Breathing Healthy Air

Breathing Easy
Indoor air pollution contaminates the air we breathe every day. Since you draw about 9 out of 10 breaths indoors, it's easy to see why indoor air quality is a top health concern. You typically inhale about two tablespoons of airborne particles a day. These pollutants put stress on your immune system, which can lead to other health problems. The effects of poor indoor air quality on an individual can vary greatly based on age and relative health. However, in general, poor indoor air quality leads to allergy symptoms, respiratory problems, and weakened immune systems. Children are especially susceptible to the health risks of polluted indoor air since their lungs are smaller and they have to take more breaths throughout the day.

Tips to improve indoor air quality
You may not realize it but the air quality in home or business may be worse than you think, especially during the winter months. In the winter, windows are rarely opened and the same stale warm air is usually reticulated throughout the building. Air quality is so poor in fact that some studies have shown that indoor air quality during the winter months is 10 times worse than during other seasons. If you'd like to improve your health, you should start with the air you breathe. Here are 10 things that can improve your indoor air quality.

Decorate with live indoor plants
Plants are nature's way of cleaning air. There are many chemicals which can contribute to poor indoor air quality and many of the chemicals that make us sick are the ones that plants thrive upon and convert to fresh air.

Don't smoke indoors
This tip seems to be a pretty obvious one, but can provide challenges for regular smokers. But there are hundreds of dangerous chemicals in smoke that can be harmful to your health. To protect the quality and freshness of your indoor air you should tell anyone that smokes, to do so outside. Some business's especially bars and restaurants now have areas with ventilation fans that pull contaminants out of the air.

Don't use aerosols
Aerosols can cause respiratory distress in those people with lung disease or asthma. Instead, substitute aerosols with other products that do not disperse themselves into the air or that use a spray bottle instead of using compressed air in a can.

Cleaning your shower curtain and humidifiers
Moist environments encourage the growth of mold. You should replace your shower curtain if it has a large amount of mold on it. If the mold is minimal, you can remove the shower curtain and scrub it with a household cleaner and rinse before re-hanging.

Check plant's soil for mold
If the potting soil your plant is growing in has mold you should repot it. Such mold usually appears as white fuzz. This will help to improve your indoor air quality. To prevent it in the future, be sure not to over water your plants.

Change air filters
To improve indoor air quality, air filters should be changed on a regular basis. It doesn't take long for the filters to fill with dust and other particles. But every particle caught by your filter is one less you'll have to breathe in.

Use ventilating fans
Ventilation fans exist for a reason and that is to ventilate the areas where they exist. They are usually found in kitchens and bathrooms. It couldn't hurt to install them in any area with smoke or fumes such as a garage. In fact lots of billiard halls use them. They should pull unclean air out of your house or building.

Vacuum and dust
It's obvious to vacuum carpets but you should also vacuum other areas such as your furniture and drapes. For these things it might be best to get a smaller hand held vacuum. You should also dust weekly to keep the dust mites at bay. You might want to wear a dust mask while vacuuming because it can actually kick dust up temporarily.

Groom and clean after pets
Shedding hair can be a problem to your air quality, but with better vacuuming and regular grooming you can solve most of the problems. You should also regularly bath your pets and clean their areas or cages. For cats, it might help to move your litter box into an area with less human traffic, like the garage.

Let some fresh air in
It might not be the most pleasant thing to do in the winter, when it's cold outside, but maybe you could open the window while you take a quick trip to the store. You'd be surprised out how big of a difference it makes.

If you follow these steps the air quality of your indoor air will improve dramatically, which will result in you enjoying the indoor environment of your home or business more and the improved health that comes with better air.

Happy Breathing !!

Yoga to Strengthen Lungs

Healthy and strong lungs are important for a sharper intellect as they supply oxygen to the brain. Here are the details of a few asanas that can keep lungs in the pink of health

Healthy lungs are the secret to a sharper intellect. A research at Harvard University found that healthy lungs in children increase their memory, learning ability and intelligence. This is because when the lungs are large and healthy, only then can they hold adequate air to fulfil the oxygen demand of the trillions of body cells. Yoga is very effective in improving the health of the lungs. Dynamic asanas incorporate deep breathing which strengthen this organ. And of all the techniques; abdominal breathing needs a special mention. This exercise strengthens not only the lungs but also the diaphragm ­ a very important part of our respiratory system. This organ makes breathing possible with its constant up and down movement. Unexercised diaphragm becomes slack, leading to incomplete breathing and poor health. Abdominal breathing can be done any time in any position and for as long as one wants. But before doing it one should learn shavasana.

Technique

Lie down on your back with your hands a little away from the body. Inhale slowly and fill up the lower part of the lungs (With this action, the abdomen should rise)
1) Inhale more to fill up the mid portion of the lungs, which will make the chest expand.
2) Still inhale to fill up the entire lungs. (This action will lead to the lifting of the shoulder)
3) Hold the breath for a few seconds
4) Exhaling, release first from the chest and then from the stomach.
5) Make an effort to exhale as much as possible so that the stale air is completely thrown out of the lungs.

Though yoga helps at any age, it should be practiced from early childhood to ensure best results and perfect growth of the lung as the number of alveoli or air sacs of the lungs grows only till the age of eight.

Courtesy: Times Wellness . com

Note: You must always exercise these asanas, by keeping your basic health in check; Incase your health practitioner has warned you not to do any exercise / asana, you must always abide by the same. We would not be responsible for any physical injury caused due to your not following your doctor's advise.

What is Pranayama?

Pranayama is an art of controlling your breath to bring back or regain your body energy. Breathing or breath is the most important and vital function of life. Pranayama ensures maximum supply of oxygen to your body (brain & blood).

Pranayama helps to regain the lost vigour & energy in the body, as we concentrate on our breath which aids in better oxygen supply to the mind & body.

Courtesy: ABC of Yoga

Note: You must always exercise these asanas, by keeping your basic health in check; Incase your health practitioner has warned you not to do any exercise / asana, you must always abide by the same. We would not be responsible for any physical injury caused due to your not following your doctor's advise.