New Year, New Lungs: How to Improve Your Respiratory Health in 2026

The new year is a great time for change, and focusing on health is always a smart place to start. While weight loss is a popular resolution, it’s far from the only goal worth pursuing.

This year, Dr. Nehal Mehta and Dr. Prashant Patel at Respacare in Bridgewater, New Jersey, encourage you to add respiratory health to your 2026 wellness goals. Your lungs work around the clock, quietly fueling your energy, focus, and overall well-being.

Whether you’re living with allergies or asthma or simply want to breathe better when working out, improving your respiratory health can make a significant difference in how you feel every day.

Here’s how to give your lungs the care and strength they deserve in 2026.

Why respiratory health matters

Your respiratory system is vital to life. When you inhale, your lungs transfer oxygen to your bloodstream so it can deliver it to all the organs, tissues, and cells in your body. In return, your cells release carbon dioxide, which your lungs expel when you exhale. 

The intake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide are essential for survival. When you have a breathing disorder, your lungs may struggle to function efficiently, affecting every system in your body.

Taking good care of your respiratory health benefits every cell in your body.

Strengthen your lungs with activity

Exercise is one of the most effective ways to improve respiratory health. Physical activity makes you breathe harder to supply oxygen to your hard-working muscles. This increased effort strengthens the respiratory muscles, helps expand the lungs, and boosts lung capacity. 

You don’t need a gym membership or expensive equipment to support lung health. Walking is an excellent option that can give your lungs a great workout. Start with 10 minutes a day, slowly working your way up to 30 minutes five days a week. 

If it’s too cold to walk outside, take a few laps around your local mall.

Practice better breathing

If you have a breathing disorder like asthma or chronic bronchitis, breathing exercises can help your respiratory system work better for you. 

Your lungs expand and contract as you breathe in and out. When breathing is impaired, your lungs may not fully expand or contract, trapping stale air that makes it harder for your lungs to fully inflate and deflate. Over time, this can weaken your respiratory muscles and lower blood oxygen levels. 

Breathing exercises help clear out stale air, strengthen the muscles involved in breathing, and improve blood oxygen levels. Examples include:

Pursed lip breathing

Pursed lip breathing improves airflow in and out of your lungs. Breathe in through your nose, then exhale through pursed lips, like you’re blowing out a candle. Make your exhale last twice as long as you inhale to help empty the lungs.

Belly breathing

Belly breathing helps strengthen your diaphragm, the primary muscle involved in breathing. Place a hand on your belly to ensure it expands as you inhale and contracts as you exhale, while your chest remains relatively still. 

Stay on top of preventive care

Prevention plays a key role in maintaining respiratory health. Protect your lungs by getting your annual flu vaccine and recommended COVID-19 boosters. These vaccines help your immune system fight off these respiratory viruses and may prevent severe illness.

We also recommend scheduling yearly visits so we can monitor your lung health, review your treatment plan, and make updates as needed. 

Respiratory health is important for overall wellness. Taking proactive steps now can help your lungs work better so you can breathe better and live better.

For expert care, call us today or request an appointment online.