Healthy Lungs As We Age

Lung Health for Life: Respiratory Therapists Offer Advice on Breathing Easy as We Age

For Immediate Release
IRVING, TX (September 30, 2004) – We’re all interested in keeping our bodies working as well as possible as we get older. But when it comes to our lungs it takes a little effort, say respiratory therapists from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).

“Older people need to pay careful attention to a number of things,” emphasizes Helen Sorenson, MA, RRT, FAARC, a registered respiratory therapist and assistant professor in the department of respiratory care at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Sorenson, who writes a regular column on aging for the AARC, says the first thing seniors can do to keep their lungs in good working order is quit smoking. “Smoking is the number one cause of respiratory disease, and people who smoke are also more likely to develop a range of other health problems.”

The good news is quitting – even at an older age – can improve your chances for a longer and healthier life. “As soon as you quit, your blood pressure goes down, you are less likely to have a heart attack, and your senses of smell and taste return to normal,” says the respiratory therapist.

Getting an annual flu shot is also important. “The flu often hits older people especially hard, and can turn into pneumonia pretty quickly,” says Sorenson. “Flu shots aren’t perfect, but they work most of the time in most people and are vitally important for anyone over 50, particularly if you already have a chronic medical condition.” Be sure and get the shot early. It takes about one to two weeks for protection to begin.

All adults 65 years of age and older should receive the pneumonia vaccine, which according to the CDC takes about two to three weeks to provide protection, too. A second dose is recommended for those over age 65 who got their first dose when they were under 65, if 5 or more years have passed since that dose. “This is the time of the year to get these shots,” reminds Sorenson, noting the flu season generally runs from late fall through early spring.

There are other things you can do to keep your lungs working properly too, she adds. One of the best is to just keep moving. “Exercising helps improve lung capacity,” says Sorenson. “You don’t have to run marathons – just a brisk walk around the block will do the trick!”

Lastly, she says older people need to make sure they are getting adequate nutrition and drinking enough fluids. “Eating a balanced diet provides your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy,” says Sorenson, “and keeping well hydrated thins the secretions in your lungs, making it easier for you to breath.”

It all adds up to a good set of lungs, Sorenson says in summary. “With just a little effort, we can all keep breathing easy well into our 80s, 90s, and even beyond.”

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) are licensed health care professionals specially educated in respiratory health care. RTs assist physicians by providing diagnostic, treatment and management services to persons with respiratory diseases. RTs provide these services in hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities and patients’ homes.

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is a not-for-profit, professional organization, consisting of 35,000 respiratory therapists, physicians, and other health care professionals. AARC is dedicated to assisting persons with respiratory diseases receive safe and effective respiratory care.

Suggested Sidebar: Tips from the AARC on Keeping Lungs Healthy Throughout Life

Like most bodily systems, the lungs lose some of their vitality as we get older. But we can do some things to keep breathing easy. Take a look at these tips from the American Association for Respiratory Care: