Thursday is my acupuncture day. I usually visit with my patients for 30-45 minutes.  I spend part of each session helping patients focus on their breathing.  Wondering why? Because although all of us use our lungs constantly, most of us don't do so as effectively as we might.  We frequently forget how important these organs are.

We also forget how important it is to have clean air.  This is the focus of the article I wrote for today's Switch.  As I mention:

In medical school, we learned that ‘air goes in and out,’ and ‘blood goes ‘round and ‘round.’ If either of these processes stops, a person dies. Quickly. If either of these is hampered significantly, a person dies—though perhaps less quickly. These systems are necessary for living.

Learn more about these two simple processes, and info about ozone, particulate pollution and the "State of the Air" by following this link.

I also posted an air-related entry on today's Portland Press Herald Post.  Interested in ozone and lead-toy happenings in Maine?  Give it a look.

Then celebrate the fact that your lungs keep you alive: walk or bike to school or work tomorrow as part of “Green Streets Day” ( held the last Friday of every month) . Wear green and collect goodies from local businesses.

Or join me for informal weekly “Walk with the Doc” excursions along the Royal River in Yarmouth.  These will be held Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m., beginning next week (June 6). For more information, click here.

Hope to see you--and your lungs--out there!