A LIFE TIME OF GOOD HEALTH: PARTS 17&18

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XVII. HEALTHY LUNGS

Breathing gives your body the oxygen it needs to stay alive. So it's important to keep your respiratory system healthy, so you can have no trouble breathing.

Steps you can take:

• Don't smoke. If you do smoke, quit. Ask your doctor or nurse for help.
• Stay active. Exercise helps you breathe better. But if you live in an area with air pollution, take these steps to lower your exposure to air pollution: exercise early in the day or in the evening and avoid congested streets and rush hour traffic.
• Avoid second-hand smoke. Inhaling the tobacco smoke of others can be dangerous for you and your children.
• Protect yourself and your family at home. Test your home for dangerous levels of radon and asbestos. Call your local health department for help.
• Protect yourself at work. Use a respirator when working with harmful chemicals, like asbestos, that can hurt your lungs.
• See your doctor immediately if you have these symptoms: persistent cough, chest pain that worsens by breathing deeply, hoarseness, weight loss and loss of appetite, bloody spit or phlegm, shortness of breath, recurring bronchitis and pneumonia, or a new onset of wheezing.
• Avoid asthma and allergy triggers. Stay away from things that make your asthma and allergies worse.

XVIII. HEALTHY SMILE

Good oral health helps you have a lot more than a pretty smile--it also helps your overall health. Keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy by having regular oral exams, practicing good oral hygiene, and eating a healthy diet.

Steps you can take:

• Drink flouridated water and use flouride toothpaste. Flouride protects against tooth decay at all ages.
• Brush your teeth at least twice each day. Aim for first thing in the morning and before going to bed. Once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth to remove food that your toothbrush missed.
• See your dentist twice a year for an oral exam. Make an appointment right away if your gums bleed often, if you see any red or white patches on the gums or tongue, have mouth or jaw pain that won't go away, have sores that do not heal within two weeks, or if you have problems swallowing or chewing.
• If you are pregnant, have an oral exam early in your pregnancy.
• Don't smoke. Smoking raises your risk for getting gum disease, oral and throat cancers, and oral fungal infections.
• Have a well-balanced, nutritious diet. Limit sugary foods.
• If you have diabetes, practice good oral hygiene to prevent gum disease.
• Have an oral exam before beginning cancer treatment. This will help prevent or limit other oral problems or tissue damage.