Lung Health & Expert Advice from Prof Linnane

How Healthy Are Your Lungs? Expert Advice from Professor Seamus Linnane

Professor Seamus Linnane, Consultant in our Respiratory department and General Internal Medicine, and Deputy Medical Director at Beacon Hospital, recently spoke to the Irish Examiner about Lung Health.

Our lungs work 24/7 to deliver oxygen to every part of the body, yet lung health is something many of us only consider when problems arise. As winter brings an increase in respiratory infections, it is the perfect time to check in on your lung health and understand the steps you can take to protect it.

As stated in the Irish Examiner, more than 500,000 people in Ireland are living with some form of long-term lung impairment, many undiagnosed. Chronic respiratory disease accounts for 13% of all deaths, making early recognition and prevention essential.

Professor Seamus Linnane gave his expert advice on lung health and explained that lung function peaks earlier than many people realise.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Prof Linnane said “Your lung function hits maturity at about age 25, and then you see a very slow, annual decline after that”. Research shows that maintaining healthy lungs throughout adulthood has a strong link to longevity and overall health.

As lung health is so closely connected with the heart, blood vessels, immune system and metabolic health, declining lung function can increase the risk of a wide range of conditions. Breathlessness, wheezing and reduced fitness can all indicate that lungs are ageing faster than expected.

How to Monitor Your Lung Health at Home

Advances in digital health technology now allow people to track their own respiratory health. Many smartwatches estimate VO2 max, which is a measure of how efficiently your body uses oxygen. This is considered a strong marker of lung capacity and general fitness.

Simple home spirometers, available for as little as €15, can also measure FEV1 and FVC. FEV1 is the amount of air you can exhale in one second and FVC is your total exhaled volume after a deep breath. “Studies have shown that there is a survival advantage to having a higher FEV1,” said Professor Linnane. Tracking these values yearly can highlight any significant decline.

How to Improve Lung Health

Although ageing is unavoidable, Professor Linnane emphasised that there are many ways to protect and strengthen lung function:

• Avoid smoking and follow public health guidance.
• Take steps to help protect yourself from seasonal infections, including vaccination.
• Stay active, as regular exercise strengthens respiratory muscles and keeps airways flexible.
• Try breathing-focused activities, such as swimming, yoga, or even singing and playing a wind instrument.
• focusing on lower salt intake, fish oils and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.
• Inspiratory muscle training, which is used to help improve lung function in people with COPD for example.

Prof Linnane recommends that “the most important thing is to maintain a level of fitness that allows you to stay physically active. Regular stimulation keeps lungs working as efficiently as possible.”

Taking small steps now can protect your lung health for years to come.

As always, if you have any health concerns visit your GP and get checked.

Prof Linnane’s full piece and expert advice on lung health can be read here on the Irish Examiner.

Prof Seamus Linnane is Deputy Medical Director of Beacon Hospital, and a Consultant in Respiratory and General Internal Medicine. He is internationally trained in Ireland, USA and his Specialist Registrar Training in the UK. While in Cardiff he was appointed a Consultant Respiratory and General Physician at LLandough University Hospital in 2022. He then led the Respiratory Department running a busy team with a special interest in Lung Cancer.

Prof Linnane has an interest in diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy. His clinical interests include Chronic cough, Breathlessness, COPD, Asthma, Bronchiectasis, Lung Cancer, Interstitial Lung Disease as well as general medical presentations.