Lesser Known Facts about Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways and causes severe obstructions while breathing. You, in most probability, have already heard about the disease. The visual, of an asthmatic suddenly struggling to breathe, followed by administration of medicine through an inhaler, is something with which almost everyone is familiar. However, there are some facts about Asthma which is not very commonly known. We have listed a few below.

Who is at Risk?

The Asthma high risk group includes people with respiratory infections, allergies, eczema and those whose parents are asthmatic. Symptoms of hampered breathing should be strongly monitored, especially in children, as they are the highest risk group. The 2 primary ways, through which Asthma infects, are genetic and environmental. The modern lifestyles have added one more type known as Occupational Asthma.

Cleaner Environments Increasing Allergies

This may come as a surprise for many. Exposure to mud and dust in early periods of childhood may actually help against allergies. With cleaner surroundings, children miss this opportunity and develop intolerance towards allergy causing agents. This is one of the reasons for the increase in the occurrence of Asthma in modern times.

Quitting Smoking Helps

Giving up on the tobacco smoke reduces the chances of developing Asthma. For somebody already infected with Asthma, smoking is an absolute no-no.

Consult a Good Asthma Specialist

Correct diagnosis of Asthma, like most Respiratory Diseases, is not an easy task. The symptoms are almost similar in most cases. Apart from being confused with common cough and cold, we have also seen cases where inexperienced or incompetent doctors have wrongly diagnosed Asthma as “reactive airway disease”. Ensure that the doctor you are consulting is experienced in the field of Pulmonology.

Even as Asthma causes around 250,000 deaths every year, there are also people who have lived a normal life with Asthma. Dr. Himanshu Garg, a Top Asthma Specialist in Delhi & Gurgaon maintains that along with the prescribed medicines, it is also important for the asthmatic to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Swine Flu Prevention Tips from the Best Pulmonologist in Delhi Gurgaon

The Swine Flu outbreak in India has already claimed 703 lives since January, 2015. As the masks slowly come out in the populous Delhi & NCR, Dr. Himanshu Garg, one of the Best Pulmonologists in Delhi & Gurgaon, mentions the following tips to keep Swine Flu at Bay.

Keep Your Mouth & Nose Covered

It is very important to protect yourself from the virus of Swine Flu spreading through coughs and sneezes. The virus stays alive in the sneeze or cough droplets even after several hours. It is actually very easy to get infected by inhaling these viruses. Thus, cover your mouth and nose if someone coughs or sneezes nearby.

Wash Your Hands Frequently

Touching objects, like door handles, keyboards etc., which have been infected by the swine flu virus, is another way by which you can get infected with the Swine Flu virus. Washing your hands frequently with soap or applying alcohol based disinfectant is an effective way of staying safe from the swine flu virus.

Drink Plenty of Water

One of ways, to ensure that you are free from Swine Flu, is to monitor the quantity and quality of your urine. Drink lots of water and ensure that there is no decrease in urination.

Taking care of the above tips has become important during present times. Although cure for Swine Flu exists, prevention is better than cure. Pay a visit to your Pulmonologist if symptoms like sore throat, cough, fever, body ache etc. lasts more than a couple of days. 

When to Test for Swine Flu or H1N1 Virus Infection?

An article, in Indian Express on February 5, 2015, stated that this year’s death toll, due to Swine Flu or H1N1 Virus in India, has almost equaled last year’s figures already. Thus, it has become vital to know if you are infected with the H1N1 Virus at the earlier stages of infection itself. As per the data released by the Indian Health Ministry, 201 people have already died till February 2, 2015, compared to the total death figure of 216 in 2014. While experts are still trying to figure the exact cause of this sudden rise in death rates, let us look at the ways that you can protect yourself and your family from Swine Flu.

The most important question here is to know when to visit your Lung Specialist. The symptoms of Swine Flu are cough & cold, fever, and an upset stomach. At the advanced stages, the symptoms include wheezing, productive cough, and chest pain. The ideal time to visit a Lung Specialist is between the 2^nd and 4^th day of the symptoms. This is the period when the virus can be best detected. Waiting for more than 4 days not only increases the probability of non-detection but also the risk of the virus spreading to the lower respiratory tract. The spread of the virus builds up multiple complications making correct prescription, a difficult task.

It is still unclear whether this sudden rise in number of deaths is due to the virus following its cycle or mutations in its antigen or the development of resistance by the virus against Tamiflu, the medicine which is usually prescribed for Swine Flu. Even as the experts battle the causes in the labs, it is highly advisable that if you catch cold and are suffering from fever and stomach upset as well, make a visit to a reputed Lung Specialist within the 2^nd and 4^th day of the symptoms.  

What Makes Pneumonia A Vital Threat?

Pneumonia, which results in the inflammation of the lungs, has affected human beings from a very early period in history. Though it is true that Pneumonia can no longer kill at the rates that used to be associated with it, it still manages to take around 4 million deaths worldwide, every year. Antibiotics and vaccines, which came around in the 20^th century, played a vital role in curbing the menace of Pneumonia. But the developing countries still see very high rates of mortality among Pneumonia patients.

People with weak immune systems, especially small children and the aged, are most vulnerable if hit by Pneumonia. The reasons why Pneumonia takes a terminal swing in case of small children and the aged are their underdeveloped or weakened immune systems respectively. It is especially dangerous, as in these two cases, Pneumonia usually accompanies other illnesses like cough, cold, asthma, diabetes, etc., thereby complicating the situation further. Additionally, the treatment of Pneumonia depends on the type of infection responsible. On the lines of infection, Pneumonia can be classified into Bacterial Pneumonia, Viral Pneumonia, and Mycoplasma Pneumonia.

Although Pneumonia can be detected by Lung Tests, Chest X-rays, and blood tests, etc., it is very easy to confuse Pneumonia with common cough and cold. Thus, it is very important to ensure a visit to a reputed Respiratory Doctor if any difficulties are encountered while breathing. Make sure that the Chest Clinic you are visiting also has the requisite resources and facilities to ensure the prevention of Pneumonia along with the cure. Programs aiding the quitting of smoking and other such facilities will go a long way in keeping you and your family safe from the threat of Pneumonia.