Lazy Lungs

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 1, 1902

So much stress is laid in these days upon the value of fresh air that it is impossible for any one to miss the lesson. Good ventilation is taught in all our schools, if it is not always practiced; and treatment by the open-air method is becoming more and more advocated for certain diseases, especially tuberculosis.

In all this spread of knowledge and good sense it is unfortunately very possible to lose sight of the real issue. It is no exaggeration to say that many a one who can glibly patter off the number of cubic feet of air necessary for each one to breathe, rarely draws a full breath. Fresh air is a free gift, but it is like most of the gifts of Heaven, in that we must do our share of work to benefit

by it. No one would expect to have a good fire just because a pair of bellows hangs on a nail by the chimney, but this is exactly what many people expect of their lungs, which are really only the bellows given us by which to keep the fire of life burning bright and clear within us.

It is not too much to assert that lungs properly used in a comparatively close room will do more good than lazy lungs in an open field. This trick of lazy lungs is a habit, like any other, and may be overcome by persistent effort. Many persons, for example, are afflicted with a nervous habit of holding the breath unconsciously. These are the people who, in spite of plenty of time spent out of doors, yet catch cold easily, digest poorly, and are always more or less “under the weather” physically. They are often much benefited by a course of active exercise, because it is impossible to exercise vigorously without drawing some good, deep breaths.

Many other persons—and they constitute the great majority of mankind—breathe only with the upper part of the lungs, and although they may breathe regularly, do not draw in sufficient air at a breath to fill all the lung cells.

When once the pernicious habit of poor, shallow breathing has been broken up, the health undergoes such marked improvement, there is such brightening of the spirits and improvement of the looks, that the luxury of deep breathing is not likely to be readily foregone.

A good way to start the new habit is to devote a few minutes at stated intervals to proper breathing. If this is done systematically, the reformer will find himself unconsciously breathing more and more, until very soon he is obeying nature, and really breathing to live. In this way we must all work for a living if we want a good one.

Besides the gain to the general health which comes from the habit of deep breathing, there is created a reserve strength and preparedness which is often of great service in warding off acute pulmonary diseases.—Youth’s Companion.