By skyforbes 
Avoiding Environmental Triggers
Air pollution, pollen, dust, and smoke are major respiratory triggers. Avoiding them is crucial for minimizing breathing emergencies. Download an app like AirNow to keep a close eye on your air quality and when you need to limit your time outside. Indoors, be sure to use a high-quality air purifier and keep the filter clean. If you are going to be around pollutants and irritants, make sure to use a mask to protect your lungs.
Maintaining a Respiratory-Friendly Diet
A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids can support respiratory health. Dairy, however, increases mucus secretions and should be limited when your lungs are not in top shape. If you have a respiratory illness, avoid dairy until you are over it. If you have a chronic respiratory condition, consider incorporating a low dairy or dairy-free diet to minimize thick mucus secretions.
Staying hydrated is the single most important thing you can do for your respiratory health. When you are dehydrated, the mucus in your lungs gets thicker. Thicker mucus is significantly harder to move and expel.
Practicing Respiratory Strengthening Exercises
Doing daily respiratory exercises like diaphragmatic breathing greatly improves lung function and capacity. Better lung function means better oxygenation throughout your entire body. Practice deep breathing exercises regularly to strengthen respiratory muscles and promote relaxation during breathing emergencies. This is a wonderful video on how to practice diaphragmatic breathing. Save the video and refer back to it anytime your lungs are struggling.
Staying Compliant with Prescribed Medications
While herbal remedies are powerful and effective, it’s important to stay compliant with any prescribed medications or treatments recommended by your healthcare team. If you are no longer interested in taking your prescription medications, have a conversation with your team BEFORE stopping or changing your treatment plan.
For example, if you have asthma, DO NOT ever just stop your steroid inhaler, because that is what has been keeping your lungs strong. Changing from pharmaceutical to holistic protocols is a process. It takes time, and should never be done without being closely followed by your healthcare team.