Asthma in India

*jyoti*

I have just been diagnosed with mild asthma. Has anyone traveled in India with asthma? How much of an issue was it? I have had very few severe attacks, which is why I'm just now being officially diagnosed, but am worried about how much inconvenience this will cause--specifically in the dust of the city and in the thin air of the Himalayas.

any personal experience anyone can share? Thanks!!

TracyB

Hi..I have mild asthma as well and was concerned before our trip to India last year....I did not have any problems, but I did get a bad cold.. I was not in the higher elevations though...

Make sure you take along asthma medication and a puffer, etc, just in case...

crvlvr

Jyoti, take all the precautions you can. The air in the cities are polluted.

Dr Funkenstein

I'm mildly asthmatic, too, jyoti, and I've never had any problems over there. Before I went, I did wonder whether the humidity would set it off but it wasn't even an issue. In fact, outside of the cities I regularly forgot to use my inhaler so much I just gave up on it entirely. As others have said, the cities are dreadfully polluted, though. Just make sure you take enough of both inhalers and you should be fine.

__________________
Out There Somewhere : My Travel Blog.

Maheswara_shishya

Depending on area and seasons too I bet the dust storms of Madhya and Uttar Pradesh may be difficult as well as the humidity?

But hell what do i know of asthma?

GoanCanuck

You are most probably going to have problems when you are in the Himalayas and in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

Tomi

Hi Jyoti,
My asthmatic friend got pneumonia in both lungs in Rajasthan (Jaisalmer, Bikaner-Jaipur) and had treatment with antibiotics (if you have any gastrointestinal issues you can take it intravenously); doctors were superb and treatment went very well.
On his second trip he had bronchitis in Tamil Nadu, which he checked by taking antibiotics and antihistamines and it went away. He was afraid of getting pneumonia again, but didn't. Again doctors were very sensitive and responsive.
I'm not suggesting this is likely, but that you should be aware of the problems that might arise with dry, dusty climate and contaminants in the air (chemical and biological), and if you have any respiratory problems take care of them right away. Good hotels will readily give you the address of good clinics, and Indian doctors are more forthcoming than their Western counterparts.
My friend used his steroid inhaler (steady dose) as well as his salmeterol-ventolin-albuterol (these three essentially the same) inhaler regularly after he got over the bronchitis to prevent further damage. He also measured his lung capacity twice a day.
A problem, besides the polluted Indian air, is that a flight from the US takes a long time to get to India, and airplane air is conducive to bronchitis and other respiratory problems, so you are likely to arrive with disturbed lungs to begin with.
He never had severe asthma attacks, but he never does; he has mild sports-induced asthma.

traceyam

I'm a lifelong ashmatic and I lived in Delhi, even jogged in the mornings with no problems. Just take whatever meds you usually do and keep your inhaler with you. You'll be fine.

__________________
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alabamagoa

Just a little tip, my grandkids have all been diagnosed as "well wheezy babies" another PC term for asthma whilst teething, may daughter refused to give them ventolin as they where so small so whilst over here she heard about neem oil boil some milk and add a few drops of neem oil to it couple time aday and before bedtime whilst the systoms lastest and it would appear that it helped and the well wheezy babies were fine, all three grandkids have been treated that way and no medication.

somnath

Apart from Inhalers and anti-allergic (if it is allergy induced asthma, caused by allergen like dust and all) medicines, yoga is the best solution in case of asthma. Of course if you are able to continue in the long run (there is no approx time to feel the effect). I can share my personal experience as I was a patient of asthma during my childhood but my father took me to yoga class and I was forced to scarifies my afternoon football / cricket time for that. But now I am thankful to my father and yoga teacher. I am a smoker and I have couple of high altitude trekking experience on Himalaya without any hint of respiratory problem.
Sorry, yoga will not give you any instant relief. But for ‘cure’ you may consult with a yoga teacher if you can continue with it.

- Somnath

James 108

According to Dr.Batmanghelidj, asthma is often the result of dehdration (http://www.watercure.com/wow/wow_asthma.html) so keep your water levels up (3 litres per day minimum) and take 1/3 of a level teaspoon of real salt (not table salt) for every litre of water you drink.
I have also found that the ayurvedic powder known as 'Sitopaldi churna' (available from many Indian chemists) is excellent for respiratory problems - just mix 1 or 2 teaspoons with hot milk or honey each day.
You don't need to take a stock of Ventolins from your home country as you can buy inhalers without prescription from any chemist for about Rs.80/-
Hope that helps

tikrit

Hi,
I have asthma that is pretty bad, each time I have gone to India I find the humidity makes it easier to breath and use all of my asthma medications less while I am there- Doctors told me it would be worse. Even in poluted cities like Delhi, Chennai and Calcutta I used alot less medications and I just bought inhalers at the chemist. It did get worse in the cooler north but not as bad as in Canada.
Tikrit

mira4bai4

Up in the North of India there seems to be a higher risk of bronchial problems, often seems to relate to bugs in the dust or the dust is any easier way for the bugs to move about. Anyway have read lots of reports about the 'common' bronchial condition that afflicts many in the Punjab being on the increase, does not seem to be seasonal as it was high before the monsoons and I know that the centre that I go to which is open from October to January then from mid February until April, many of the people that go there end up suffering from a harsh cough. Burning of the fields is a big problem in the area.

vistet

Table salt and "real" salt
are the same , the only difference are the trace elements which also are essential.

shanthi

Hello Tikrit,
If you're wanting to try something herbal/Ayurvedic for your asthma whilst in India, I would suggest RESPICARE. It's fairly new and can be taken with any chemical preparations you are already taking with absolutely no side effects. It's available from www.cochinayurvedic.com - although it's not on their website yet they will email you with the description and stuff. It costs 144 rupees for a packet of 60 tabs - this price is up to date as I've just bought some for a friends children in TN. It's especially forumlated for high rate of asthma sufferes in India - with pollution in the cities etc.. My friend's kids are getting on great with it - and are using a lot less Ventilin now!

Good luck!