Healthy lungs are an important part of your loved one’s ability to remain independent as she ages. Lungs play a big part in the overall health of a person, making them a major organ that deserves proactive steps to keep them healthy and reduce the risk of your elderly loved one developing a serious lung disease, such as COPD or lung cancer. While the lungs have many natural defenses to help them stay healthy, if your family has a history of lung disease, you should talk to your elderly loved one about reducing their risk of lung problems and getting extra help from home care providers.
Five Tips to Reduce the Risk of Lung Disease
One of the most obvious tips that most people will mention right away is to stop smoking or vaping. Cigarette smoke is the leading cause of lung cancer as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a leading cause of both bronchitis and emphysema. Cigarette smoke narrows air passages and can make breathing troublesome. It can also lead to inflammation and destroy lung tissue.
Reduce indoor air pollution. If your loved one is consistently exposed to chemicals or other irritants in the home, it can lead to lung disease. Secondhand smoke is dangerous for anyone who is in constant contact with it, so if your loved one has someone else in the home who is a smoker, he might begin to feel the effects of that secondhand smoke. Other areas of indoor air pollution can include mold and radon.
Reduce exposure to outdoor pollution. While you can’t control the air quality outside, you can help your loved one monitor it and reduce his exposure to it when the quality of the outdoor air is low. Most weather apps chart the air pollution levels daily. Remember, it’s not just smog or pollution that affects air quality; weather and natural disasters can also make the air quality low temporarily.
Try to avoid exposure to viruses. While there’s no way to avoid all viruses, if your loved one is going out when there are a lot of illnesses in the area, consider having her wear a face mask to protect her from exposure to a virus that may negatively affect her lung health.
Encourage regular exercise. Getting 30 minutes of regular exercise where your loved one is breathing a bit harder than normal can help her lungs get stronger and thus reduce some of the risks of natural aging on the lungs. Exercises that strengthen the muscles of the neck and chest can also help with lung health.
When Illness Does Strike
Despite all of your best efforts and those of your elderly loved one, she may still develop an illness that affects her lungs. Not being able to breathe fully can make taking care of other chores even more difficult than normal. A bad case of the flu or COVID can make even carrying up a load of laundry from the basement seem overwhelming.
A home care agency can step in when your loved one needs a little extra assistance if she’s not feeling well for a few days, several weeks, or even longer if a more serious illness develops. Home care providers can also help make sure your loved one keeps eating well when she’s under the weather. Even if your loved one is in top health, home care aides can provide the support needed to help her stay in good health and independent
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Fresno, CA, please get in touch with the caring staff at A-Plus In Home Care, Inc. today. Call (559) 224-9442.
A-Plus In Home Care, Inc. is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Fresno, Clovis, Sunnyside, Fowler, Reedley, Selma, Sanger, Madera, CA, and surrounding areas.
- Why Do Seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease Wander? - December 15, 2025
- Congratulations, A-Plus November Raffle Winner - December 5, 2025
- In-Home Care Makes Everyday Chores Easy For Seniors Living Alone - December 5, 2025
