How to Help Your Lungs Breathe Easy This Season

There’s nothing like filling your lungs with a big gulp of fresh air. But for many, breathing easy doesn’t come so, well, easily – especially during springtime.

Pollen, mold, and the changing weather create the perfect storm for poor air quality. And if you have environmental allergies or breathing conditions, like asthma, it can be even more challenging.

So, what are some ways you can keep your lungs in tip-top shape? Here are three important considerations:

1. Increase Your Lung Capacity

Did you know that, as we age, our lung capacity slowly decreases? This leads to shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Fortunately, you can counter this with these lung-expanding exercises:

  • Pursed-lip breathing. This technique is great for beginners! The goal is to slow down your breathing and keep your airways open for longer. All you do is inhale slowly through your nose, purse your lips, and breathe out as slowly as you can. It should take twice as long to exhale as it does to inhale.
  • Belly breathing, AKA diaphragmatic breathing. To do this, place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. When you inhale, you should feel your stomach rise. Then, exhale for a couple of seconds through pursed lips and feel your belly lower as you breathe out.

These exercises will go a long way in keeping your lungs healthy and getting your body the oxygen it needs!

2. Strengthen Your Lungs Through Nutrition

What you eat has a direct impact on your lung health. Amazing, isn’t it?! When looking to support your lungs, consider avoiding super-processed foods, such as deli meats, fried foods, and carbonated drinks.

Instead, load up on delicious, nutrient-packed choices, like:

  • Beets
  • Apples
  • Turmeric
  • Blueberries
  • Green tea

Another excellent choice is diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) herbs. These have traditionally been used to treat infections, beat fevers, and help with lung health during a cold. Herbs like cayenne, garlic, ginger, and elderflower can be mixed in with warm water and consumed to keep your lungs in tip-top shape.

3. Choose the Right Lung Supplements

If drinking herb-infused water isn’t your thing, you may want to try out a lung health-boosting supplement. Here are a couple we recommend:

  • PulmaCo. This blend is chock-full of powerful herbs, like Ginkgo and Turmeric, that help your respiratory system flourish, especially when breathing becomes difficult.
  • Broncafect. You can probably guess by its name that this immune-supporting formula supports your airways and cough reflex. It contains licorice, echinacea, ginger, and other plants and herbs that can help resolve acute lung challenges.

And as a bonus, these two supplements also contain those diaphoretic herbs that do wonders for your lungs!

How Can We Help You Breathe Easier?

While you can’t control Mother Nature or solve poor air quality overnight, there are steps you can take to strengthen your lung health.

We’re here to help support your health and help you breathe easier – no matter what time of year. Try out one of the above tips or give our office a call to see how we can help you breathe freely once again.

Happy Patients

I have had back issues most of my life. Since starting treatments with Dr Greg I have had no more issues. It's such a relief to be able to be physical at the high level I want to be. I am able to maintain wellness by seeing Dr Greg on a regular basis. Thank you Dr Greg!!

Michael L.

Hello! I just want to say that you are truly a healer! After leaving your office last Monday, I was more able to breathe, truly breathe - after having suffered all weekend to take a deep breath due to a "rib out of place" OK - if you say so....all I know is that, though I continued to have a bit of pain in my upper back and neck for a day or two, I could take wonderful, glorious deep breaths thanks to your treatment. Thanks again for all you do! Even if I do make many sound affects while you are treating me - "OUCH!!! Hmmmph!! Ughhh!! Really???" I truly appreciate your healing touch....

MMW

I have had Parkinson's Disease for 8 years.  I have developed arthritis in my back and hips. The stiffness of the Parkinson's and the arthritis has caused me a lot of pain. Because of that unrelenting pain I was unable to exercise. Exercise is an important part of pain management for Parkinson's.  Since I have been seeing Dr. Krapf I am feeling much better and his care has allowed me to begin exercising again, which has improved my overall well being. In the past I have been treated by physical therapists and orthopedists. Dr. Krapf's chiropractic manipulations have had an amazing impact on my health and happiness. I highly recommend Dr. Krapf to anyone who needs excellent chiropractic care and the many alternative therapies he offers. I would say he is magical!

When my friend received excellent care from Dr. Krapf, she recommended him to me. I have had gastrointestinal problems for nearly 50 years that have recently been diagnosed with celiac disease with lactose intolerance. All that, including unrelieved stress had made me unhappy and unhealthy. Today I am a different person with the help of Dr. Greg. The Gastro issues are practically nonexistent, my stress levels have plummeted, and my body is changing. I am so grateful for Dr. Greg and his healing hands.

Mary Ann L.

Our family have been patients of Krapf chiropractic for a few decades. We have several success stories archived. The most recent event involves our youngest son who is completing his senior year of high school. He has been a patient of Krapf Chiropractic (KCA) since birth. He has been an avid soccer player since the age of four and has sustained numerous injuries over the years. Dr. Krapf has successfully assisted in every recovery.

Most recently, he began complaining of his feet hurting while playing soccer. Both feet hurt - particularly the balls of his feet while running and cutting. He came to Dr. Greg with his complaint as this was seriously affecting his game. Dr. Greg evaluated the situation and decided a foot scan should be done. The finding was dropped arches. My son was fitted for orthotics. They arrived within days and he wore these as directed. Within a few short weeks he is now playing full games pain free.

SC

I first called Krapf Chiropractic when my back was so bad that I couldn't get up off the floor. It's been a blessing to have Dr. Greg help me with my overall wellness and health! I find this to be a place where you are not a number and everyone cares. Mollie is always cheerful and reminds me to come. Erin is always smiling and helps relax me when I'm in pain. I would not be functioning if I did not have Krapf Chiropractic to keep me going. As I get older my appreciation deepens, especially when I see people around me who are suffering with back problems. If they only knew how helpful this is. I believe Dr. Greg treats the person not the symptoms. Thank you

Debbie B.

I've been lucky to have exceptional health care from the beginning. At the beginning, seventy-six-plus years ago, Hugh Rodgers brought me into the world in mother and dad's second-floor bedroom in our dairy farm home. Hugh's son, Hugh, Jr., practiced with his dad and beyond caring for my parents, he, also, cared for hundreds of others and me. Roughly forty years ago, a friend suggested I make an appointment with Richard Krapf for help with back-pain. Richard treated the pain that, often, was debilitating, and on Richard's death, his son, Greg became the second second generation to help me from one place to another. I'm grateful to Hugh, Hugh, Richard and, perhaps, most of all, to Greg.

N.C.

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