Children's lungs are more vulnerable to damage from air pollution and excess ozone than adults’, lungs, since they are still developing and growing. The result is a high propensity for lung-related disease in those with constant exposure to smoke and pollution.
This was vividly revealed in a study that compared healthy children in a heavily polluted areas of City against similar children raised in rural . X-rays of the children's lungs revealed that more than half of the city children already had lung damage that may be predictive of future problems.
Another study shows that exposure to pollution for many years can raise your lung cancer risk by as much as 24 per cent and can be as destructive as breathing second-hand tobacco smoke.
In a different study that tracked 500,000 people from 100 cities for 16 years, researchers found that dirty air also increased the risk of dying from heart disease by 6 per cent or more. The more polluted the air, the higher the death rates.
Can I undo it? No
Damage done to young lungs doesn't get repaired by your body. But there's plenty you can do to keep your lungs healthy and to protect against future damage.
Plus benefits
Achieving better lung health means improved, deeper breathing. Delivering better-quality air to your lungs results in greater stamina and overall energy, too.
Repair plan
Avoid smoke and dirty air The only way to avoid polluted air consistently is to live far from heavy traffic, factories with large chimneys and highly crowded neighbourhoods. If you live in an urban area, though, there are still many things you can do.
Pay attention to the pollution forecast for the day, especially on hot summer days when there may be higher levels of ozone in the air. Take frequent trips out of town. Stay indoors during peak traffic times.
Don't smoke Tobacco smoke irritates fragile, already-vulnerable lung tissue.
Pay attention to your lung health Call your doctor right away if you have chest pain or aches when you inhale or exhale or if you are coughing up blood.
These, along with unexplained weight loss, can be symptoms of lung cancer, as can shortness of breath, a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, pain under your ribs and/or swelling of your face or neck.
Watch for COPD See your doctor if you're coughing frequently, wheezing, have frequent lung infections or have a lot of mucus. These symptoms can be a sign of a complex breathing problem that doctors call chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD.
Exercise It strengthens the muscles that help you to breathe.
Eat lots of fruits and vegetables The antioxidants can help to protect lungs from future damage.
Learn to control your breathing If you have COPD, your doctor or a respiratory therapist can teach you how to relax when you're feeling short of breath
