The Food You Eat Will Decide How You Breathe!

It’s very surprising for most people that the food they eat affects their breathing and health of their lungs. We know that our body uses food as fuel. Also, a single nutrient cannot help us to fulfil our body’s requirements and we need multiple nutrients from all food groups i.e. a healthy and balanced diet.

How food is related to breathing

The process of changing food into fuel is called metabolism. In this process oxygen and food are raw materials and carbon dioxide is waste material which we exhale. Carbohydrate food when catabolised releases maximum amounts of carbon dioxide as compared to fat. So, in case of COPD patients, it sometimes becomes beneficial to eat food with less carbohydrates as it can help to breathe easier.

Our lungs work tirelessly to keep our system going so it is necessary to give importance to proper care of the lungs for proper functioning. Inflammation of lungs makes breathing difficult and leads to congestion. In today’s polluted environment it becomes even more important to focus on one’s nutrition.

Nutrition Recommendations

Diet plays an important role for healthy lungs. Choose complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables. If you are obese or overweight, try to lose weight and achieve an healthy BMI. Obesity causes substantial changes to the mechanics of lungs and chest wall which can lead to difficulty in breathing, exercise intolerance and worsening of asthma and  asthma like symptoms. Being Underweight is not directly related to poor lungs health but it leads to weakened immune system which makes you more prone to infectious and communicable diseases. Limit intake of simple carbs like sugars, cakes, soft drinks, candies etc.

Increase the intake of fibres to approximately 20 to 30 g each day. Take a good amount of proteins each day from natural sources, e.g. eggs, milk, meat, fish, nuts, etc. A good intake of protein will help you to make your respiratory muscles strong. Try to take healthy fats like canola oil, rice bran oil, olive oil etc. instead of saturated fats like margarine, butter, ghee, cookies, pastries, hydrogenated fats (like vanaspati ghee) etc.

Avoid foods that cause gas or bloating as they can further lead to difficulty in breathing and uneasiness.

Try to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet as these are rich source of vitamins and mineral which will help you to enhance your immune system and help you fight off chest infections.

Increase the intake of dairy products as these are rich in proteins and calcium. During COPD treatment there are chances of deficiency of calcium.

Try to limit the use of salt as excessive salt intake can cause edema (or swelling of the body) and lead to high blood pressure.

Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated – at least 8 – 10 glasses per day. But in case of pulmonary hypertension consult your physician first on how much fluids you can take.

Consider adding a nutritional supplement at night-time to avoid feeling full during the day.

So adding healthy foods to your diet will give longer life to your organs. Before starting any diet consult your dietician and physician as diet should be tailored to you as per your body’s requirements call us: 0172-4911000, 9779030507.

                                 Eat right with every bite..

   

 

Latest bronchoscopy data

                

We have touched  a triple century... Here is the latest bronchoscopy data from our center.

 



Data current as of  15/8/16.

Amritsar bronchoscopy hands on workshop

A workshop was conducted by the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Government Medical College, Amritsar on Bronchoscopy and Medical thoracoscopy where I was invited to give talks on TBNA, EBUS-TBNA and Medical Thoracoscopy along with hands-on workshop. Thanks to the organizers for inviting me. It was educational interacting with the post graduate students.

Changing scenario of Sarcoidosis in India

There has been a rapid change in recognition and spectrum of sarcoidosis in India in the last decade. This was considered a rare disease almost till the end of the last century even though the disease was recognized and reported from different places. The change is remarkable considering the fact that the number of publications on the subject has suddenly jumped in the last decade. Of 340 total papers which are listed in PubMed since 1980, about two-third (228) have appeared in the last 10 years. There were only rare publications before 1980. The increase can be attributed to several different causes:

1. True increase in incidence
2. Increased awareness of disease among physicians. Many cases of sarcoidosis were dismissed as tuberculosis in the past.
3. Increased availability of diagnostic tests such as chest CT scanning, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and endo-bronchial ultrasound sound guided fine needle aspiration (EBUS-FNA)
4. Insistence of physicians as well as patients in making a confirmed diagnosis than starting anempiric treatment

Clinical spectrum of sarcoidosis: There is also a change in the spectrum of disease and organ involvement described in the reports of the recent past. Previously, it was mostly the pulmonary involvement i.e. hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy which was commonly described. Now, there is a greater recognition of extra-pulmonary involvement including that of the liver, spleen, nervous system and other organs. Moreover, atypical pulmonary presentations such as miliary involvement of lung parenchyma and pleural effusions are frequently reported. It is again a moot question whether this finding is a true change in the spectrum or only an increased recognition because of the factors already listed above.

Sarcoidosis tuberculosis enigma continues to bother physicians in India not only because of similar presentations of both diseases but also since the treatments are different for the two diseases. Corticosteroids, which are used for sarcoidosis may in fact precipitate tuberculosis and are necessarily avoided except in a few specific situations. There is no place to start the treatments for both conditions simultaneously as had been a common practice in the past. It is therefore important to make a firm diagnosis before starting treatment for either condition.

The other major shift which has happened relates to the more frequent use of non-steroidal drugs. Drugs such as methotrexate, hydroxy chloroquin and other immunosuppressants are now available for use for relapse and in the presence of co-morbidities with or without corticosteroid therapy, depending upon the clinical condition.  

S.K. Jindal

Medical Director, Jindal Clinics, Chandigarh

150 bronchoscopies completed

We have completed 150 bronchoscopies in just over 1 year.  We were able to diagnose 63 new cases of sarcoidosis out which 56 were EBUS procedures. 18 malignancies were also diagnosed.
The current EBUS number is about to touch 100.

The data is as follows:

100 bronchoscopies completed

Our centre for interventional pulmonology has completed one year and alongside --> 100 bronchoscopies. Thanks to God and patients who made this possible.

What is bronchoscopy?

The lungs are host to many diseases, like tuberculosis, cancer, pneumonia, asthma, etc. In order to treat them properly, specialized diagnostic tests are required – bronchoscopy is one such test. It involves the insertion of a flexible endoscope or bronchoscope through either the mouth or the nose into the lungs and the respiratory system. The bronchoscope is connected to a camera and monitor to visualize the interior of the lungs. One can see various abnormalities like cancer growths, bleeding spots, foreign bodies, etc. Additionally, the bronchoscope is hollow – like a pipe – through which special instruments can be passed in order to take pieces (called biopsies) from abnormal areas seen inside. These pieces or biopsies are then studied under the microscope for proper and accurate diagnosis of various diseases.

Various types and sizes of bronchoscopes are available for all ages and diseases. One of the new type is called an Endo bronchial ultrasound bronchoscope or an EBUS scope. The EBUS scope has an ultrasound transducer built-in into the tip of the scope – which is the end that goes into the lungs. With the help of the ultrasound the internal structures can be accurately imaged and all biopsies taken directly under guidance of the ultrasound. This increases the safety, accuracy and yield of the procedure.

The diseases which usually need bronchoscopy for diagnosis include lung cancer, sarcoidosis, some types of tuberculosis, interstitial lung disease (lung shrinkage), etc. Another important use is the removal of foreign bodies especially in children.