Dr. Vikram Rathi

A chronic cough is a cough that’s lasted eight weeks or more.It will affect you by awake at night and distract you from work and life. Visit our Clinic if you have cough that lasts for more than three weeks. Causes of Chronic Cough :- Asthma Smoking Allergies Tuberculosis COPD Lung cancer Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Bronchitis Emphysema & COPD Bronchitis is a condition of inflammation of the bronchi i.e. the airways of the lungs. Acute Bronchitis: Acute bronchitis is usually symptomized by cough that lasts around three weeks. In more than 90% of cases the cause is a viral infection. These viruses may spread through air when people cough or by direct contact. Risk factors include exposure to tobacco smoke, dust, and other air pollution. A small number of cases are due to high levels of air pollution or bacteria such as Mycoplasma Pneumonia or Bordetella pertussis. All of it, which is very common in today’s scenario. Chronic Bronchitis : Chronic bronchitis is a productive cough that lasts for three months or more every year for at least two years. Most people with chronic bronchitis have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in later stages. Emphysema is the damage caused to the smaller airways and air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs. Pulmonary means ‘affecting the lungs’. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition in which the airways are narrowed due to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which are usually found to occur together.

Some people are more susceptible to allergies. Many people are allergic to things that are in outdoor or indoor air, such as pollen, dust, molds, or dander from household pets. I see lots of patients who think they have a cold, but it turns out they have allergies.

undreds of different viruses can infect the respiratory system and cause colds and the flu. The respiratory system is your throat, sinuses, windpipe (trachea) and lungs. Symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, head congestion and cough can also be caused by allergies. The immune system overreacts to the allergen by producing Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. These antibodies travel to cells that release histamine and other chemicals, causing an allergic reaction. Except for some rare immune system diseases, most people are not more susceptible to catching virus infections. So while a rare disease is a possibility with you, I think it is unlikely. Some people are more susceptible to allergies. Many people are allergic to things that are in outdoor or indoor air, such as pollen, dust, molds, or dander from household pets. I see lots of patients who think they have a cold, but it turns out they have allergies.

Habitual snoring can be a sign of a serious health problem Causes Of Snoring Obstructed nasal airways: Some people snore only during allergy seasons or when they have a sinus infection. Deformities of the nose such as a deviated septum (a structural change in the wall that separates one nostril from the other) or nasal polyps can also cause obstruction. Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue: Throat and tongue muscles can be too relaxed, which allows them to collapse and fall back into the airway. This can result from deep sleep, alcohol consumption, or use of some sleeping pills. Normal aging causes further relaxation of these muscles. Bulky throat tissue: Being overweight can cause bulky throat tissue. Also, children with large tonsils and adenoids often snore. Long soft palate and/or uvula: A long soft palate or a long uvula (the dangling tissue in back of the mouth) can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat. When these structures vibrate and bump against one another the airway becomes obstructed, causing snoring. Health Risks Associated With Snoring Habitual snoring can be a sign of a serious health problem, including obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea creates several problems, including: Interruptions of breathing (lasting from a few seconds to minutes) during sleep caused by partial or total obstruction or blockage of the airway Frequent waking from sleep, even though you may not realize it Light sleeping. Waking up so many times a night interferes with the normal pattern of sleep, causing more time to be spent in light sleep than in more restorative, deeper sleep. Strain on the heart. Prolonged suffering from obstructive sleep apnea often results in higher blood pressure and may cause enlargement of the heart, with higher risks of heart attack and stroke.

Pollution is a major problem of developing countries.because of industrial activities and vehicle pollution. Pollution’s Long-term effects causes diseases such as respiratory infections and inflammations, cardiovascular dysfunctions, and cancer etc.

What is Pneumonia? Pneumonia is a lung infection that can make you very sick. You may cough, run a fever, and have a hard time breathing. For most people, pneumonia can be treated at home. It often clears up in 2 to 3 weeks. But older adults, babies, and people with other diseases can become very ill. They may need to be in the hospital. You can get pneumonia in your daily life, such as at school or work. This is called community-associated pneumonia. You can also get it when you are in a hospital or nursing home. This is called healthcare-associated pneumonia. It may be more severe because you already are ill. This topic focuses on pneumonia you get in your daily life. What causes pneumonia? Germs called bacteria or viruses usually cause pneumonia. Pneumonia usually starts when you breathe the germs into your lungs. You may be more likely to get the disease after having a cold or the flu. These illnesses make it hard for your lungs to fight infection, so it is easier to get pneumonia. Having a long-term, or chronic, disease like asthma, heart disease, cancer, or diabetes also makes you more likely to get pneumonia. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of pneumonia caused by bacteria usually come on quickly. They may include: Cough. You will likely cough up mucus (sputum) from your lungs. Mucus may be rusty or green or tinged with blood. Fever. Fast breathing and feeling short of breath. Shaking and “teeth-chattering” chills. Chest pain that often feels worse when you cough or breathe in. Fast heartbeat. Feeling very tired or very weak. Nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea.

Wheezing Problems happens when the airways get blocked, or inflamed,tightened making a person’s breathing sound like whistling or squeaking. Common causes include a cold, asthma, allergies, or more serious conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Influenza viruses that commonly circulate in swine are called “swine influenza viruses” or “swine flu viruses.” Like human influenza viruses, there are different subtypes and strains of swine influenza viruses. The main swine influenza viruses circulating in U.S. pigs in recent years have been, swine triple reassortant (tr) H1N1 influenza virus, trH3N2 virus, and trH1N2 virus. The symptoms of swine flu in humans are quite similar to those of regular flu, and include: body aches chills cough headache sore throat fever tiredness

An allergy is a reaction the body has to a particular food or substance. Allergies are very common. They’re particularly common in children. Adults can develop allergies to things they weren’t previously allergic to. Having an allergy can be a nuisance and affect your everyday activities, but most allergic reactions are mild and can be largely kept under control. Severe reactions can occasionally occur, but these are uncommon. The immune system overreacts to the allergen by producing Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. These antibodies travel to cells that release histamine and other chemicals, causing an allergic reaction. If you have an allergy, your immune system mistakes an otherwise harmless substance as an invader. This substance is called an allergen. common allergens include: mould – small particles from air household chemicals – some detergents and hair dyes dust mites food – particularly nuts, fruit, shellfish, eggs and cows’ milk insect bites and stings animal dander (skin or hair) latex medication – aspirin and certain antibiotics Symptoms of an allergic reaction Allergic reactions usually happen quickly within a few minutes of exposure to an allergen. They can cause: sneezing a runny or blocked nose red, itchy, watery eyes wheezing and coughing a red, itchy rash worsening of asthma or eczema symptoms Treatment In many cases, the most effective way of managing an allergy is to avoid the allergen that causes the reaction whenever possible. For example, if you have a food allergy, you should check a food’s ingredients list for allergens before eating it. Medications for mild allergies are available from pharmacies without a prescription. Allergy Diagnosis An allergist has advanced training and experience to properly diagnose your condition and prescribe an allergy treatment and management plan to help you feel better and live better.

Asthma According to studies by WHO, India has an estimate of 15-20 million asthmatic patients. These numbers are increasing every year due to environment pollution resulting in weak respiratory systems, stress and decreased immunity to airborne allergens and other harmful agents. Symptoms Of Asthma: Some of the common symptoms of Asthma are breathlessness, wheezing (high-pitched whistling sounds when breathing out), bad cough particularly at night, difficulty in breathing, chest tightness, and insomnia.

Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculi. It can affect any part of the body but starts as a respiratory illness as a cough, fever, weight loss. Respiratory/Pulmonary tuberculosis is contagious and spreads by coughing up of sputum containing these bugs as a air droplets. It is diagnosed by sputum testing, Chest X ray, Bronchoscopy, CT chest imaging studies. If not treated properly it can lead to a devastaing disease called Multi drug or Total drug resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB, XDR or TDR-TB). Extra pulmonary tuberculosis(EPTB) is defined as a tuberculosis affecting other than lungs. It can affect virtually any organ but usually seen as fluid around the lungs, neck lymph node or mediastinal lymph nodes swelling. Cancers like lymphoma can behave similar to EPTB and one has to be cautious in starting emperical TB treatment without proper tissue diagnosis. This can lead to a delay in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

women above 35 years of age should undergo pap smear testing which is screening test for cervical cancer.

People with lung and airway (pulmonary) or chest (thoracic) diseases benefit from the services of our interventional pulmonology specialists. They are expert in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including robotic bronchoscopy, thoracentesis, pleuroscopy and comprehensive evaluation of airway conditions.

A potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Risk factors include age and obesity. It's more common in men. Symptoms include snoring loudly and feeling tired even after a full night's sleep. Treatment often includes lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and the use of a breathing assistance device at night, such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

A group of disorders that cause progressive scarring of lung tissue. Interstitial lung disease may be caused by long-term exposure to hazardous materials, such as asbestos or coal dust, or it can be caused by an auto-immune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Once lung scarring occurs, it's generally irreversible. Symptoms include a dry cough. Shortness of breath can occur either at rest or after exertion. Treatment depends on the underlying cause but often includes steroids.

Asthma is an obstructive lung condition caused by inflammation of your airways that makes it difficult to breathe. The first step to getting treatment for your asthma is getting a diagnosis

There is no cure but there are treatment options to try to reduce the symptoms, slow the progression and improve quality of life. If pulmonary hypertension is the side effect of another illness, treatment focuses on the primary cause. If pulmonary hypertension is the primary cause, medications can be used.