Respiratory and Pulmonary

Mrs Usha Raval, who has Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis shares precautions that persons with chronic lung diseases should take to handle the monsoon/ rainy season.  Plus a homemade hack.  Seasonal variations can adversely affect people with chronic lung diseases such as Pulmonary Fibrosis. The change in humidity and temperature during the monsoon can aggravate symptoms such as cough, difficulty breathing, weakness and susceptibility to common respiratory illnesses. For…

Mihir Kittur, 45 from Mumbai was diagnosed with Asthma when he was 8 years old. Read about his triggers and tips on managing asthma and preventing asthmatic attacks.  A persistent wheeze started during a dust storm in Libya. At the age of 8, I didn’t understand what was happening to me. Soon breathlessness ensued and I could see everyone at my house getting worried. When examined by the doctors at the local hospital, I learned it was an asthma attack! The chest X-ray showed signs of asthma…

Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood.  An estimated 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, with 250,000 annual deaths attributed to the disease1. About 70% of people with asthma also have allergies1.  Do you or your loved one have Asthma? Do you know the symptoms of Asthma, especially the symptoms for children? The quick relief options? Related: Is Pollution Affecting Your Lungs So we have compiled all that you need to know…

Did you know that a common activity like pigeon feeding can lead to chronic and sometimes fatal lung diseases? Senior Pulmonologist Dr Prahlad Prabhudesai  answers our questions on health hazards caused by pigeons. Can you imagine going to the park to feed rats? But, we often see people readily feeding pigeons. Scientific evidence reveals that pigeons can be equally hazardous to our health as rodents are. Due to readily available food (provided by humans), there is a marked increase in the…

Renee, 28 (name changed on request), who was diagnosed with Multi-drug resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis talks of the challenges of getting the right diagnosis, the stigma surrounding TB and how it affected her relationships and her work prospects.  I was first diagnosed with MDR-TB (multi-drug resistant tuberculosis) in 2011. The second time around, I was diagnosed with Pre-XDR (Pre-extensively drug resistant) in 2016. Initial TB Diagnosis After my graduation in 2011, my mother got…

Dev Yadava, 72 from Mumbai was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and in the 13 years since he has become an informed patient and continues to try all kinds of treatment options to deal with IPF. Please tell us a bit about your condition In Jan 2006 I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) - Non-specific Interstitial Pneumonitis (NSIP) which causes scarring (or fibrosis) of the lungs. It falls under the broad group of Interstitial Lung Diseases. It is idiopathic…

Thirty five year old Deepthi Sudhir Nair, a person with Myasthenia Gravis, rings in 2017 with five heartfelt pointers that can help transform lives and bring in greater happiness, positivity and self-respect in the New Year. Before I bury my reminiscences of 2016, I want to thank it for making me a chronically ill patient (through myasthenia gravis, urticaria, bronchial asthma, migraines and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures) and taking away my freedom. At the same time, teaching me what life…

By Ujjwala Baxi, a dietician at Poshan - Cure thru Diet In 1 cup of boiling water, add a pinch of cinnamon powder or a small cinnamon stick, black pepper, cardamom powder and a teaspoonful of jaggery. Boil and sip warm. This tea builds resistance to cough and cold and keeps the body warm.   Updated with the poster on 26-Dec-2018

Naved Patel, 26 year old chef, entrepreneur, food stylist, suffered severe allergy from his pet dogs that left him acutely breathless, damaged his power to smell and scarred him for life. Here he narrates how it all began. We also talk to Dr. Anil Ballani to understand dog allergy. We are a family of passionate pet lovers. At age 20, when I landed up with 3 dogs in the house, I was over the moon. I was the proud owner of three puppies - two Labradors and one Pug. I named the Labradors Hugo and…

Atabuddin Mondal,53 from Chakdaha, West Bengal has been suffering from Bronchogenic Carcinoma, and is now in a better form after going through chemotherapy cycles. He shares his experiences of handling the Big C. Please tell us about your condition. I have been suffering from Lung Cancer. When were you diagnosed? I was diagnosed on 25/02/2018 with Bronchogenic carcinoma,1st stage. What were the early symptoms? Being addicted to smoking, first came the change in voice and then I had a…