October is Healthy Lung Month and an opportunity to remind people to take care of the crucial organ.

Taking care of your lungs is critical, especially as coronavirus impacts our communities.

Medical professionals are seeing the effects the virus can have on the organ.

"Some of them got intubated, and they wound up being, after being extubated, being out of the mechanical ventilator, they had fibrosis in the lungs, luckily some of them get better eventually after two, three months of doing rehab. but there's about 10% of people that are still having chronic conditions,” says Dr. Miguel Robles, interim director of Pulmonary Services at St. Barnabas Hospital.

For smokers, Dr. Robles recommends quitting to help lung health or making sure to monitor conditions such as COPD and asthma. Unfortunately, the pulmonologist says some patients have been reluctant to seek help.

“We see cases that are already too late, really bad asthma, no control. And you ask – ‘why? What happened?’ And they say, ‘well I've been afraid of coronavirus,’” says Dr. Robles.

He says there are ways to improve lung capacity even at home. This includes working out and doing breathing exercises.

"Stretching is important. So you can put your hands here, and take a deep breathe, inhale and then hold it for a little bit, exhale, inhale again, hold it for a few seconds and then start doing a little cough and you can vibrate your lungs. that is important,” says Dr. Robles.

The Bronx doctor explains now is the best time to take care of your health.

"We don't know if we're going to get a second wave, hopefully we don't have it, the Bronx so far, we are a at a lower rate at this moment. but we should be prepared anyway,” says Dr. Robles.

He advises anyone with breathing problems or consistent wheezing to seek medical attention.