Back in the 1980s I worked at a health insurance company and interestingly one of the things I remember best about that job was my boss (Paul) who smoked cigars nonstop throughout the day.

As you may recall (if you are as old as me!), smoking used to be allowed in public places, including business offices. So, Paul would light up and stink up the office all day long.

Whenever I had to go into his office to ask a question, not only was the stench overwhelming, but I was also very cognizant of Paul’s breathing, which seemed to be labored with short little puffs.

Sadly, about 10 years after I left the insurance company, I heard that Paul passed due to lung cancer. 

I thought of that job and of Paul today as I was preparing this blog because November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

But I did not want to limit my discussion to just cancer, because there are two other lung issues that affect large numbers of people, and they too are worthy of mention.

COPD and long COVID.

Let’s talk about all three of these and how you can help preserve the health of your precious lungs for many years to come!

Lung cancer—sneaky and deadly

Although prostate cancer is the number one form of cancer that strikes men, and for women it’s breast cancer, lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death among both men and women.

Each year more people die of lung cancer than of breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.

The primary symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, recurrent bronchitis or pneumonia, hoarseness, weight loss and coughing up blood.

Unfortunately, when some of these symptoms first appear, they may be brushed off as allergies, or antibiotics may be taken for what is thought to be just bronchitis… so that gives the disease an opportunity to progress.

What makes this worse is that many times symptoms don’t appear until the disease is already approaching an advanced stage and the chance of recovery is seriously reduced.

It’s not limited to smokers!

While smokers do have a 20-25 times greater risk of developing lung cancer than non-smokers, not all lung cancers are caused by smoking.

Another risk factor is radon exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

Exposure to other substances including asbestos, or inhaled chemicals such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, silica, vinyl chloride, nickel compounds, chromium compounds, coal products, mustard gas, chloromethyl ethers and diesel exhaust can also raise your risk.

Plus, cancers from other areas (especially the breasts) can metastasize to the lungs. 

And remember that even if you don’t smoke, if you live with a smoker, that raises your risk too. Studies show second-hand smoke accounts for as much as 25% of lung cancer cases in non-smokers.

COPD—struggling to breathe

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the umbrella term used to describe two serious lung conditions—emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Similar to lung cancer, many symptoms of COPD don’t appear until significant lung damage has already occurred, which greatly worsens your prognosis.

Emphysema symptoms can include shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing, chest tightness, frequent upper respiratory infections (URIs), fatigue, high mucus or phlegm production and frequent throat clearing. As the disease progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to breathe.

The main symptoms of chronic bronchitis are a daily cough and mucus production.

Smoking is guilty again!

According to the CDC, smoking accounts for as many as eight out of 10 COPD-related deaths. 

But other significant risk factors include occupational exposure to dust and chemicals, a history of asthma, and exposure to second-hand smoke.

Long COVID-19

Some of the people who contracted COVID and recovered continue to experience “Long COVID-19 Syndrome.”

The symptoms can vary and include brain fog, tiredness, headache, tinnitus, fatigue, weakness, inability to exercise, palpitations, postural tachycardia syndrome (POTs), itching, rashes, runny nose and sneezing.

But one of the most common areas of concern is with lung issues—specifically, shortness of breath, congestion, persistent cough and getting winded easily upon exertion. 

That’s likely because COVID is known for its inflammatory “cytokine storm” that especially likes to attack the lungs.

Plus, some experts have suspected that the symptoms may also be the result of unresolved COVID-related pneumonia. 

How to take care of your precious lungs

Just like many of our other body systems and processes, our lung function declines with age—it peaks at around age 30, then starts a downward trend after that.

But never fear! Because there is a whole lot you can do to preserve the health of your lungs and support strong lung function into your golden years.

Here are some of the best lung-pampering measures you can take:

Quit smoking

I know this seems obvious, but there are currently about 31 million smokers in the US, so it’s worthy of mention.

If you smoke, remember it’s not only your health you’re destroying—the people around you that are breathing in your smoke are suffering as well.

Get help if you need it and don’t give up. Most smokers report having to quit more than once before they finally kicked the habit for good. Acupuncture can help curb your cravings and it’s far safer than medications like Chantix.

Beef up your immune system function

Your immune system actively protects you against both cancer and COVID! So, you don’t want to be without its awesome power.

When it comes to strong immune function, two of your best bets are probiotics and vitamin D.

A full-spectrum, multi-strain probiotic formula like Super Shield can help repopulate your gut microbiome and bring it into a healthier balance. This is crucial because nearly 80% of your immune system resides in your gut, and if your intestinal environment is overrun with harmful microbes and yeasts, it will weaken your immune function!

Vitamin D helps to tame inflammatory immune responses, such as those seen with allergies, asthma and autoimmune conditions; it’s been shown to protect lung health; and it’s also emerging as a superstar in helping lungs heal from COVID.

Unfortunately, many of us are grossly deficient in this vital nutrient because food sources are limited, and we shun the sun and/or slather on sunscreen when we are exposed to sunlight.

That’s why supplementation with a top-notch product like Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B is so important!

Optimum DK Formula provides an immune-supportive 5,000 IU dose of vitamin D3 in every capsule, plus vitamins K1 and K2 and the mineral boron.

Eat your fruits and vegetables

Studies have shown that low fiber intake is associated with reduced lung function, and on the flip side, a diet that provides lots of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables can improve lung health.

In addition, the flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables have been shown to improve COPD symptoms and help slow the gradual decline in lung function associated with aging!

So do lots of your grocery shopping in the produce section of the grocery store—your lungs will thank you handsomely.

Embrace the anti-inflammatory power of Omega3-fish oil

It’s always crucial to keep inflammation low in your body, and that especially applies to your lungs.

When it comes to natural anti-inflammatories, nothing beats the Omega-3 fish oil found in our Vital-Mega-3 Fish Oil Formula.

In addition to counteracting inflammation frequently seen with long haul COVID, lung cancer and COPD fish oil has also been proven to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and ease arthritis pain too!

Now take a deep breath and put these lung loving measures to work for you!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia