Respiratory and Pulmonary

Ramesh**, 58 from Mumbai on the challenges of living with COPD for the last 16 years and the effect it had on his lifestyle and his mental health and wellbeing and how he has came to terms with it.  Please tell us a bit about your condition  I have COPD which is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder. I was diagnosed nearly 16 years ago in June 2004. What were the early symptoms? What made you go see a doctor? It was May 2004 and I was travelling to Israel for the summer. Suddenly one…

Simple lifestyle changes that any one can follow to help you deal with asthma. Check the tips in slide show format and download the e-book on Asthma Management  For more details read advice from nutitionist Kohila Govindaraju on Foods That Fight Asthma and Allergies  And don't forget to download our comprehensive ebook on Asthma Management here. If you have registered before, please make sure you are logged in. If you have not registered before, you will need to register. Join…

Riddhi Shah, MPT , a Cardio-pulmonary physiotherapist in Ahmedabad, Gujarat helps us understand the basics of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and what it entails for patients with Chronic Lung Diseases. 1.   What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR)? Pulmonary rehabilitation is “the art of medical practice wherein an individually tailored, multidisciplinary program is formulated, which through accurate diagnosis, therapy, emotional support and education stabilizes or reverses both the physio-…

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…