Respiratory Care in India

Respiratory system problems are very common worldwide and are affecting a large population in India. Since environmental pollution is the main cause or rather a catalyst for respiratory troubles, the disease is taking toll over Indians due to growing levels pollution in the country. However, India has good medical facilities for respiratory care. Apart from the regular and traditional methods, people are becoming aware and working towards a healthy lifestyle to keep away respiratory problems.

Various Respiratory Problems

There are many types of respiratory problems that create difficulty in breathing. Many of these problems are due to heredity, while most are due to external reasons like environment, allergy, and so on. Usage of tobacco is also a major cause of lungs and respiratory system disorders in India.

Here is a brief description of various respiratory problems that affect Indians:

Asthma: asthma is characterized by coughing, wheezing, tight feeling in the chest, and difficulty in breathing. In asthma, the patient’s airways get narrow and obstruct the normal breathing process. As a result the patient has to breathe with difficulty. Acute asthma can also lead to death in many cases.

Asthma can be seasonal or allergic. Pollens are major cause of blocking the airways of people who are prone to asthma. Thus during seasons or in regions where pollen is high in the environment, asthma becomes even more acute.

Rhinitis: Rhinitis is an allergic condition and is also known as Allergic Rhinitis. Rhinitis is a condition where the patient is frequently suffering with cold, runny nose, sneezing, blocked nose, and so on. Allergic rhinitis is quite common in children. It is caused by external allergens like molds and pollens present in the air. These allergens cause inflammation of the membranes of nose which results in rhinitis.

Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis or TB is a disease of the lungs. It is an air borne disease and highly infectious in nature. It is caused by bacteria called mycobacterium. If somebody is suffering from chronic cold (over 40 days), the patient should get tested for tuberculosis. Tuberculosis can be treated with the help of antibiotics if timely diagnosed.

Emphysema: emphysema is characterized by shortness of breath. The disease is caused when the lung tissues are destroyed and lose the efficiency to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. It is also called Obstructive Lung Disease. The most common symptoms of emphysema are shortness of breath, which can be accompanied by wheezing, cold and cough.

Apart from the above mentioned respiratory diseases, problems like laryngitis, pharyngitis, pulmonary diseases are also common.

With growing instances of respiratory disorders Indians are getting more and more aware towards treatment and prevention. Diseases like asthma and rhinitis are quite prevalent among young children mainly due to growing allergens in the air. Big cities like Delhi and Bangalore are even more affected by allergic respiratory conditions due to high level of pollution. Tuberculosis is more common in rural parts of India due to lack of awareness and habits of smoking tobacco.

Use of Respiratory Care Equipments in India

As people of India are becoming more and more aware of the respiratory problems and their implications, the use of equipments that aid in controlling the impact is also increasing. Products like Oxygen concentrator, nebulizers, face mask, oximeters, are growing in demand.

These equipments are helpful in reducing the symptoms caused by respiratory problems for example difficulty in breathing, blocked air passage, etc.

There are many reputed brands like Dr Morepen, Omron, Nidek, Johnson and Johnson, that serve Indian market when it comes to home respiratory care equipments.

Alternative Treatment for Respiratory Problems in India

Apart from the advanced medical technology in India that has proved to be successful in treating respiratory problems, Indians commonly opt for alternative and natural methods like Yoga, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, and so on.

Yoga is very useful for treating various respiratory disorders as it comprises of some effective breathing exercises like Anulom vilom, Kapalnbhati, and other pranayam exercises. It is believed that with regular practice of yoga all respiratory diseases can be prevented and controlled. Ayurveda is also a very popular way of treating respiratory problems. This age old science in India has harmless ways of treating patients and removes the root cause of any disease. Like Ayurveda, Homeopathy is another alternative science of treating diseases. Homeopathy has some good preventive medicines that are safely used in controlling respiratory disorders among adults and specially children.

Although the case of respiratory problems is growing manifold in the country, people are becoming aware about the severity of the problem and taking necessary steps to minimize the risks. To avoid the long term effects of allopathic medicines people are resorting to natural and alternative methods to treat respiratory problems. By keeping home equipments for respiratory care people are successfully controlling the fatalities that can be caused in acute conditions.