Tuberculosis or TB is a highly contagious airborne disease, which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It typically affects your lungs and is characterized by the formation of greyish, hard nodules or tubercles.

Pathology of Tuberculosis

Diagnosis of the disease depends essentially on identifying the bacteria from the tissue. Methods of diagnosis usually include the following  

Skin Test   The most common test for detection of tuberculosis is the skin test. During the procedure, a small dose of PPD tuberculin is injected onto the skin of the forearm. The injection site needs to be monitored after a couple of days. Swelling in the forearm, usually, a hard, red bump could mean that you have contracted tuberculosis.
An X-ray of the Chest   Chest X-ray can reveal calcification, cavitations, and nodes in the upper lobes
Sputum Cultures and Smears   These are mostly used to detect pulmonary tuberculosis. Three specimens of sputum early in the morning are collected on three separate days. The specimen is prepared on a slide and stained with an acid-fast dye before being observed under the microscope. The slide may show the characteristic AFB or acid-fast bacilli.
Gastric Aspirates Test   This involves placing a tiny nasogastric tube in the abdomen early in the morning and gastric contents are suctioned and processed for culture and smears.
Lymph Node Biopsy   The procedure involves removing an enlarged lymph node and culturing a portion of it. The remaining section is sent for staining and examined under a microscope.
Biopsy   Biopsy is conducted when an abnormality develops in the airways during bronchoscopy. This involves threading a thin wire through the bronchoscope and attaching tiny biopsy forceps to its end in order to remove multiple tissue samples from the bronchi. The samples are sent to the laboratory for complete analysis.
Treatment of Tuberculosis

Studies show that in the majority of cases, patients were cured with the help of the right medication. The type and dosage of antibiotic treatment precisely depend on factors like   the patient s age, health condition, and potential resistance to certain drugs, whether the disease is active or latent, and the infection site.
Patients with latent TB may require one type of antibiotic, while those having active TB   particularly MDR TB   are often prescribed multiple drugs for about 6-9 months.
Patients who received proper treatment on time have shown vast improvement on the health aspect. After a few weeks of undergoing treatment, you might be tempted to quit taking your TB medications, but it is important that you complete the full treatment course. Skipping doses may allow the bacteria to become drug-resistant, leading to tuberculosis that is more severe and difficult to cure.



Tuberculosis - All You Must Know!

The pitta dosha can be balanced by consuming fresh and whole foods, both raw and cooked. These foods are energising, cooling, dry, and have high carbohydrate content. They can effectively deal with pitta by fighting inflammation, absorb excess oil and liquid, and reduce internal heat. Pitta is basically liquid that is light, hot, sharp, oily and tends to spread fast. In light of this, the diet should comprise food that is dense, cool, dry and mild. Due to pitta s substantive nature, a proper diet can help to strike the right balance. 

Here is an overview of achieving a pitta balance to get rid of digestive problems:

Cold food: Surprising as it may sound, food with a low temperature helps in balancing the pitta dosha compared to its hot counterparts. Raw foods tend to have a decreased temperature compared to the cooked ones. Having a good mix of raw fruits and vegetable is, therefore, part of a good a diet. Stay away from all types of caffeine and alcohol while following a pitta diet.
Dense, nourishing and grounding food: Although heavy food might sound ideal to tackle light weight pitta, Ayurveda is the view that heavy food does more harm than good. Food that fits the bill includes root vegetables, cooking oils, grains, milk, and seeds. Since these foods tend to be sweet, it is necessary to ensure that a portion size is kept in mind and one must not overindulge in order to refrain from putting on weight. Food that should be slashed from the regular diet includes processed fast foods, pastries, heavy snacks that comprise chemicals and preservatives, and sweet beverages.
Dry food instead of liquid: Between a semi-liquid and solid meal, the latter should be chosen since it helps in fighting pitta better. Some of the ideal food that fits the bill include pasta, potatoes, beans, oats, millet, corn and other leafy green vegetables. While cooking it is advised that a good quality ghee or oil is used. Some food stuff that needs to be totally slashed from the existing diet includes nuts, cheese, cream, olives eggs and nuts. Mild food:
In terms of food flavours, it makes sense to choose flavours that are gentler and milder in taste such as the ones found in apples, soft cheese, cucumbers and lime juice over sharp flavours such as vinegar, pineapple, old cheese, and pickles. Simultaneously stimulants such as hard alcohol, nicotine, drugs etc. should be completely eschewed in order to avoid indigestion. This is especially true during night-time when the level of indigestion is more due to reduced mobility of the body. 

Pitta - How It Affects Digestion?

One of the most common problems to affect men and women of all ages is high blood pressure. If your blood pressure consistently shows a reading that is higher than 140 over 90 you may be suffering from high blood pressure. High blood pressure on its own is not fatal, but it can lead to a number of problems including strokes and higher vulnerability to heart attacks. 

An unhealthy lifestyle is one of the biggest causes for high blood pressure. Thus making conscious lifestyle changes such as leading a more active life and eating more fruits and vegetables can help manage high blood pressure. Ayurveda also has a number of ways to manage and treat high blood pressure. Some of these are:

Garlic cloves: Garlic has a number of antiseptic properties and is also beneficial towards slowing down the pulse rate and helps smoothen the heart s rhythm. To use garlic, include it in your regular food or better still, chew 2-3 fresh, raw cloves of garlic a day.
Watermelon: Watermelon is rich in L-citrulline, an amino acid which has the ability to lower blood pressure. It is also loaded with fiber, vitamin A, potassium and lycopenes which also help lower blood pressure levels. To benefit from watermelon, it can be eaten as it is or dried watermelon seeds can be crushed and mixed with cuscus powder and water to be drunk twice a day. The powder made from dried watermelon seeds can also be steeped with boiling water to create a tea that should be consumed every morning and evening.
Amla or Indian gooseberries: This herb is associated with a number of health benefits and can help lower cholesterol, hypertension and help stabilize blood circulation. To use amla in the treatment of high blood pressure, crush and extract the juice of 4-5 amlas and have 2 teaspoons of this juice mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey every morning. This also strengthens the digestive system and prevents the build up of toxins inside the body.
Yoga: Yoga asanas can also help stabilize the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and thus regulate blood pressure. To treat high blood pressure, begin by sitting in the Siddhasana posture and practising the Anjali Mudra. This helps reduce stress and anxiety. Follow this by the Supta Padangusthasana and then the Matsya Kridasana. Simple anulom vilom and other such breathing exercises can also help lower high blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure - 4 Ayurvedic Remedies For It!

This contagious and highly itchy skin condition comes with symptoms like thin and irregular burrow like tracks containing blisters. These may be found on the affected areas of the skin. Mostly, these growths are found in the folds of one's skin and can occur for children and adults alike. The most common areas where these blisters, sores and bumps may be found include the genital areas, buttocks, the inner side of the elbows, soles of the feet, around the breasts, the waistline, the insides of the wrists and other areas. Let us have a look at the various causes of this condition.

1. Mite: an eight legged mite is the most common cause of this skin disease. The female mites are known to burrow deep in the folds of the skin, where they leave their eggs to hatch and spread. These mites usually make a tunnel like burrow in which the eggs get deposited. The mite larvae then reach the surface the skin and cause a lot of itching once they begin to mature. This itching is mainly an allergic reaction to the larvae as well as the eggs and waste.

2. Physical contact with infected parties: this condition is mostly caused when there is contact with an infected person or animal. This happens due to the fact that contact with an infected party can lead to a deposit of the mites on to the skin, leading to the process of burrowing, egg laying and maturing of the larvae. There has to be close and prolonged contact with an infected person or animal for this to happen. Yet, it has been observed that the mites prefer to live on the host. They do not live for too long on someone inherits the disease with contact.

3. Scratching: there are lots of complications that can lead to the breakout or worsening of the situation. Scratching the skin can often break the same which can lead to secondary bacterial skin infections. Superficial infections like impetigo can also lead to an accumulation of these mites, which can further spread the condition.

4. High risk groups: there are many people who are more at risk of contracting this skin disease. Patients with chronic health conditions like hiv and leukaemia can contract a severe form of scabies known as crusted scabies or norwegian scabies. Also, people who have spent long periods in hospitals and nursing facilities due to prolonged illness and treatment can contract this contagious ailment. Further, it has been found that older people living in nursing homes also often come down with this condition. The crusty and scaly patches caused by this disease can cover the entire body and may be very difficult to treat.

Different Causes of Scabies

If you are suffering from bronchitis, it is important for you to recognize whether your condition is acute or chronic in nature. Bronchitis is a condition that involves the inflammation of the airways between your lungs and the windpipe. The lining of these tubes produces mucus in large amounts that trigger a lingering cough.

Acute bronchitis is the form of bronchitis that onsets rapidly after a virus infection in your upper respiratory tract. The viruses that cause common cold or influenza, are also responsible for acute bronchitis. Moreover, the germs that are responsible for measles and whooping cough may lead to acute bronchitis. In such cases, the condition is referred to as acute infectious bronchitis. In case of dust, smoke, or fumes causing bronchitis, it is referred to as acute irritative bronchitis.

Diagnosis

For the diagnosis of acute bronchitis, you will be inquired about the symptoms you are experiencing.
After that, an overall and detailed physical examination is carried out, which confirms acute bronchitis.
In some cases, the patient might have to get an X-Ray done for ruling out other conditions such as pneumonia.
Treatment
Generally, in about two weeks, acute bronchitis resolves on its own without any medical treatment.
Medications: Several medications may be prescribed for the treatment of acute bronchitis.

Antibiotics: These are usually not used for treating bronchitis, as the condition occurs from a viral infection. However, when you have a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be useful for treating it.
Cough medicine: It is recommended for you not to suppress cough bringing up mucus, as the coughing helps in removing irritants from the lungs and air passages. In case of cough that hampers your activities, you may take cough suppressants before going to sleep at night.
Other medications: In case you have allergies, or suffer from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an inhaler along with other medications may be recommended for the reduction of inflammation, and for opening the narrowed passages within your lungs.
Prevention

Quit smoking immediately and try to keep away from secondhand smoke.
Keep yourself clean and hygienic during the flu season.
Try to avoid direct contact with people who are sick or infected.
Get a flu vaccine on a regular, yearly basis.
Drink a lot of fluids throughout the year.
Consider using a warm or cool, moist air humidifier for helping to thin the mucus layers blocking your air passages.
It is important for you to consult a doctor on experiencing any symptom of acute bronchitis. This will allow timely diagnosis and treatment, and prevent the condition from worsening.

Acute Bronchitis - 6 Tips To Help You Prevent It!

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!

Don't wait any longer, manage your Surgical Prophylaxis online with a Lybrate doctor today

Consult for Surgical Prophylaxis - Online and Easy!

FilterClear All

COMMON SPECIALITIES

COMMON ISSUES