What happens to the lungs in asthma?
Have you seen a touch-me-not plant? If you touch the leaves of this plant the leaves immediately curl up and fold. The air tubes of an asthmatic are also oversensitive in a similar way. They are oversensitive to a variety of stimuli: dust or pollens in the air, strong smells, weather changes, viral infections etc. […]
What are the common misconceptions about asthma?
Chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure etc. have no cure. They can be managed and controlled. A person who has such a disease usually explores all avenues looking for an elusive “cure”. He seeks information from all quarters like friend, relatives or other patients and through the internet. The information that he thus […]
Peanut Allergy..And the lessons learnt
Peanut allergy ? What’s that ? 100 years ago this would have been a normal response. Because peanut allergy was very uncommon then. About 50 years ago allergy to peanuts started increasing. This happened first in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia. Later it was seen frequently in other western countries. Surprisingly, it was, and […]
Vitamins & Supplements for Asthma – Do they work ?
The concept of taking vitamins and supplements for good health and to prevent or cure disease is attractive. If popping in a vitamin pill or eating more or less of this or that can help in a disease, then what could be better !! Diet certainly plays an important role in many diseases like diabetes, […]
Why is it so hard to accept the diagnosis of “Asthma” ?
When a patient goes to a doctor with his problem, the doctor will do an examination and perform certain test and reach a diagnosis. The doctor will say ” You have malaria ” or ” You have diabetes .” This pronouncement is distressing, but it is not dis believable. But many a times when a […]
Winter time tips for asthmatics
Winter is here !! Many, but not all, asthmatics have more trouble with asthma in winters than at other times. What is it about winters that it causes trouble to asthmatics ? Well, the reasons could be many, but the common ones are: Viral infections of the respiratory system are more common in winters. Asthmatics […]
Fear vs. Faith
We live in a cynical age and world. We would much rather believe the negative than the positive. Fear nowadays generally wins over faith. Today I saw a patient of asthma whom I had seen earlier too about an year ago. This is her account as she told me: ” Doc, I had visited your […]
Asthma Deaths
The topic of this month’s newsletter is not a pleasant one. It’s not pleasant for me to write and it’s not pleasant for you to read. But this topic must be addressed. It cannot be brushed under the carpet. Deaths due to a sudden catastrophic disease are very tragic and painful. Asthma deaths are all […]
What are the special features of asthma in children ?
In a previous newsletter we have discussed the special features of asthma in the elderly. In this newsletter let us understand the peculiarities of asthma in children. But before doing that, let me narrate to you my recent experience with a young asthmatic. This young boy, all of seven years, was brought to me for […]
Doctor-Patient Relationship
This month’s newsletter is not about asthma or allergy. I wanted to pen down some of my thoughts on another general, but important, topic and that is “Doctor-Patient Relationship” Any relationship is based on a set of certain duties and expectations. Doctor-patient relationship is no different. A certain code of conduct is expected of the […]