How to Steer Clear of Lung Problems

August 13, 2021

Ever seen or heard the warning “Smoking is dangerous to your health”? 

 

Pero kahit nababasa, naririnig o napapanood mo ‘to, BAKIT HINDI KA PA RIN TUMITIGIL SA PANINIGARILYO?

Our lungs, just like our other organs, are important. They are responsible for gas exchange in our body that makes breathing possible. In order to protect our lungs, we need to take good care of ourselves every day by exercising, eating a healthy diet, avoiding stress and making sure to inhale clean air.

Ang paninigarilyo at paglanghap sa usok na dulot nito ang isa sa mga kaaway ng ating baga. Smoking can cause damage to our lungs because of the harmful substances tobacco smoke contains. According to www.cancer.org, of the more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 250 are known to be harmful, including hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia. Among the 250 known harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 69 can cause cancer. Secondhand smoke can cause heart disease, stroke or even lung cancer. Dagdag pa ng www.cancer.org, ‘smoking also causes aortic aneurysm (a balloon-like bulge in an artery in the chest), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), diabetes, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts, and worsens asthma symptoms in adults. Smokers are at higher risk of developing pneumonia, tuberculosis, and other airway infections. In addition, smoking causes inflammation and impairs immune function’.

 

Bukod sa sigarilyo, marami pang banta sa kalusugan ng ating baga. Ang ilan sa mga ito ay ang:

Air Fresheners. Every day, everywhere we go, we are exposed to different kinds of ‘fragrant’ air fresheners. What we don’t know is that they contain toxic chemicals that can be very harmful to our lungs. The use of scented candles or heated oils can also make the air inside our homes unsafe. It’s still safe to inhale clean, fragrance-free air.

Studies show that people who inhale large amounts of air spray chemicals may experience headaches, difficulty in breathing and even cancer. Check the label and make sure that the product you’re purchasing doesn’t contain any of these: 1,4-Diclorobenzene (1,4 DB), Acetaldehyde, Benzene, d-Limonene, Formaldehyde, Parabens, Phthalates, Styrene, Toluene, Xylene, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

If you want to get rid of unwanted smells in your home, just use baking soda, open the windows and try to keep everything clean.

Pollution. Air pollutants like cookstoves or pesticides affect the quality of air that we breathe. They can cause lung inflammation which may eventually lead to lung damage. Air pollution has long been a problem in the Philippines. The World Health Organization and earthjournalism.net report that ‘there were 45.3 air pollution-related deaths for every 100,000 people in the Philippines. It was the third-highest in the world, after China’s 81.5 pollution-related deaths and Mongolia’s 48.8 deaths per 100,000 people’.

Tuberculosis. This disease mainly affects the lungs and is highly contagious. A person can transfer the virus when he/she sneezes or coughs and the other person inhales the expelled droplets. To stop the spread of TB, be aware of the symptoms and make sure to get proper treatment.

Medical treatments. People who are undergoing chemo and radiation therapies especially during lung or breast cancer treatments are most likely to get their lungs damaged.

Lung disease is the 4th top leading cause of death in the Philippines. Based on the 2018 data published by The World Health Organization, we have around 25,236 or 4.14% total lung disease deaths.

Don’t wait for a deadly lung disease to happen. Ngayong National Lung Month, we at Paramount Direct would like to help in spreading awareness about lung disease treatment and prevention.

We have a product called PrimeHealth Cash Plan that gives the policyholder financial assistance once diagnosed with a critical illness including cancer, heart attack, stroke, coronary artery bypass surgery and end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis. Also, it provides your beneficiaries with life and accidental death benefits to assist them financially while recovering from loss and grief.
 

Our PrimeHealth Cash Plan is available for ages 40 to 74. Premium begins at PHP229 per month.

Get insured while you’re young and healthy. Apply online at www.paramountdirect.com.

Back