Effective Methods for Strengthening the Lungs Once You Quit Smoking

Love your lungs as well as your heart

Once you stop smoking you need to start building up the strength in your lungs lost to you when you were a smoker. Here’s some exercises to get you started.

The size of the lungs cannot be made larger however, it’s possible to increase your lung capacity, which is to say the amount of air your lungs can take in as well as how efficient they are at retaining oxygen.

These breathing methods will help to clear your airways and encourage the lungs to eliminate tar and other harmful toxins as quickly as possible.

Don’t rush and go gentle with small steps to start.

Basic Breathing Exercises:

Do you know how to breathe as efficiently and as deeply as you possibly can? If not then start there. Take the time to learn basic breathing exercises as these can vastly improve the way your lungs work. If you work out often or play sports then breathing exercises can help you tremendously.

To optimize the full capacity of your lungs you need to learn to breathe better.

As you’re sweating it out on one of the cardio machines or running the track or hitting a ball high in the air, breathe in through your nose and then slowly with lips pursed, breathe out again. Practice that – inhale through your nostrils and let it out slowly through your partially closed lips. Exhaling slowly is recommended as it allows the body to eliminate carbon dioxide in a simple fashion.

Breathing in this manner makes it possible for you to take in more oxygen at any given time.

Deep Breathing Exercises:

Deep breathing is something we did as babies but with time, age and stress, we tend to stop breathing from deep in our diaphragm and our abdomen, and instead breathe from our chests. Practice deep breathing regularly to strengthen your lungs. Aim for doing it for 10 to 15 minutes every day for best results. You may not get it right initially but keep trying.

Deep breathing must be done slowly and with concentration. Notice the calm that comes over you as you do your deep breathing exercises. You’re doing not just your lungs plenty of good but your whole body as well!

Aerobic Exercises:

Aerobic exercise gives your lungs the resistance they require to begin to heal and get stronger. Some of the best types to try include stretching, walking, resistance training (such as using weights), dancing, running, swimming, jumping rope and water aerobics.

These physical activities are beneficial because they re-educate and re-train the lungs to utilize oxygen in the most efficient manner.

But that’s not all – aerobic exercises also improve the work of the cardiovascular system and they elevate the heart rate. This helps to stimulate the lungs to work harder and therefore  become stronger.  For the health of your lungs you should engage in an aerobic activity five times a week for a range of anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes at a time.

Your respiratory system contains muscles just like the rest of your body and these need to be used as often as possible.

If you’ve never participated in this type of exercise before then you should discuss with your doctor before starting any strenuous activity.

Smokers who quit, benefit from an exercise program however minimal, and these exercise are all aimed at getting your lungs back in shape and your heart will love you for it.

If you’re struggling to quit or fallen off the wagon and need professional help, and interested in more information about my own online or in-office hypnosis sessions then check out my weight loss hypnosis service.

Erika Slater, CH
Director
Free At Last Hypnosis