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Published on: Apr 05, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Ventilators, When Breathing Is Not Enough For Covid-19 Patients!

Ventilators. A device few had heard of before the pandemic.

This life saving machine is desperately sought after by hospitals around the world. COVID patients with the most severe symptoms require ventilator support to survive and recover. But what is this machine? And what does it actually do?

THE BASICS

Breathing is a simple task, one that we do not think about. When we breathe our chest expands, and air is pulled into our lungs. Here oxygen is exchanged into the blood and transported by the pumping heart throughout the body. In our cells the oxygen is used to release energy from our food, and drive every process and reaction that keeps us alive and functioning.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Its symptoms include a dry cough, fever, feeling tired and more. In most patients the disease is mild. However some suffer from severe disease, causing havoc in their lungs. It can cause viral pneumonia in both of the patients lungs, which reduces the amount of lung able to bring in oxygen to the lung. The patient’s respiratory rate increases, as they struggle to draw in oxygen.

If a person is struggling to breathe on room air doctors can provide them extra oxygen. This is given through a mask they wear on their face. Normal air only has 21% oxygen, but in hospitals it is possible to give air that is 100% oxygen. This means more oxygen reaches the blood, and the patient has to put in less effort to breathe to get the same amount of oxygen to their cells.

In severe cases it can cause widespread inflammation in the lungs, causing fluid to build up and making breathing harder and more laborious. The patient can become tired having to breathe quicker and harder, and this is when doctors look to intensive care specialists and ventilator support.

VENTILATION

If a person is unable to breathe for themselves, it is possible to do this manually or mechanically. Specialists can insert a tube into the mouth of an unconscious patient that enters their windpipe. A bag pump can be attached to this, which a doctor can squeeze to push air into the patient’s lungs. But a person cannot continuously squeeze this bag to keep ventilating someone, as this is time consuming and tiring.

Ventilators are composed of a compressible reservoir or turbine that can push air into the patients lungs. Unlike regular pumps that continuously push air or water, ventilators have to mimic how we breathe. We inspire air in, then expire air out. Ventilators achieve this by pushing in air for a few seconds, inflating the lungs, then releasing the pressure. The natural elasticity of the patients ribs and lungs squeezes the excess air out, mimicking exhalation.

Modern ventilators are very smart, and have many configurable settings. They can be set to deliver defined quantities of air, change the rate of breathing and other advanced settings.

Hospitals regularly use ventilators for patients who are struggling to breathe, patients who are in a coma and have lost the ability to breathe, and also for anaesthetised patients in operating theatres. During the pandemic hospitals are cancelling unnecessary or non-emergency operations, redistributing these ventilators to be used for COVID patients instead.

MAKE MORE VENTS

It is estimated that up to 30% of patients that are admitted to hospital require ventilators. Most hospitals across the world do not have enough ventilators because they have never needed to ventilate so many patients. Governments have recruited the help of manufacturing companies to ramp up production of ventilators. In the UK F1 teams, military aircraft constructors and hoover manufacturers have all taken up the challenge and repurposed their factories.

There have also been innovations to create new ventilator designs that are cheap and easy to produce. This often involves off-the-shelf equipment that is already present in hospitals, and 3D printed parts. Such machines often do not require electricity or circuit board electronics, and can even be powered by the high pressure oxygen flowing from gas canisters or hospital walls.

- University College Dublin: https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/19/open-source-project-spins-up-3d-printed-ventilator-validation-prototype-in-just-one-week/ ventilator prototype

- University of Oxford: http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-03-31-ventilator-project-oxvent-gets-green-light-uk-government-proceed-next-stage-testing Ventilator project

NEVER A SIMPLE SOLUTION

But as always its not always this simple. Ventilators are complex machines requiring specialist training to function and maintain, as ventilation and respiratory physiology is quite complicated. Ventilators will be of limited use if hospitals do not have enough staff trained to use them safely.

Ventilators are not without risk either. Because they push air into the lung, continuous use, excessive pressures and improper use can cause some damage to the delicate anatomy inside the lung, causing problems in itself. The plastic tube can also be a source of infection. Some hospitals that have had a sharp increase in ventilated patients have encountered problems supplying all their patients with pressurised oxygen. The patient load is overwhelming their infrastructure.

Unfortunately like most things in medicine, ventilators are not a magic cure. Due to the shortage of ventilators not everyone who needs one is able to get it. Most patients who end up needing ventilation are severely ill. The longer a person is on a ventilator the less likely they are to survive. This means that current mortality is rather high.

As more ventilators become available this treatment may become available to those with less severe symptoms, who are more likely to survive especially with this extra help. It is difficult to make these predictions because so many different variables can have an effect. For now we will have to wait and see.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?

The best way to help in these situations is by not catching the virus. This is especially true for those who are elderly, have diabetes, cardiovascular issues or lung diseases. These high-risk patients are more likely to have more serious symptoms, requiring hospitalization. This is why so many countries have enforced lockdown measures. The fewer that are infected, the fewer that need ventilation.

If you do need to leave the house, always follow the following procedures:

- Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap or alcohol

- Wear a mask outside: This is now official WHO policy

- If you need to cough or sneeze do so into your arm or a tissue

- Only leave the house for essential activities, shopping or to visit the doctor.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, Chief Product Officer & President, Second Medic UK

www.secondmedic.com

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Monthly Healthy Potluck at Health Hubs: Building Community Wellness in India

Community-driven health initiatives are becoming an essential part of India’s preventive healthcare movement. While medical technology, AI diagnostics and digital screenings strengthen clinical care, lifestyle habits still remain the foundation of long-term wellness. One powerful but simple community practice gaining popularity is the Monthly Healthy Potluck at Health Hubs.

These potlucks promote healthier eating, strengthen social support systems, and bring people together to learn about nutrition and wellness in an enjoyable and accessible format. SecondMedic’s preventive health framework aligns perfectly with this model by integrating health education, nutrition insights and early-risk awareness into community activities.

This blog explores how monthly healthy potlucks are transforming health hubs across India and supporting preventive lifestyle habits at scale.

Why Community Wellness Matters in India

India is witnessing a steep rise in lifestyle-related illnesses.
According to the ICMR-NCD Burden Study:
• Over 100 million Indians live with diabetes
• Heart disease accounts for nearly 28% of all deaths
• Hypertension is becoming prevalent across younger age groups

Simultaneously, NFHS-5 data highlights increasing obesity, poor dietary diversity and rising sedentary behaviour. These challenges signal not just medical issues, but lifestyle gaps.

Community-based wellness initiatives provide the social support and collective learning required to bridge those gaps.

What Is a Monthly Healthy Potluck at Health Hubs?

A Monthly Healthy Potluck is a wellness event where:
• Participants bring nutritious homemade dishes
• Recipes focus on balance, low oil and whole ingredients
• Everyone eats together and shares food philosophy
• Health experts provide short preventive care sessions
• Participants learn simple, realistic lifestyle habits

This model transforms health hubs into interactive wellness environments instead of passive medical facilities.

Why Healthy Potlucks Work

1. They Make Healthy Eating Enjoyable

Healthy meals often feel restrictive when practiced alone. In a group setting, they become exciting because:
• People discover new recipes
• Participants try dishes they wouldn’t normally cook
• Food presentation inspires creativity
• Everyone learns portion control naturally

2. They Promote Social Accountability

When people cook, share and learn together, they form supportive communities that motivate consistent lifestyle changes.

3. They Strengthen Nutritional Awareness

Nutrition education becomes simpler when demonstrated through real food instead of lectures.

4. They Align with Preventive Healthcare

NITI Aayog’s Preventive Health & Wellness Report highlights behavioural change as a key driver of long-term health improvement. Potlucks encourage achievable, small lifestyle shifts.

Components of a Healthy Potluck at SecondMedic Health Hubs

1. Balanced Dish Contributions

Participants are encouraged to bring nutrient-dense dishes such as:
• Millet-based meals
• Vegetable-rich Indian curries
• Lean protein options
• Low-oil tiffin-style foods
• Fermented dishes
• Fruit bowls and salads

This ensures variety, balance and education through real examples.

2. Nutrition Spotlights

Health experts share quick insights on:
• Portion control
• Glycemic index
• Healthy cooking oils
• Hidden sugars
• Smart plate design
• Hydration science

These micro-education sessions empower participants to make better decisions at home.

3. Preventive Health Mini-Screenings

SecondMedic integrates:
• BMI checks
• Blood pressure assessments
• Sugar evaluations
• Quick fatigue and stress scoring

These screenings help individuals understand their health status while encouraging early intervention.

4. Recipe Exchange Corners

Participants document and exchange easy-to-cook healthy recipes. This fosters a culture of shared learning and innovation.

5. Wellness Activities

Events may include:
• 5-minute yoga routines
• Breathing exercises
• Mindfulness techniques
• Movement challenges

These fun micro-activities teach participants how to incorporate wellness effortlessly into daily routines.

How Healthy Potlucks Support India’s Preventive Health Movement

Encouraging Long-Term Dietary Shifts

When individuals repeatedly attend monthly events, their meal choices gradually transform. Consistency builds habits.

Reducing Fear Around Healthy Cooking

Seeing others prepare simple, tasty, low-oil dishes removes the stigma that healthy food is bland or difficult.

Strengthening Social Connectivity

Community bonds reduce stress, loneliness and isolation-factors known to weaken immunity and increase chronic disease risk.

Improving Health Literacy

Real-time demonstrations outperform written instructions. It becomes easier to understand nutrient density, fibre-rich meals and balanced plates when they are visually presented.

Supporting Digital Health Ecosystems

SecondMedic integrates event data into digital dashboards:
• Meal analysis
• Health scores
• Lifestyle tracking
• Preventive alerts

This combination of offline community activity and online tracking strengthens long-term adherence.

Example of a Healthy Potluck Spread

• Moong dal khichdi with vegetables
• Ragi roti with garlic chutney
• Grilled paneer salad
• Millet upma
• Fruit and nut platter
• Sprout chaat with lemon
• Buttermilk infused with mint

These items are affordable, accessible and easy to prepare-ideal for the Indian lifestyle.

Conclusion

Monthly Healthy Potlucks at Health Hubs offer a simple yet powerful model for promoting preventive healthcare in India. These events blend nutrition, social bonding, lifestyle learning and community-led motivation. They encourage individuals to adopt healthier habits without pressure, restriction or complexity.

With SecondMedic’s integrated preventive care framework, these potlucks become more than social gatherings-they become catalysts for building healthier communities, improving dietary behaviour and supporting long-term wellness.

References

• ICMR NCD Burden Study - Lifestyle & Dietary Risk Factors in India
• National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
• NITI Aayog - Preventive Health & Community Wellness Framework
• Lancet Public Health India - Impact of Community Nutrition Programs
• WHO Guidelines on Community Health Promotion
• Statista India Wellness & Healthy Eating Behaviour Report
• EY-FICCI Integrated Preventive Care Model for India

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