Our lung age is not the same as body age. As people grow older, lung capacity declines naturally, much like other organs in the body. Dr Vikas Mittal, director and pulmonologist at C.K. Birla Hospital, New Delhi, explains.

Determining lung age: Doctors have developed the ‘lung age’ concept to help us understand how well, or poorly, our lungs are functioning compared to the actual age. This measure is not just a medical number, it’s often used as a wake-up call, especially for smokers and individuals exposed to pollution, to highlight premature lung damage and motivate lifestyle changes.

Spirometry test: This is the most widely used method to determine lung age. In this test, a person inhales deeply and then forcefully exhales into a device that measures how much air the lungs can hold

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