Respiratory and Pulmonary

By Julien Salaberry Feb 24, 2015 The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has released a lengthy white paper on the past decade of VC funding for the biotech sector. Its headline finding is that venture funding for biotech R&D fell by 21% between the five-year period before the financial crisis (2004-2008) and the subsequent five years (2009-2013).  More interesting, however, is where the big funding cuts are occurring. Namely, in areas of the largest medical need. For…

However bad you thought smoking was, its much worse. A new study adds 5 more diseases to the existing 21 diseases and 60,000 more deaths to the existing toll of half million deaths attributed to tobacco in United States alone. Death rates of smokers are 2-3 times higher than those who have never smoked and they die a decade earlier than smokers. Stopping smoking helps reduce risk over time. In addition to existing hazards of lung cancer, artery disease, heart attacks, chronic lung disease…

Nytol, Benadryl, Ditropan and Piriton among the medications identified by scientists as raising likelihood of dementia A report published online this week in JAMA Internal Medicine offers compelling evidence of a link between long-term use of anticholinergic medications like Benadryl and dementia. Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine. This substance transmits messages in the nervous system. In the brain, acetylcholine is involved in learning and memory. In the…

Asthmatic Sanjeev S from Ahmedabad, India, used to sleep with an oxygen cylinder next to his bed during his school days. But, no longer. He shares his challenges and triumphs, and the three exercises that help him breathe better.  I’ve been asthmatic since a young age. The asthma attack continues on a low level all through the year, but flares up when certain triggers are present. For example, smoke, smells, dust, certain foods like maize (corn) and yoghurt etc. Change…

Diabetes is making an increasingly important contribution to the TB epidemic and a 52% increase in diabetes prevalence recorded over the last 3 years in the 22 highest TB burden countries is thought to be responsible for a rise in diabetes-associated TB cases from 10% in 2010 to 15% in 2013,” says the Lancet study to be published in the medical journal this week. Read more here  Diabetes has long been known to be a risk factor for active tuberculosis and reactivation of latent tuberculosis…

Trees are saving more than 850 human lives a year and preventing 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140725163557.htm A previous 2008 study showed that children who live in tree-lined streets have lower rates of asthma, suggests new research.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080430201651.htm

Urdhwahastottansana opens up the chest, improves blood circulation around the thoracic area and the heart and is beneficial for respiratory disorders, hypertension and heart problems Meaning Urdhwa means upward, hasta is hands, uttana is stretching and asana is posture. Benefits of Urdhwahastottansana 1. This asana stretches both sides of the body, so it massages, loosens and exercises the sides of the ribcage and the waist 2. Opens up the chest 3. Improves blood circulation around the…

Dr. Kavita Chowdhary talks about childhood asthma and shares tips on how to stay healthy  Some children with asthma appear to shake off their condition in their teenage years. But there’s a 50 per cent chance of asthma making a re-appearance once they hit their 30s. Boys are at greater risk than girls. The reason behind this is still unclear.  However, asthma is a chronic condition. Once a person's airways become sensitive in asthma they remain that way for life.…

is a long-term (chronic) lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. The airways are tubes (bronchial) that carry air in and out of the lungs. For people with asthma, the airways are sensitive and react to various substances. If they react, the airways become inflamed and narrow, so less air reaches the lungs.  Around 200 to 250 million people are affected worldwide and nearly 250,000 people die per year from asthma. In Asia the rate of asthma is lower when…

Dubai-resident Indu, 48, tells us how she managed her asthma and is now medication-free. When were you diagnosed with asthma?  I was first diagnosed when I was around 11-years of age. Then, for the second time around age 44. Until it resurfaced, I had nearly forgotten I had asthma as a kid. I understand that it is common for it to go away around age 12 and sometimes resurface after one crosses 40 years of age.  Find out more on recurrence of childhood…