Your lungs do more than move oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of the body. They also act as filters. Mucus in your lungs catches and holds dust, germs, and other things that have entered the lungs. When you cough, sneeze, or clear your throat, you move this material out of your body.
While short-term exposure to dust may cause immediate and severe damage, chronic or persistent exposure for months or years may result in permanent illnesses or injuries.
These diseases, caused by dust inhalation, are often described as work-related. They include diseases like asbestos-related conditions. Silicosis is a work-related lung disease — you get it because you're breathing in silica crystals at your job. You can't cure or reverse silicosis, but your providers can treat it.
Silicosis usually develops after being exposed to silica for 10-20 years, although it can sometimes develop after 5-10 years of exposure.
Most of the dust particles that find lodgment in an alveolus are removed by way of the ciliated epithelium of the bronchial passages. This process of removal seems generally to be efficient but evidence of inadequacy appears when the inhaled air is grossly overloaded with suspended, fine particulate matter.
Dust buildup can cause serious health problems, according to Johns Hopkins Hospital lung expert Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, including serious lung infections and in rare cases, even death. “A good inhalation of dust could be life threatening depending on someone's asthma exacerbation,” Galiatsatos said.
Fine dust particles are so small that they can easily pass through the airway and settle on the lungs. There, they can cause shortness of breath, asthma, and even deadly lung diseases. But that's not all: Once dust has made its way into the lungs, it's not far from entering the bloodstream.
Long-time smokers will take longer for their lungs to improve. Some damage from smoking is permanent. Unfortunately, your alveoli cannot restore themselves, but stopping smoking will halt the progression of COPD and improve your ability to breathe.
These commonly include bronchitis-like symptoms such as persistent cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. People also suffer from weakness, fatigue, fever, night sweats, leg swelling and bluish discoloration of the lips.
Your lung function improves within two weeks to three months after the last cigarette. During the first year after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease, and your lungs become better at cleaning themselves to reduce the risk of infection.
The fallacy remains so entrenched that many workers, even the enlightened ones, believe that milk has the ability to dislodge inhaled dust. The basis of this belief is difficult to understand, because physiologically there is nothing to suggest that milk can do this.
Although cleansing and detox drinks have become increasingly popular, with concoctions of lemon juice, honey, spices, and other herbs circulating social media, there is nothing you can eat or drink that can cleanse your lungs. None of these drinks have any supportive evidence whatsoever to prove their effectiveness.
If you have a long-term (chronic) lung problem associated with excessive mucus, or you have increased mucus from an infection, lying with your chest lower than your belly (abdomen) can help loosen and drain extra mucus from your lungs.
There are several ways to manage mucus in the lungs, including natural and at-home options like inhaling steam. Controlled coughing can be used to clear the lungs, as can chest percussion. Airway devices and medications are options you can discuss with your healthcare provider, too.
Does spitting out phlegm help you get better? Coughing is one way the body gets rid of infection, but when it comes to spitting and swallowing phlegm, neither method will likely help a person recover quicker.
Lungs are self-cleaning organs that will begin to heal themselves once they are no longer exposed to pollutants. The best way to ensure your lungs are healthy is by avoiding harmful toxins like cigarette smoke, vaping and air pollution, as well as getting regular exercise and eating well.
Drinking plenty of fluids, particularly water, aids in the thinned mucus in your lungs. This allows your body to evacuate the mucus and any trapped dust particles, allowing for cleaner breathing. Hydration also promotes general immune system function, which is vital in preventing diseases caused by dust inhalation.
Toilet paper dust is caused by loosened fibers during manufacturing and can contribute to allergies and respiratory issues. To reduce toilet paper dust, choose high-quality, hypoallergenic, and dust-free toilet paper like bamboo toilet paper, and keep your bathroom clean and well-ventilated.
Dust Allergies. People who have dust allergies are familiar with sneezing—but sneezing isn't the only uncomfortable symptom. Dust allergies also give many people a stuffy or runny nose, or cause their eyes to itch or become red and watery.