Smoking Is NOT The Only Thing To Affect Your Lungs: 5 Shocking Habits That Cause Lung Disease
When people talk about diseases of the lung, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc, the mention of smoking as a leading cause is mandatory. While smoking is the number one risk factor for chronic lung disease, pulmonologists are now seeing an increasing number of people with decreased lung capacity who have never been smokers. Scientific evidence points out that a variety of factors associated with contemporary lifestyle, exposure and routine activities might have an influence on lung functioning without any noticeable symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath.
Healthy lungs are not only reliant on refraining from smoking cigarettes. Respiratory health is also impacted by multiple factors like indoor air, the substances we burn at home, physical activity, workplace exposures, and even newer habits like vaping. As more research is being carried out to reveal previously unknown reasons that are behind lung injury, it's also becoming clearer that the lungs' protection starts with everyday decisions we make. Dr Shivaraj A L, Lead Consultant and HOD - Pulmonology, Aster Whitefield Hospital, shares 5 lifestyle-related causes of lung damage that deserve far more attention.
While most pay attention to outdoor air pollution, they are not aware about indoor air pollution, which affects them as 90% of their time is spent indoors. There have been several studies pointing out the presence of dangerous particulate matter levels, as well as volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide – produced from indoor cooking, incense sticks, candles, mosquito coils, aerosol sprays, and poor ventilation systems.
Some recent systematic reviews have established an increased risk of lung cancer due to long-term exposure to these indoor air pollutants, even among non-smokers. The simple steps to take to reduce the risk include increasing cross-ventilation during cooking, using a chimney exhaust system if there is one available, and not burning incense or mosquito coils in closed rooms. It is recommended to reduce the number of aerosol cleaning products as well.
Vaping Because It "Feels Safer"
Smoking a cigarette is on a decline,
but vaping is taking its place, mainly among the younger generation.
Vaping still results in lung damage. A study published in January 2025
looked at data from 119 articles and reported that vaping increases the
likelihood of respiratory symptoms, airway inflammation and asthmatic
complications. Those who vaped and smoked cigarettes together have an
even higher risk of developing respiratory diseases. What's more, vapors
of e-cigarettes have microscopic particles, heavy metals, and flavoring
chemicals that can get into the lower lobes of the lungs. An easy
solution: The healthiest decision is not to smoke or vape at all.
Living a Sedentary Lifestyle
Physical inactivity is usually not a
lung health topic that comes up often when people are talking about it.
But staying physically active, in particular doing a mix of different
types of workouts, can help maintain the respiratory muscles' capacity;
it can expand your lungs, enhance your breathing ability so that you are
better able to take in and give out oxygen, and it can also clear your
airways from mucus, among other things.
Incense sticks are often used after prayers or scented candles to keep a pleasant aroma in the house. Since these products smell good, people generally don't consider them as hazardous. There is another side of the story that research reveals. Burning incense can be a source of fine particulate matter such as PM2.5, carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde and other VOCs that can reach deep into the lungs. New findings have explained that long-term exposure to such pollutants can bring the development of asthma, allergies, airway inflammation and lung cancer with high probability, mostly in homes that are not properly ventilated.
The average construction worker and miner has recognised occupational lung disease and is at no risk. But virtually any profession that appears to be "safe" may have workers who have sustained chronic dust exposure, diesel exhaust, solvents, disinfectants, welding fumes, silica, etc. People in the salon breathe in the chemicals they are spraying in aerosol; professional cleaners breathe in the disinfectant sprays, bakers breathe in the flour dust, and even traffic policemen and delivery people take in a lot of emissions from vehicles.
Repeated low-intensity exposures lead to chronic inflammation of the airways and are thought to result in disease states like asthma, chronic bronchitis and eventually lead to irreversible lung damage. A simple fix is to use the proper respiratory protection, better ventilation at the workplace and a monthly check-up should be the norm.