Although we don’t think of them often, we rely on our lungs for every inhale and exhale. But these essential organs are not just vital to breathing; they also enable other body systems to function. Your lungs support physical activity, speech, cognition, laughter, and energy production. They help your immune system by filtering out harmful substances and removing carbon dioxide. When lung health is compromised, it impacts your lifestyle and wellbeing.
World Lung Cancer Day, observed annually on August 1st, brings awareness of the disease that affects individuals worldwide. It’s a call to educate ourselves and take action to protect and preserve our respiratory system.
Give Your Lungs Some Love
The leading risk factor for lung cancer is smoking, which accounts for 80 % of lung cancer deaths. Quitting smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke are big moves you can make to support lung health. Of course, the more important step is avoiding damage to your lungs in the first place by not smoking, and that includes vaping. With either habit, you inhale toxic agents directly into the lung tissue, which damages the respiratory system and increases cancer risk over time. Diseases like chronic bronchitis and emphysema are also more common among smokers, and when these have advanced enough, they become irreversible.
Healthy Habits
As for good habits, we can add exercise to our repertoire for respiratory health. Exercise can increase your lung capacity and strengthen the muscles that help you breathe. In addition, vaccinations for flu, pneumonia, RSV, COVID-19, and the common cold can protect against infectious lung diseases.
Are You Eligible for Lung Cancer Screening?
According to the American Cancer Society, around 226,650 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year (2025). The disease kills three times as many men as prostate cancer and three times as many women as breast cancer. However, mortality rates are declining due to advanced lung imaging and early detection and treatment. Catching the disease early requires ongoing screening for people who meet the criteria for imaging. People who smoke actively or have smoked within the past several years are likely eligible candidates for low-resolution chest cat scans, the primary modality used in screening for lung cancer. If you fall into this category, be sure you ask your doctor about your eligibility for screening.
Healthy lungs make a great game of pickle ball possible, but they also make everyday life easier. So, take good care of your them—you’ll need them for the long haul!
Robert Reilly, MD, FACP is Medical Director of Clinical Operations for The Villages Health