Starved off fresh air; you are not alone in this city. Several seniors and children suffer from respiratory diseases in the cold winter months which causes for maximum emergency visits, says Dr. Arpit Jain, consultant Internal Medicine with Artemis Health Institute. Respiratory disease is the term for diseases of the respiratory system. Respiratory diseases include self limiting cold, asthma, respiratory infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), elaborates Dr. Jain. COPD is a serious lung disease, in which the airways become narrowed. WHO defines COPD as encompassing two groups of lung disease, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis refers to a productive

There are few things in life that we take for granted—sunshine, change of seasons, and breath. Since the last two decades there has been a huge increase in number of asthma patients and deaths owing to this condition. This means that no longer we can remain carefree about our breath when seasons change. According to Russel B. Leftwich of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology asthma incidences have doubled form 8.5 million to 17 million between 1980 and 1998.   Asthma starves you of breath. An attack of asthma feels like a cold slap of air to your lungs. As a result the tiniest part of our lungs—bronchioles restrict and each breath becomes an exercise. Actually, the

Ray D Strand M.D. in his book “What your doctor doesn’t know about nutritional medicine” says, “Asthmatics need to build their natural defence system to fight the onslaught of antioxidants.” • People with asthma are often deficient in key nutrients, especially vitamin C, magnesium, and vitamin B6. • Vitamin C, the major antioxidant present in the lining of the respiratory tract, appears to act immediately to combat inhaled oxidants. In addition, it may halt an allergic reaction by preventing the cells from releasing histamine. Eating more servings of citrus fruits, peppers and berries may help you in pumping your natural defence system. • Furthermore, Vitamin C is very

Asthma starves you of breath. During an asthma attack, the whole bronchial tube of our lungs constricts and each breath becomes an exercise. Actually, asthma patients have more difficulty in breathing out rather than breathing in, because breathing out is a passive process and it is caused by a spasm of the smaller air passage in the lung. At My health Guardian we talked to Dr. S.N. Gaur, head, department of pulmonary diseases, Vallabh Bhai Patel Chest Institute to get an insight on this breath-robbing disease. Why there are more incidences of asthma during change of seasons? Asthma patients have hypersensitive lung airways. A light drop or rise in temperature or change in the amount of

Every year change of season particularly the transition from spring to summer and autumn to winter is marked with increased episodes of asthma in people. Besides, change of seasons, pollution from the city traffic too makes asthma worse. Dr R.K. Maini, Director Pulmonology with Artemis Hospital says, “Post Diwali, we notice an increase in the number of asthma patients, not only due to change in the season but also due to air pollution.” Asthma has no cure. Of-course, we can control it. When asthma strikes, breathing becomes an exercise. It feels like deep breathing very cold air. Asthma is a chronic condition that occurs when the main air passages of our lungs, the bronchial

Asthma attacks are frequent among children making it one of the most common ailments of childhood. Asthma is… • An inflammatory condition of the airways caused by allergens, irritants and respiratory infections. • It has many trigger factors that activate an over-reactive airway system. • Is reversible and controllable (with only a few rare exceptions) Symptoms of asthma: Asthma is difficult to diagnose, especially in children less than five years of age. Asthma signs and symptoms include coughing, wheezing — a whistling sound made when exhaling — and shortness of breath, or any combination of these. But people often identify asthma as just wheezing, so they may miss the