by Dr. Jen Caudle

Keeping your lungs healthy is so important. Here are 7 simple things you can do to make sure your lungs stay in optimal health.

1. Check Your Home for Radon

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause damage to the lungs. Radon can build up in homes, schools, and other buildings and cause lung cancer. In fact, it is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer in the US and 21,000 deaths are attributed to radon exposure in the US annually.

There are many ways to check your home for radon. There are self-test kits available or you can have a professional check the air in your home. The American Lung Association has more information on Radon and purchasing Radon detection kits.

2. Check the Air Quality

There is no doubt that pollution can harm the lungs. You can check the pollution levels where you live by going to airnow.gov and entering your zip code. If air pollution levels are high in your region you should stay inside to avoid exposure. If pollution levels are lower it will be safer to be outside.

3. Don't Smoke

Smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer and lung damage. Not smoking is one of the best things you can do for your lungs. If you smoke, work to quit smoking, as this is one of the most important things you can do. For help quitting smoking click here.

4. Vacuum Carpets

Vacuum your carpets and rugs regularly. Vacuuming helps remove dust, dirt, dust mites, dander, mold and more from your carpets which is helpful for your lungs.

5. Exercise

Exercise is good for almost every part of your body- including your lungs! Make sure you're getting regular exercise.

6. Clean the Humidifier

Humidifiers can harbor some pretty yucky things if not cleaned regularly. Click here for tips on how to keep your humidifier clean.

7. Avoid Illness

Prevention is often the best medicine. In the case of your lungs, avoiding illiness is an important way to keep your lungs healthy. Wash your hands, visit your doctor for regular check-ups, keep your teeth and gums healthy and practice good general hygiene measures to make sure you stay healthy!

Hope this is helpul!

Dr. Jen

Dr. Jen Caudle is a Family Doctor & Associate Professor at Rowan University, an On-air health expert, and a video creator. Please sign up for her free newsletter and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for daily health videos.