Prerna S. Varma is a pulmonologist based in VIC, Australia. She looks after breathing and sleep health, especially when people are dealing with symptoms that linger or come and go.
In day-to-day care, Dr Varma often sees patients who have been affected by COVID-19. For some people, the illness does not just pass. Long Haul COVID can mean ongoing tiredness, breathlessness, chest tightness, cough, and brain fog. Dr Varma works with patients to make sense of what is happening and to find ways to manage symptoms that can be hard to live with.
Sleep is another big part of her work. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is one condition she regularly helps with. This can cause loud snoring, restless sleep, and daytime sleepiness. Treatment planning can involve sleep checks and practical steps to help people sleep more safely and feel better in the daytime. At times, she also supports people who are dealing with insomnia, where falling asleep or staying asleep becomes a repeated problem.
Respiratory health is at the centre of her practice. Her focus includes illnesses like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and the breathing complications that can come with major respiratory infections. While every case is different, the aim is the same: understand the breathing pattern, check what might be driving symptoms, and support recovery and day-to-day comfort.
Over time, Dr Varma takes a steady, calm approach. She listens to how symptoms affect work, sleep, and daily life. From there, she helps patients think through next steps, whether that is symptom control, further tests, or bringing other health issues into the plan where needed.
She stays up to date with current guidance and keeps an eye on the evidence around post-viral breathing problems and sleep-related conditions. If relevant, she will also discuss available options that may be supported by clinical research, though what is possible depends on the person and their situation.
Prerna S. Varma is a local pulmonologist in Victoria, helping people breathe easier and sleep better—especially when recovery does not go the way they expected.