Best Pulmonologist in Pondicherry
40 Top Pulmonologists in Pondicherry listed below
Consult Top Pulmonologist Online for Your Breathing Problems
The Union Territory of Puducherry is located on the southeast coast of India in Tamil Nadu.
Puducherry got its former name Pondicherry after the French colonization in India; the Tamil translation is “new town”.
Surrounded by Karaikal on the east coast, Mahe on the Malabar coast, Yanam on the east Godavari district, Puducherry is well connected to the major towns through frequent buses to Chennai, Trichy, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, as well as the railway junction at Viluppuram that links the towns well.
Here at MFine we help you associate with the top pulmonologist at hand. Some of the top hospitals at Puducherry are Be Well Hospital, Westmed Hospital, JIPMER Hospital, to name a few.
Who is a Pulmonologist?
Pulmonologists are medical doctors who specialize in pulmonary diseases. Pulmonologists diagnose and treat conditions affecting all parts of the respiratory system, which include
- Lungs
- Throat (pharynx)
- Mouth
- Trachea (windpipe)
- Nasal cavity
- Voice box (larynx)
- Bronchi
- Pleura
A primary health care physician can treat your respiratory problems, however a person with complex breathing issues or who does not respond to treatment as expected may be referred by a general physician to a pulmonologist.
Pulmonologists diagnose and treat respiratory diseases that result from infection, inflammation, or structural abnormalities, as well as tumors, inflammatory, neoplastic, and autoimmune conditions.They also provide critical care medicine while treating patients in the ICU.
The symptoms of some respiratory and cardiovascular conditions overlap, for example difficulty breathing or chest pain. In this case the pulmonologists will often work in conjunction with cardiologists when diagnosing the patient.
What is a Pulmonologist’s qualification?
With an increase in air pollution levels, the demand for pulmonologists has increased over the past few years as respiratory diseases have become more common. In their careers as pulmonologists, doctors prevent, diagnose, and treat conditions related to the human respiratory system. To become a pulmonologist,
- They must complete their M.B.B.S degree
- They are then required to do a 3 years post-graduation course in the field of pulmonary medicine.
- After completing post graduation some pulmonologist also do super specialization in Critical Care Medicine
At MFine we help you find a well trained pulmonary specialist near you at Puducherry that meets all your medical requirements.
Pulmonology – Diseases, Symptoms & Treatment
Whether you’ve finally figured out why you’re struggling with respiratory issues, or you’re seeking diagnosis for a lung condition, you will be directed to a pulmonologist. There are several common diseases that are related to the respiratory system
Asthma
It’s a chronic respiratory condition that makes it difficult to breathe due to the lungs constricting and swelling caused by excess mucus. Asthma is usually characterized by
- Tightness in chest
- Shortness of breath
- Sporadic wheezing
- Coughing
In the majority of patients, asthma is caused by allergies. Other causes of asthma could be environmental factors, genetics, respiratory infections. Allergies may include things like pollen, mold, pet dander, certain foods. Non-allergic factors that could cause asthma attacks are stress, exercise, and weather changes that may also cause a flare up.
Your doctor may prescribe you with medication and an action plan to help manage your symptoms, like bronchodilators (these relax your airway muscles), anti-inflammatory drugs (used to reduce swelling and production of mucus). Medication is usually taken using asthma inhaler or nebulizer, or can be taken orally as well
Bronchitis
Bronchitis refers to the inflammation and swelling of the airways that leads to the lungs (Bronchi and trachea). As your body tries to get rid of the mucus, you are stuck with a persistent cough lasting more than 2/3 weeks.
There are 2 types of bronchitis,
- Acute Bronchitis: Caused by viral infection, which usually goes away by itself.
- Chronic Bronchitis: This cough (with mucus) last for majority of the year, can be managed with medication
You are at risk of having bronchitis if you smoke or are a passive smoker, if you already have asthma, or other breathing disorders, if you have an autoimmune disease or if you are exposed to air pollutants (chemicals).
Most of the time pulmonologists may not prescribe medication for treating bronchitis, however there are certain medications prescribed to help give relief and to open up the airways and to reduce inflammation.
Best ways to reduce risk of succumbing to bronchitis include,
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Use a humidifier
- Avoid allergy or asthma triggers
- Get adequate rest
- Stay up to date on flu vaccines
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a disease that is inherited causing thick sticky mucus to form in the airways, lungs, digestive system, and other organs, making it difficult to breathe.
The symptoms of this disease can be noticed right from infancy (especially after getting viral respiratory infections). Cystic fibrosis progresses very slowly over time and could increase as you age.
Some of these symptoms comprise of
- Wheezing
- Chronic coughing
- Repeated chest colds
- Recurring sinus infections
- Skin that tastes very salty
In the treatment of CF, many advances have been made. The thick mucus in patients’ airways can be thinned and cleared with medications, enzymes can assist with fat absorption, and antibiotics can treat infections. Medication is usually given through inhalation, orally or sometimes intravenously.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a collection of diseases; these include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This is a long-lasting disease that leads to obstruction of airflow to the lungs making it harder to breath over time.
Majority of the cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are due to cigarette smoking. By inhaling cigarette smoke, you weaken your lungs’ ability to fight infections, it narrows the air passages in your lungs and swells up the air sacs in your lungs.
Symptoms of COPD are
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Recurring respiratory infections
- Blueness in the nails and lips
- Excess production of mucus
Early diagnosis of symptoms is valuable for successful treatment.
COPD treatment can help you relieve the chronic symptoms. Medication is prescribed to help relax the airways, lower inflammation in the lungs, improve oxygen levels, to stop infections, rehabilitation programmes to learn breathing techniques.