Pulmonology

Dr. Varaprasad, M.D., is a top-ranked pulmonologist providing patients in Sri Maruthi Speciality Hospital, Tirupati, with an unparalleled level of care for an array of acute and chronic lung conditions and diseases.

Our Comprehensive Respiratory Programs

The Respiratory Institute provides specialized programs committed to multidisciplinary consultation, advanced diagnostics, and coordinated, collaborative care for the full range of lung conditions. Treatment plans designed by our specialists incorporate the newest therapies tailored to the personal needs of each patient, enhanced by the implementation of genetics and genomics into disease management approaches.

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•   Insomnia
•    Asthma
•  Allergy & Immunotherapy
• COPD
•  Lung cancer screening

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·  Asthma Program: Personalized treatments for adults that incorporate the latest research in the causes and effective management of this condition.

·  COPD Program: A customized care model that uses modern imaging techniques aimed at educating patients on proper medication usage and on developing treatment strategies to manage future pulmonary episodes.

·  Pulmonary Fibrosis / Interstitial Lung Disease Program:  Offering innovative approaches to treatment and improving outcomes through research initiatives such as multicenter clinical trials that provide novel medications for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

·  Center for Sleep Medicine: Providing comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of all aspects of sleep pathology, including breathing related sleep disorders, periodic limb movements in sleep, and narcolepsy.

·  Pulmonary Hypertension Program: Offering multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic services that are integrated with leading pulmonary hypertension programs throughout the Mount Sinai Health System.

Asthma

by Dr Varaprasad, MD

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and the airways, causing inflammation in the airway lining. When the lining is irritated, the muscles along the airways tighten, causing airways to become narrower and restricting the flow of air to and from the lungs. People with asthma are extremely sensitive to specific triggers, such as smoke, pollen, pet dander and even changes in temperature, experiencing flareups when their symptoms can become much worse. In some cases, strenuous exercise can also cause flareups.

The most common symptom associated with asthma is wheezing, a high-pitched whistling noise occurs in the lungs during breathing. Sometimes, wheezing can be loud enough to hear, while other times, it may be very mild and only detected using a stethoscope. 

Other symptoms include:

• persistent cough
• tightness in the chest
• difficulty breathing
• colds and coughs that last more than 10 days
• flareups with changes in temperature or with strenuous exercise

Diagnosis begins with a physical exam and health history, as well as a review of your symptoms. Be sure to mention any colds or respiratory ailments that took a long time to resolve, as well as any family history of asthma, allergies or lung conditions. Your lungs will be listened to through a stethoscope, and you may also be asked to perform a breathing test to evaluate your lung capacity. Sometimes, chest x-rays may be ordered to rule out other diseases that can cause similar symptoms.

Inhaled medications are often prescribed to help open your airways and reduce inflammation during flareups. Both portable “pocket-sized” inhalers and at-home nebulizers are available, depending on your needs. It's also important to stay physically active and to try to avoid triggers that cause asthma flareups whenever possible.

Insomnia

- Dr Varaprasad, MD

Everyone has some trouble falling asleep or staying asleep from time to time, and most of us have experienced daytime sleepiness when we haven't enjoyed a good night's rest, But when sleep issues become chronic and begin to affect your life on a regular basis, you may have insomnia. With insomnia, it can be difficult to fall asleep, often taking 30 minutes or more, and you may wake several times during the night. You also may wake up earlier than intended, resulting in six or fewer hours of sleep per night most nights.

 symptoms

Insomnia symptoms go far beyond difficulty falling or staying asleep. Some of the other common symptoms include:

• daytime sleepiness,
• feeling unrested upon waking,
• irritability and moodiness,
• decreased productivity at work or school,
• chronic headaches,
• chronic stress or easily stressed,
• difficulty focusing, concentrating and staying on task,
• increased risk for errors or serious accidents, including car accidents,
• gastrointestinal symptoms,
• persistent worries about sleep,

insomnia diagnosed

First, you'll have a physical exam during which you'll be asked about your symptoms and your sleep pattern, as well as any medical or psychological issues that may be interfering with your sleep. You may also be asked to keep a sleep diary to record your sleeping patterns. In a few cases, a blood test may be ordered to check for thyroid problems or other issues that could be interfering with your sleep. When no cause can be determined or if sleep apnea is suspected, you'll need to undergo a sleep study.

  

treatments

Depending on the cause of your insomnia, lifestyle and behavior changes may help. Treating underlying conditions like sleep apnea is very important. In a few cases, medication can be prescribed for short-term use.

Allergy & Immunotherapy

by Dr Varaprasad, MD

Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to specific substances, causing an immune reaction and sending out antibodies to battle what it perceives as a threat to the body and to health. Allergies can cause symptoms like coughing, wheezing, sneezing, hives and angioedema, swelling under skin and in the mouth and throat. In severe allergic reactions, anaphylaxis can occur, causing difficulty breathing, shock and even death.

immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that's used to help people with allergies build up a resistance to the allergens that cause their reactions. During immunotherapy, a series of injections of a solution containing diluted allergens is administered over a period of time to help your body develop immunity. As injections continue, the amount of allergen will be slowly increased to improve your tolerance. Eventually, your body will no longer produce an allergic reaction to the allergen, or any reaction it does produce will be significantly less than what you experienced in the past. Immunotherapy is sometimes referred to as “allergy shots.”

How long will I need to have injections?

Injections are given one or more times every week for several weeks, usually between three and six months. Once tolerance has been achieved, some patients may need to return for shots once a month for several years to ensure resistance is maintained. The initial “tolerance-building” phase can sometimes be shortened by administering higher amounts of allergen with each shot, but that can also increase the likelihood of an allergic reaction. Injections are typically given in the upper arm, and you'll need to remain in the office for about 20 to 30 minutes after each injection to ensure an allergic reaction doesn't occur.

Most patients report significant improvement within a year or so of treatment.

COPD

by Dr Varaprasad, MD

COPD is an acronym for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Most people with COPD have both conditions, but some COPD patients may have only one. COPD is a serious and chronic lung disease for which there is no cure; however, it can be managed with appropriate treatments and care.

causes

The primary cause of COPD is smoking. Other possible causes include exposure to lung irritants including wood smoke, chemicals and pollutants, genetic issues affecting the lungs' structure or function, and premature birth.

Common symptoms of COPD include:

• persistent cough that produces mucus
• shortness of breath
• tight feeling in the lungs or chest area
• wheezing
• fatigue
• frequent respiratory infections
• unintended weight loss
• Flareups of the disease can also occur, especially during or following a respiratory infection or when exposed to smoke or other pollutants.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis begins with a medical history and physical exam to evaluate your risk factors and your general health and to listen to your lungs. Your lung function will also be measured using a spirometry test. During the test, you'll wear nose clips and be asked to blow into a device called a spirometer. You may also have chest x-rays to rule out other conditions like lung cancer that can cause many similar symptoms.

Treatments

Although there's no cure, COPD can be managed with lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and with medications to open your airways and to reduce inflammation and swelling in your lungs and airways. Depending on the extent of your disease, lung rehabilitation may be prescribed to enable you to stay active without becoming short of breath or overly tired. Oxygen therapy is usually prescribed in more advanced cases when your lungs are unable to provide your body with enough oxygen.

Lung Cancer Screening

by Dr Varaprasad, MD

Lung cancer screening is a test used to look for very early signs of the disease. While anyone can undergo screening, it's typically recommended for older adults who smoke, other long-term smokers and people with specific risk factors.

Treatment for lung cancer is most successful when the disease is caught in its earliest stages. Since tobacco smoking is one of the most well-known risk factors for developing lung cancer, performing lung cancer screening in current and former heavy smokers can be a good way of improving the chances of successful treatment.

Lung cancer screening uses low-dose CT (computerized tomography) scanning to produce highly-detailed 3-D images of your lungs. CT scans use computers to create complete pictures of your organs as well as individual “slices” that enable your doctor to look at each area of your lung individually, slice by slice, increasing the likelihood small lesions and other lung cancer signs can be caught.

Pre-Operative Clearance

by Dr Varaprasad, MD

When you undergo an operation, your body is placed under considerable strain – not just during the surgery, but also during the recovery period, when your body uses vast resources to heal and recover. While many people are healthy enough to withstand the stresses of surgery and recovery, certain medical conditions can make surgery and recovery especially risky. A pre-operative clearance uses tests and evaluations to assess a patient's overall health to determine his or her ability to withstand surgery and the subsequent recovery period, reducing the chances of postoperative illness or decline.

The clearance procedure involves different risk assessments depending on your personal medical risks and health status.

In addition to a comprehensive physical exam, assessments may include:

• pulmonary function testing
• arterial blood gas analysis
• exercise stress testing
• chest x-rays
• CT or MRI scans
• conditions

Preoperative clearance is recommended for any pulmonary patient, but especially for people with the following risk factors:

• COPD
• asthma
• obesity
• older age
• obstructive sleep apnea
• heart failure
• overall health issues
• pulmonary hypertension
• smoking habit

 Pulmonary Function Testing

by Dr Varaprasad, MD

Pulmonary function tests are tests that are used to evaluate how well your lungs are working. Different types of tests are available to measure different aspects of lung function, depending on your medical condition or the symptoms you're experiencing. Tests can measure how much air your lungs can hold, how well your lungs expel air, and how well your lungs work during physical activity.

When

Pulmonary lung function tests are used primarily to diagnose breathing problems and determine if you might have a lung disease or condition. They're also used to assess your lung function following major surgery including bypass surgery, to evaluate treatments for lung diseases and other lung-related issues, and to understand how well your lungs are able to tolerate exercise. Pulmonary function testing can provide a wealth of information about your lungs and serve as an important tool in managing many lung treatments.

testing

In most lung function tests, you'll be asked to wear nose clips and a mouthpiece or a special mask to ensure you're breathing in and out only through your mouth. As you inhale and exhale, a special device called a spirometer will be used to measure your lung capacity and function. Depending on the test that's being conducted, you may be asked to breathe in different ways or to inhale very deeply or exhale as hard as you can.