing but also coordinate the support of the heart and manage the circulation of qi, blood, and body fluids. Poor lung function not only affects physical activity but also increases the risk of conditions such as ‘lung stagnation and dampness’, impacting family life.

When talking about nourishing the lungs,Dr. Qiming Xiao, Director of the Respiratory Department of Xiangya Hospital, Central South Universitybelieves that exercise can nourish the lungs, such as squatting, is a simple and effective method.

Specific steps:

Legs are spread apart, with toes pointing downwards in a reverse ‘B’ shape;

Slowly lower yourself into a squat, with the hips moving backwards as the body descends;

Hold for a few seconds, then slowly return to a standing position. Do 20-30 times a day.

Action points:

① Keep the trunk upright during the squatting motion;

② The speed of squatting should be slow, about 5 seconds per squat, while coordinating breathing – inhale while squatting, exhale while standing up;

③ During the squat, do not squat too low, the angle of the knee joint should be greater than 60 degrees;

④ Breathe through the nose while inhaling and the mouth while exhaling, hold your breath for 5 seconds when inhaling to full capacity, then slowly exhale;

⑤ For people with weak physiques, the number of squats can be slightly adjusted. Older adults should squat while holding onto the bed to prevent falls;

⑥ People with high blood pressure, low blood pressure, and severe knee degeneration are not advised to squat, as it can cause blood pressure fluctuations and aggravate knee joint problems.

Dr. Xiao explains that when squatting, the diaphragm rises, and when standing up, the diaphragm falls, which increases the activity range of the chest cavity and lungs, and thus increases the lung capacity.

Each squat exposes the pulmonary blood vessels to a ‘wash’ of blood, while the other areas of the body are squeezed, and when standing up, the blood returns to these squeezed vessels. This cycle of ‘washing’ the pulmonary small blood vessels with blood effectively removes harmful metabolic products from the lungs, achieving the purpose of nourishing the lungs.