16 Tips for Seniors to Avoid Respiratory Disease

Whether it’s flu season, a pandemic, or bad air, one thing we want to avoid is respiratory disease, especially as seniors.

Bad air or the beginning of a cold can cause you to have an itchy throat or a little cough. If you don’t take care of it, it may develop into something worse, like bronchitis, or pneumonia. It can become more serious if we live in a polluted environment can weaken our immune systems and make it hard for us to breathe.

Keep your lungs healthy by doing all you can to improve your personal environment. Respiratory disease can become life-threatening or debilitating at any age.

These 16 Tips will help you avoid respiratory disease and protect your lungs:

• Don’t allow smoking (of any kind) inside your home. 2nd hand smoke causes cancer and makes your environment smell.
• Don’t pile up firewood indoors.  Instead, bring in only a few pieces at a time because the wood may breed mold.
• Take your recyclables outside to store such as newspapers, cleaning rags, empty bottles, etc. Some of these items cause toxic fumes even when you can’t smell them.
• Regulate the humidity levels in your home so mold won’t grow. If you feel like you have congestion, use a humidifier but make sure to clean it out frequently.
• Change the air filter in your air conditioner and heater every 2-3 months.
• Clean out your vacuum filter bag to avoid breathing in excess dust particles.
• Remove your old carpets or don’t install them at all. Carpets collect an insane amount of dirt, grime, and who knows what else even if you vacuum them frequently. It’s healthier overall to lay your floors with wood or tile instead and decorate them with area rugs that can be cleaned.
• Make sure you have a carbon monoxide monitor installed in your home that’s working. Test it regularly.
• Don’t cook with charcoal indoors.
• Don’t forget to turn off the stove or oven, especially if you’re using gas, and check for leaks.
• Have your home tested for radon.
• Use cleaning products that are biodegradable, fragrance-free, and safe for the environment as they will be less toxic for your lungs.
• Rinse off immediately after swimming in a chlorinated pool. Too much chlorine can cause breathing problems for those who are sensitive. If you are using bleach for cleaning open a window or use a less toxic product.
• Check the ingredients in your personal body, face, and hair products. Try to use “natural” or not fragrance-free products if possible. 
• Close the windows if you smell the exhaust from nearby cars, garden leaf blowers, or other toxic fumes.
• Use natural room deodorants rather than highly perfumed carpet or upholstery fresheners. An open window is often the best way to air out a room.

If you live in a big city or near a toxic occurrence like a fire, check the air quality for your location at AirNow.gov. If it’s bad, stay indoors or wear a mask.

Do your best to avoid illnesses like the flu or a virus that could eventually cause severe respiratory distress. Wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer, and wear a mask if the situation calls for it.

This post was updated on 7/2023

What tips do you have to prevent respiratory disease?  Please leave a comment below.