See How To Help Your Lungs During Wyoming’s Wildfires

This year's wildfires across Wyoming have kept firefighting crews busy and Wyomingites on edge.

After a while, however, fires begin to take a toll on everyone. Fires cause stress on the firefighters, anyone whose homes and property may be in the path of the fire, and anyone who breathes air, especially people who already have breathing issues.

Inhaling the smoke from the fires can cause health issues, even for healthy people, and you've probably been experiencing a few lately.

• Runny nose
• Phlegm
• Stinging, burning eyes
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Scratchy throat
• Irritation in your sinuses
• Heaviness on your chest
• Random headaches
• Extra tired
• Rapid heartbeat
• Asthma attack

According to WebMD, if you're a healthy person, most of these symptoms disappear when the skies have cleared from smoke. To ensure your lungs remain healthy and strong, you can do some breathing exercises.

According to Nursa, a nationwide nursing platform, there are three main exercises Wyomingites should do for healthy lungs:

• Diaphragmatic Breathing
  • Lie on your back or sit comfortably.
  • Place one hand on the chest and another on the abdomen.
  • Inhale through your nose deeply.
  • Make sure that the rising of your abdomen is higher than that of your chest.
  • Exhale slowly through your mouth.
  • Do this for 5-10 minutes.
• Pursed-Lip Breathing
  • Inhale very slowly through your nose for a count of two.
  • Pucker your lips as if you are about to whistle.
  • Exhale slowly through pursed lips for a count of four.
  • Continue for several minutes, especially during episodes of breathlessness.
• Controlled Coughing
  • Sit comfortably on a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
  • Take a deep breath and hold it for 2-3 seconds.
  • Use your abdominal muscles to generate a sharp cough; cough in a sequence of small coughs.
  • Rest and repeat as necessary.