Every Breath Counts: The Importance of Lung Health  

women doing yoga

December 09, 2025 | Tags: Wellness

Take a deep breath in…now exhale. You do this all day and night without thinking. Breathing is such an important action, and your lungs are essential. They make up a large part of your respiratory system, the organs and tissues that help you breathe. Therefore, it makes sense that you should give your lungs and their health a little extra care.  

Watch out for respiratory viruses   

Respiratory viruses affect your respiratory system. They can sometimes make it harder to breathe and swallow. Respiratory illnesses like the common cold, influenza and COVID-19 can cause uncomfortable symptoms like: 

  • Runny or stuffy nose 
  • Sore throat 
  • Sneezing or coughing 
  • Loss of smell or taste 

These viruses spread through air droplets when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. Germs can also spread to commonly touched surfaces, like door handles and countertops. Protect yourself and others by doing the following: 

  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water. 
  • Routinely clean, sanitize and disinfect surfaces. 
  • Use a tissue, your elbow or upper sleeve to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough. 
  • Avoid people who are sick and stay home if you feel unwell. 

Vaccines like the flu shot can help protect you and others. They can help protect people who are immunocompromised from potentially life-threatening effects. Medical Mutual understands that healthcare decisions are important and personal. Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) about vaccines and what’s right for you. 

Protect lungs while outdoors 

Pollutants are unhealthy gases, particles and matter found in the air, especially during summer. In warmer months, high numbers of pollutants create poor air quality, making it harder for people to breathe. When the air cools in winter, it becomes dry. This can irritate airways, causing them to narrow and tighten. Both situations can impact people with certain lung conditions, like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

Knowing what triggers can impact your lung health and function can help protect you throughout the year. For warmer months: 

  • Check the weather and air quality alerts in your area. These resources signal when there’s an increase in pollutants. 
  • Stay indoors on high pollutant days. Use a HEPA filter or air purifier for cleaner air.  
  • Wear a mask if you must go outside. 
  • Reduce time spent outdoors. Make outdoor activities and exercise less intense. 

For colder months: 

  • Wear a ski mask or wrap a scarf around your nose and mouth to trap heat and moisture from your breath. 
  • Breathe in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. 
  • Avoid exercising and strenuous activities, which can increase symptoms of lung conditions. 
  • Use a humidifier indoors to add moisture to the air. 
  • Consider using a nasal saline spray to moisturize nasal passages, which helps prevent dryness, irritation and nosebleeds. 

Exercise helps lung health 

During exercise, your lungs work harder to supply more oxygen to your muscles. Exercising regularly helps your lungs do this task easier and better. It also increases how much oxygen your lungs can hold, making you less likely to become short of breath. Exercise in any form can also help: 

  • Lower your risk of serious illness. 
  • Strengthen bone and muscle health. 
  • Help lower and maintain a healthy weight. 
  • Improve your sleep. 
  • Reduce anxiety and depression.  

Choose exercises and activities that are right for you. Somatic exercises, like yoga, tai chi and stretching, are great options to improve balance and stability. Always check with your PCP before starting an exercise routine. 

Quit smoking (with help from Medical Mutual) 

Smoking is the most preventable cause of serious illness or death. It’s a major cause of lung diseases, like lung cancer, that affect more than 16 million Americans. Smoking and tobacco products reduce the health of people who use them. Medical Mutual understands that smoking is an addictive habit that can be hard to break. We offer services and programs to help our members quit to improve their health and wellness.  

Our QuitLine program provides one-on-one coaching, a personalized quit plan and educational materials. Members also have access to Pivot Breathe. This is a digital-based program designed to help members ultimately quit smoking and other tobacco products. 

Talk to your provider about lung health 

Discuss ways to keep your lungs healthy or to help manage chronic lung conditions. If you don’t have a PCP, Medical Mutual can help. Use the Find a Provider search tool on My Health Plan to find one in your plan’s network. You can also call the Customer Care number listed on your member ID card.