Breathlessness Treatment in India

Ishaan Joshi, a 58-year-old former construction...

Ishaan Joshi, a 58-year-old former construction supervisor, had been struggling for months. A lifelong smoker who quit five years ago, he first noticed a dry cough. Then came the breathlessness, initially just when climbing the two flights of stairs to his apartment, but soon it was present even while walking to the local market. He felt a constant, tight band around his chest and was terrified he had 'brought this on himself.' His primary care doctor, concerned by Ishaan's reduced breath sounds and prolonged expiration, referred him to a pulmonologist. The doctor recommended comprehensive pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to objectively measure his lung capacity and identify the pattern of his obstruction. Ishaan found the procedure challenging; blowing into the spirometer repeatedly while feeling short of breath was exhausting and frustrating. The results, however, were clarifying: he was diagnosed with moderate COPD. With this definitive diagnosis, he started a regimen of inhaled bronchodilators and pulmonary rehabilitation. Six weeks later, while not cured, Ishaan has regained the ability to do his grocery shopping without stopping. The fear of the unknown has been replaced by a manageable, if vigilant, routine. He feels a sense of control, having a name for his condition and a clear path forward, which has lifted the heavy cloud of anxiety.