Dr. Stefan Cristian Stanel
In episode No. 2 of the Top Lung Health podcast I try to raise awareness of occupational lung diseases. These conditions are generally preventable if respiratory protection is used (i.e. particulate filter masks, good ventilation in the workplace). Many people…
This is the first episode of the Top Lung Health podcast. I this episode I reflect on the fact that some medical problems unfortunately cannot be fixed and it is important to live a healthy life to the extent possible.…
There has been a lot of COVID vaccine hesitancy in Romania (my home country) which has lead to many unnecessary deaths and complications. Many people in developing countries are sometimes afraid or flat-out refuse to have COVID vaccines, even though…
Asthma and COPD can sometimes behave as very similar respiratory conditions. They both affect the small airways of the lungs (bronchioles) and therefore the symptoms can be the same: cough, wheeze, chest tightness, breathlessness etc. Asthma is an inflammatory condition…
Antibiotics (like azithromycin) can sometimes be prescribed long-term to patients with chronic respiratory diseases. This is to try to reduce the number of flare-ups of conditions such as asthma or bronchiectasis. In this case the antibiotic is not used to…
Symbicort is an inhaler which in the case of asthma can be used as both a controller and a reliever. This is because one of the medications contained in Symbicort, called formoterol, has a quick onset of action, usually 5-10…
In the video below, I provide a comment and simple explanation why smoking is one of the main causes of poor asthma control. If you have asthma and continue to smoke it is likely that your medication will be less…
What are the options in case an inhaler is very difficult to use? Many patients struggle with inhaler technique, or carers are frustrated when their loved ones cannot use their prescribed inhalers. There are a few things which usually help:…