COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a lung disease wherein, it gets difficult for a person to breathe due to thickening and inflammation of airways. World COPD day is being celebrated on 16th November, in order to, raise  wareness about COPD. It is a group of progressive lung diseases, the most common ones of which are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema destroys your lungs  air sacs while bronchitis leads to the inflammation and narrowing of your bronchial tubes.

Symptoms of COPD

The early symptoms of COPD include occasional shortness of breath, especially after physical exercise, mild and recurrent cough and having the urge to clear your throat many times. You may start avoiding physical activities eventually. Other symptoms, which follow include wheezing, chest tightness, chronic cough with mucus, an urge to clear mucus from the lungs, frequent flu, colds and fatigue.

Factors behind it
Smoking accounts for being the major cause of COPD in developed countries. Commonly, people over the age of 40 with a history of smoking are affected with COPD. The more you smoke, more are your chances of getting the condition increase. Exposure to chemicals and harmful fumes may also cause COPD. Long-term exposure to polluted air and inhaling dust are other causes. The deficiency of a protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin is also said to cause COPD.

Diagnosis
COPD is diagnosed on the basis of several tests and examinations. They include spirometry, which is a noninvasive test for assessing lung function, imaging tests such as a chest X-ray or CT scan which provides an image of the lung for observation. An arterial blood gas test is also carried out for measuring blood oxygen levels.

Treatment
The treatment options for COPD include the following:

Medication: Bronchodilators are used for relaxing the muscles of your lungs  airways which simplify breathing. They are taken via inhalers. Glucocorticosteroids may be added to reduce inflammation.
Oxygen therapy: When your blood oxygen levels are low, oxygen is given via masks and nasal prongs which help you to breathe better.
Surgery: Surgery is carried out in the case of severe COPD or when other treatment methods fail. Bullectomy is a common surgical procedure used, in which the large air sacs or  bullae  are removed from the lungs. The lung volume reduction surgery is also carried out in which damaged lung tissues are removed. Lung transplant is required in extreme cases.
Lifestyle changes: You need to make some lifestyle changes to alleviate the symptoms of COPD which include the following:
Quit smoking in case you are a regular smoker.
Avoid any form of second-hand smoke and chemical fumes.
Consume all the essential nutrients required by your body.
Consult a doctor about your exercise patterns.
In case you experience any symptom of COPD, you should consult a doctor immediately for quick diagnosis and proper treatment.

World COPD Day Special - Facts You Should Know About COPD

Interstitial lung disease is an umbrella term for numerous lung diseases that are caused due to scarring or inflammation of lungs. Because of the inflammation, it becomes hard for the body to get enough oxygen. Pulmonary fibrosis is the term for scarring of the lungs.

It refers to a variety of progressive conditions and disorders that result in inflammation and heavy scarring of the lung tissue. Because scarring of the sensitive lung tissue causes hardening and inflexibility of the lungs, the lungs are unable to expand to their normal size. This irreversible condition greatly reduces breathing capacity and prevents life saving oxygen from properly traveling through the bloodstream.

While most cases of interstitial lung disease occur at a gradual progression, other cases appear more rapidly and their causes are unknown. Treatment options sometimes vary and while prescription medicines can slow the progression of interstitial lung disease, it is often not enough to help a patient recover full breathing capacity.

Symptoms-

The major symptoms of interstitial lung diseases include:

Shortness of breath which increases due to exertion

Dry coughing

Types of Interstitial Lung Disease-

Any sort of interstitial lung disease causes thickening of the interstitium which may be due to extra fluids, inflammation or scarring. Some types may be short lived; however, some could be chronic and really painful.

Some of the kinds are discussed below:

Interstitial Pneumonia: This is caused due to infection in the interstitium of the lungs by bacteria, fungi or viruses. The most common cause being a bacteria named Mycoplasma pneumonia.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Although the cause is unknown, this is a chronic form of scarring of the interstitium.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: This lung problem is caused due to excessive inhalation of dust, mold or other sort of irritants.

Non-specific Interstitial Pneumonitis: These are the kinds of lung problems, which are presented with autoimmune conditions such as scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis.

Acute Interstitial Pneumonitis: This is a sudden and intense lung disease which usually requires life support.

Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia: This is a kind of interstitial lung disease but without the presence of any infection.

Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonitis: This is partially caused due to smoking.

Asbestosis: As the name suggests, this is caused due to prolonged exposure to asbestos.

Sarcoidosis: In this condition, lymph nodes are swollen along with lung disorders. Often heart, eye, skin and nerve involvement also occurs.

Homeopathic Treatments For Interstitial Lung Diseases-

The most common treatments are as follows:

Beryllium: This can be the remedy for formation of nodules or granulomas that usually form in the lungs, in other body organs or systems. This particular medicine has been very useful in the treatment of sarcoma. This can be provided to individuals who have difficulty in breathing and enormous pain in the lungs, have dry coughs etc.

Silica: In case of characteristic scarring and thickening of the inner lung layers, this medicine can be prescribed. This remedy helps enormously in relieving cold, sharp lung pains, coughing with very thick phlegm and haemorrhaging capillaries.

These are the most common medications; however there are numerous others that can help relieve lung disorders.

Homeopathic Treatment For Interstitial Lung Disease

Radiotherapy is a kind of treatment that kills the cancer cells by using high energy beams. Specialists use radiotherapy to treat a wide range of lung cancer. For early stage lung cancer, the radiotherapy may get rid of the cancer totally. For the small cell lung cancer you may have radiotherapy only. Then again you may have it with another treatment, for example, chemotherapy or surgery.

For small cell lung cancer, radiotherapy is used with or after chemotherapy. Chemotherapy makes the tumor in the lung shrink. You may have radiotherapy to your cerebrum, which tackles any cancer cells that may have spread to the brain. This is called prophylactic cranial illumination (PCI). In case of advanced lung cancer, the treatment contracts the tumor and controls it for a while. It additionally decreases symptoms like shortness of breath.

The types of radiotherapy used for the lungs include:

Outer radiotherapy: This kind of radiotherapy comes from a machine and is administered to the body through an external source. It depends on the kind of cancer and the progression of the same. You may have three radiotherapy sittings every day for around 12 days. This sort of radiotherapy is known as CHART ceaseless hyperfractionated quickened radiotherapy. A few people with small cell lung cancer may have treatment twice a day. If you are getting radiotherapy to control the side effects of lung cancer, you may have a single treatment or day by day medications for up to 3 weeks.



Inner radiotherapy: This is called brachytherapy or endobronchial treatment. This will be administered during a bronchoscopy. The radiation is given through a thin tube that the specialist puts inside your aviation route for a few of minutes. Specialists use this sort of treatment to shrink a tumor that is blocking or pushing your breathing track and making breathing troublesome for you.

These are some of the procedures that take place while you are having lung cancer radiotherapy:

Radiotherapy machines are enormous. The machines are fixed in one position or are sometimes ready to go around your body to give treatment from various angles.
Prior to your first treatment, your radiographers will clarify what you will hear and see. The treatment room normally have docks for you to connect to music players. So you can listen to your own choice of music.
You cannot feel radiotherapy when you really have the treatment. It takes anything from one second to a few minutes. It is essential to lie similarly situated every time, so the radiographers may take a short time to get you prepared.
Once you are in the right position, the staff will allow you to sit in the space for a couple of minutes. They watch you constantly on a closed circuit TV screen. They may request that you hold your breath or take shallow breaths during the treatment.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Radiotherapy For Lung Cancer!

Do you know that there are certain substances, which may cause respiratory and skin problems? Substances while at work may lead to the development of allergies when breathed in. Allergies may also occur when the substances are exposed to the skin directly. These substances are known as skin and respiratory sensitizers and are capable of causing damage to the nose, skin, throat and lungs. If you are affected in any way, further exposure to sensitizers may lead to allergic symptoms.

Effects of skin and respiratory sensitizers
The effects on the respiratory system may be experienced in the form of symptoms, such as runny or itchy eyes and nose, which is typical of hay fever. More symptoms may follow which include wheezing, breathlessness, coughing and chest tightness. The symptoms in case of skin include itchy, red, dry and cracked skin with irritation. Severe symptoms like bleeding might follow and the symptoms may spread to the different parts of the body.

When do the symptoms occur?
The symptoms show up on being exposed to the substance. In most cases, sensitization occurs within a few months. The symptoms may be experienced even twelve years after the exposure. The symptoms are more severe during evening and night. There are chances of the symptoms improving during weekends and holidays. Once established, respiratory attacks may occur, triggered by exposure to tobacco smoke, cold water and exercise. Attack on skin commonly occur when exposed to chemicals present in the cleaning products.

Substances causing sensitization
The substances, which cause skin sensitization include isocyanates, wood dust, flour and grain dust, solder flux, glues and resins, laboratory animals glutaraldehyde and chemicals used in hairdressing.

Legal obligations associated with skin and respiratory sensitisers
There are certain legal duties, which an employer should undertake for protecting employees. These include protecting workers and public from risks which are associated with skin and respiratory sensitizers. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Heath Regulations lay out the legal requirements in order to protect workers. In order to comply with it, an employer has to assess the risk of health which may arise from activities at work. The employer also needs to decide the precautions which should be taken to prevent or control any risk. It is also to be ensured that control measures are utilised and maintained well. The workers  exposure to harmful fumes and substances should be monitored constantly. The workers should also be informed, instructed and trained about the risks associated with their work.

According to homeopathy, when a patient suffers from cold, his body will develop skin complaints at times. It s a way to get rid of internal affection in respiratory system. People usually misunderstand such cold, as another skin disease. However, neither the cold nor the skin complaint will get cured. The patient will be declining day by day. Similarly, if there are skin diseases, when suppressed, affect internal organs. Skin disease is not a health hazard unless it becomes septic. If you experience any symptoms associated with skin and respiratory sensitizers, it is important for you to visit a homeopath. This would enable timely diagnosis and treatment.

How Respiratory Complaints Related to Skin?

Acute sinusitis (acute rhinosinusitis) causes your nasal passages (sinuses) to become inflamed and swollen. This interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up. It is difficult to breathe, area around your eyes and face may be swollen. Acute sinusitis is most often caused by the common cold. Other triggers are allergies, bacterial and fungal infections.

These self-help steps can help relieve sinusitis symptoms:
1. Get good rest. This will help your body fight infection and speed recovery.
2. Drink plenty of fluids: Like, water or juice. This will help dilute mucous secretions and promote drainage. Avoid beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol, as they can be dehydrating. 
3. Sleep with your head elevated. This will help your sinuses drain, reducing congestion.
4. Moisten your sinus cavities: Drape a towel over your head as you breathe in the vapour from a bowl of hot water. Or take a hot shower. This will help ease pain and help mucus drain.
5. Apply warm compresses to your face. Place warm, damp towels around your nose, cheeks and eyes to ease facial pain.

Click on consult privately to ask me any questions regarding Sinus or other ENT-related issues.

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Top 5 Sinus-Relief Home Remedies 

Panchakarma is a unique treatment process followed in the ancient field of alternate medicine, Ayurveda. Over the years the practice has found takers not only in India but in several other countries, including the advanced ones such as the US. The recent opening of an Ayurveda kendra or center in New Jersey is ample proof of the popularity of this system of treatment. Practically every health condition is addressed through the panchakarma treatment and sinusitis is also included among them.

Different Levels of the Condition
Sinusitis is a form of inflammation inside the nasal passage that causes pain in the areas surrounding the nose and there are many causes for the condition to develop. Those who undergo the disorder, may experience different levels of sinusitis. It becomes essential for the physician to first diagnose if the sinusitis is acute, sub-acute, chronic or recurrent. Each type can show slightly different symptoms or last for longer durations. Starting from 4 weeks one could have sinusitis conditions lasting a whole of 8 weeks or even longer and there are those who experience it several times during a year.

Not Difficult to Diagnose
Someone with any level of sinusitis usually shows symptoms of a cold or nasal block and accumulation of mucus and so on. But there are simple diagnostic methods using which the doctors distinguish a common cold from sinusitis-like conditions. If the symptoms are severe, the doctor may order a scan done.

Panchakarma Can Offer Effective Remedies
Under the Ayurvedic system, the practitioner would first identify the  dosha  and then go about prescribing the remedy. Since the condition is related to the presence of toxins, detoxification will be a primary form of addressing the issue. There are different methods prescribed within the panchakarma method of treatment. Among them, for sinusitis, Nasyam and Rasaayan therapies are the most frequently suggested ones for this condition.

Under the Nasyam method, the patient is generally asked to lie on his or her back and a specially prepared medicated oil is passed through the nostrils to clean the area. It can result in the condition not only getting cured, but can prevent it from recurring.

The other panchakarma treatment for sinusitis is Rasaayan. In reality, sinusitis is seen as an imbalance in the levels of fluids within the body and if the balance is restored, then health will automatically return. Based on this, the treatment of sinusitis is formulated using the appropriate herbs and elements needed to provide a healthy restoration of the nasal passage and removal of blockages.

If administered by professional Ayurveda practitioners, sinusitis, whichever type it is, can be effectively cured using the panchakarma treatment. As indicated, in many cases the remedy can be so useful that it can go beyond curing and can stop the condition from resurfacing again. That is the beauty of panchakarma.


Panchakarma Treatment For Sinusitis!

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