Showing posts with label sinusitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sinusitis. Show all posts

Monday, November 3, 2008

Want to Get Sinus Relief?

By Melody Mendalson

A lot of people know sinuses as those just affecting the nasal cavity. However, further reading will tell us that a sinus actually refer to a host of bones in the body. It's just that paranasal sinuses are the most common that's why we identified sinus and sinusitis with nasal discomforts. But now that that's out of the way, let's open the door to the discussion on the discomforts brought about by sinus infections and the ways these problems may encounter relief.

In order to find effective sinus relief, we have to identify what its symptoms are. These include nasal congestion, usually accompanied by a runny nose or a cough, some pain in the upper jaw, headache, swelling and pressure (normally described as a throbbing in the middle portion of the face) and, in certain cases, fatigue, weakness and even fever.

Pain in the sinuses is primarily caused by a blockage in the nasal cavity, mostly due to an inflammation. When our nasal passageways are hindered from working their usual functions, pressure builds up and pain ensues.

It usually succeeds a viral infection in our respiratory tract, but, more often than not, it is triggered by allergy-causing substances and other pollutants.

Sinusitis is not really deadly, if the proper medication and treatment follows it immediately. Therefore, whenever you feel the onset of a sinusitis attack, you don't need to fear. There are many ways to relieve whatever ill conditions you're feeling.

Sinus relief strategies

- Rest, rest, rest.

- You will be able to clear your nasal passages and improve circulation if you exercise during a sinusitis attack.

- Drink plenty of water and other fluids. Hot tea is your best bet against problem sinuses.

- Irrigate your nasal passageways whenever it strikes. Or, as a preventive measure, irrigate daily.

- Stay away from iced and cold drinks, because they will only aggravate the pain and worsen the clogging.

- Papaya enzymes taken around four times a day will help decrease the inflammation and swelling of your sinuses.

- Use a humidifier, particularly one that's bacteria-free. Getting moisture, especially at night when you sleep, will help clear your clogged sinuses and relieve the pain and wooziness. If a humidifier is not available, inhale steam from a bowl around two to four times a day.

- Steer clear of potential allergens, like pollen, dust, pollutants, etc. They will only make the problem worse and, possibly, lead to asthma.

- If home remedies fail, try taking expectorants to help expel the mucus that has been building up in your nose. Of course, seek the advice of your physician before you take any kind of medicine, just to be one the safe side. Some medications and drugs have been found to aggravate infections in certain people who are allergic to them.

There is available relief for sinus problems. In fact, you don't really have to resort to taking medication if the discomforts are still at manageable levels. Better yet, be proactive and avoid developing a sinus attack altogether. Keep away from possible triggers and keep a clean and healthy lifestyle. Of course, make sure you get enough humidity and avoid dry air.

About the Author:



Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Win the Battle of Sinusitis with These Sinusitis Remedies

By Paul Tamens

Are you losing the battle of sinusitis? Do you find yourself sniffling, sneezing, coughing and struggling to breath? Sinusitis can be one of the most frustrating experiences that you can ever endure. You find yourself running out of tissues, your head is all clogged up and you want to do nothing but run and hide somewhere. Sinusitis can be rough, however there are some sinusitis remedies that you can use to help you get over this condition.

One of the biggest contributors to sinusitis is allergies. Exposure to foreign elements and breathing them in can cause an allergic reaction that contributes to the sinusitis condition. Therefore, one of the best sinusitis remedies that you try is to limit your exposure to these foreign elements. The most common contributor is of course the infamous pollen. However, there are several other elements that you need to be aware of as well. These include pet hair, mold and dust.

The air you breathe plays a vital role in helping you to gain relief faster. Breathing in dry air simply helps to compound the problem. Instead, you want to make the air you breathe as humid as possible. One way to do this is to go into the bathroom, turn on the hot shower, leave it running and spend 10-15 minutes breathing in the humid air in the bathroom. Another way to do this is to simply purchase a humidifier and leave it running throughout the house.

Getting a good amount of liquids throughout the day also helps to relieve sinusitis. The more liquid that you drink daily, the easier it will be for the body to break down the mucus build up and to relieve some of the excess tension on the sinuses. Hot liquid like tea gives the added benefit of increasing the amount of humid air you breathe in if you take the time to breathe in the hot fumes being expelled from the tea. Soup is also a good food to eat for these purposes as it is liquid based and provides many of these benefits as well as powering the body through good nutrients.

If the case of sinusitis is being caused by bacteria or viruses as opposed to an allergic reaction, you want to take a slightly different approach in your sinusitis remedies. One approach that you can take is to focus on building up your immune system in a way so that your body has the strength to fight off the illness. You should supplement your diet with as much vitamin C as you can. Vitamin C builds the immune system. You should also eat well, get some exercise and get the rest that your body needs to recuperate.

You must also remember that many sinusitis conditions are caused as a result of bacteria or viruses. As such, you want to make sure you limit your exposures to germs that facilitate the transfer of these agents. If someone is coughing and sneezing stay away from them so that you don?t get their germs. Many germs can be eliminated if you properly wash your hands, which consist of exposure to warm water, soap and vigorous scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. Avoid public restrooms and if you do need to use one, make sure you open the door with a paper towel in your hand because most people don?t wash their hands after using it.

About the Author:




Monday, August 4, 2008

Sinusitis vs. Common Cold: Which is Which?

By Paul Tamens

It can be difficult to determine whether you have a case of sinusitis or a case of the common cold. Many people mixed up these conditions all of the time. However the cold vs. sinusitis are two completely different ailments caused by two completely different sources. As such, the treatment of both will be different as well.

One of the reasons why it's difficult to tell both of these ailments apart is because of how similar many of the symptoms area. Both ailments consist of having a runny nose, coughing, sneezing and body aches and pains. Both aliments can make the person suffering from them feel sluggish and tired.

With such major similarities between sinusitis and the common cold, is it possible for you to be able to tell the difference? It is possible. However, you must know what it is you are looking for. The first area where these two ailments differ is how they develop. The common cold comes from a contracted virus passed from person to person. When the virus is attacked by the body's immune system, the common cold reveals itself in the symptoms that we come to associate it with.

Sinusitis develops differently from a common cold. Sinusitis develops as a result of an outside influence inflaming the nasal cavity. This outside influence can be a number of different factors. It can be a result of too much exposure to pollen, a result of pet mites or even the accumulation of too much dust. It can also come from bacteria.

As far as how the symptoms reveal themselves with sinusitis and the common cold, you can also distinguish the two ailments by looking at the symptoms themselves. One of the first things that you want to look at is the length you have the symptoms. A common cold should go away in a week or so. Sinusitis can last for much longer.

The symptoms that show up in the eyes also distinguish between the common cold and sinusitis. The common cold usually has no influence on the eyes. Sinusitis has a major influence on the eyes. The eyes are puffy and swells up rapidly. The eyes also scratch and become watery. Your face will also feel very uncomfortable. If you track how bad the symptoms are you may even be able to track the source of the allergic reaction as well as the symptoms will trigger up worse when you are exposed to whatever is causing the inflammation.

Identifying the difference between sinusitis and the common cold is important if you wish to effectively treat the ailment. A common cold can only be cured by the immune system. Medication only serves to minimize the symptoms not cure the ailment. Therefore the best strategy for treating a common cold is to get plenty of rest and give yourself time to fight it off. Sinusitis continues as long as you continue to expose yourself to whatever triggers the allergic reaction. If left unattended sinusitis can morph into additional and more serious illnesses.

About the Author:



Friday, August 1, 2008

Sinusitis Treatments - Home Treatment Methods

By Paul Tamens

To treat sinusitis there are many options based on home treatment strategies that you can use to cure the illness. While each treatment varies in terms of its effectiveness, there?s nothing wrong with trying them to see which ones are most effective for you if any.

Over the counter methods is one strategy that you can use for sinusitis treatments. If you are looking for comfort from aches and pains, one option that you can take is to take a pain reliever like Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin and Aleve. If you are looking for comfort from being congested, you can look at a decongestive like Sudafed or Afrin. If you are having a runny nose, you can take Benadryl or Dimetapp to treat that.

The air you breathe at home also plays a role in the treatment of sinusitis. If you are a smoker you should avoid smoking and if you live with smokers you should avoid 2nd hand smoke. If your sinusitis is as a result of an allergic reaction to pollen, you should avoid breathing in pollen. It also helps to breathe moist air at home by either using a humidifier or leaving the hot shower running.

Your diet also plays a role as sinusitis treatments. Alcohol actually makes the sinusitis swell up even further and compounds the sinusitis condition. Therefore it should be avoided while you are still experiencing symptoms. You also need to drink plenty of liquids. Otherwise, you run the risk of experiencing dehydration.

One remedy that you can use to gain relief from the symptoms of sinusitis is to use nose drops and a hot water towel. Nose drops are designed to clear out the nasal passages and make it easier for you to breathe. As such you are able to gain fast relief of your symptoms. Taking a hot wet towel and wetting it and put it on your face several times a day.

Spending some time getting some exercise also helps to treat sinusitis symptoms. Rest isn?t necessary going to help relieve symptoms simply because the symptoms are being caused by an allergy trigger, not by bacteria or viruses. Instead a better approach is to get plenty of exercise. You can try walking outside if you live in an area with fresh air, little pollution and no pollen. If your area is not suitable for this you can do aerobics. This type of exercise can be done inside so you can avoid breathing in the bad air.

By applying these home treatments, sinusitis should clear up on its own after several days. However, if you find that you are still suffering from symptoms after a few days or if you begin to develop new symptoms, you should seek the attention of a medical professional. Your doctor will be able to prescribe for you a stronger and more effective treatment. In addition, your doctor will be able to diagnose for you whether you are suffering from something else other than sinusitis. The last thing you want to do is to be experiencing a more serious illness and put off seeking medical intervention.

About the Author:




Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Eat Your Way to Sinusitis Relief

By Paul Tamens

If you have ever experienced the symptoms that comes with sinusitis you realize how difficult it cam be. There is no comfort when you are constantly sneezing, coughing, feeling all stuffed up and feeling aches and pains in your body. One way that you may not be aware of to alleviate some of this suffering is to eat foods that relieve sinusitis symptoms. There are several foods available that you can eat to help treat sinusitis.

If you know anything about vampires, you know that a vampire's least favorite food is garlic. Well garlic is also a great food to eat when you are suffering from bronchitis. Garlic helps to break down the mucus build up, making it easier for you to force the mucus out of your body. Therefore if you can eat food that contains garlic, it will help bring relief to your sinusitis condition.

A second example of a food you can eat to treat sinusitis is horseradish. Horseradish also have sinusitis treating properties. Like garlic, it is a natural decongestant and you can use it to clear your nasal passageways and make it easier to breathe. Horseradish is a highly effective weapon in the battle of treating sinusitis.

One interesting food choice for people dealing with sinusitis is Cajun food. The spicy style of Cajun does wonders for clearing up the nasal passages. Don't make the mistake of believing that all spicy food does this though. The type of spices used to prepare Cajun food simply has a natural decongestant that makes it a more effective food to eat if you are looking to relieve sinus symptoms.

If you are interested in learning more about different dishes that contain these attributes, the following is a list of different dishes that you can investigate:

If you are interested in food that contains garlic, you can use garlic soup, garlic shrimp scampi, garlic chicken, garlic bread, and garlic mashed potatoes. If you enjoy pizza, feel free to add garlic powder on your pizza. Some other examples of great garlic food include garlic baked bananas, baked garlic pate, creamy zucchini and garlic, garlic ginger lime salmon and for dessert you can even have garlic ice cream.

If you are interested in food that contains horseradish, you can start adding barbecue horseradish source to hamburgers, beef kebabs or seafood kebabs. There are several foods that you can add horseradish to as well. There are some great breakfast foods that you can add horseradish to. These foods include sausages, scrambled eggs and tomato juice. You can also add horseradish to salad, corned beef brisket, as well as pizza.

When it comes down to Cajun food there are many different options available to you. For the truly adventurous you can try such Cajun dishes as alligator, crawfish, armadillo, frog legs, duck, moose, and even quail! Some other more common Cajun dishes include Cajun gumbo, jambalaya, and Cajun dirty rice.

About the Author:




Saturday, July 26, 2008

Sinusitis Treatments: Chronic vs. Acute

By Paul Tamens

Sinusitis occurs as a result of the sinus membranes in the nasal passages swelling up as a result of a variety of different factors. A sinusitis condition can develop as a result of two reasons. The first reason is a reaction to an allergenic. The second reason is a reaction to contracting a virus or bacteria.

There are two types of sinusitis that can develop. The first type of sinusitis that can develop is referred to as acute sinusitis. This type is the lesser of the two as only lasts a few days or a few weeks. Acute sinusitis occurs from either allergies or an infection of viruses or bacteria. The second type of sinusitis that can develop is referred to as chronic sinusitis. It comes from the same places as the acute version but lasts longer. It can last for several weeks or even several months.

The treatment for acute sinusitis depends on the root cause of the condition. Treatment of the symptoms is universal regardless of the cause of the condition. However, depending on what the cause of the condition is, you will also have to treat the trigger of the condition. For example, if acute sinusitis is being caused by an allergic reaction, then it makes sense to limit or eliminate exposure to whatever is causing the reaction. If acute sinusitis is being caused by exposure to bacteria or viruses then it makes sense to eliminate the bacterial or viruses that trigger the condition.

Chronic sinusitis can be caused by many of the same sources as acute sinusitis. Prolonged exposure to the causes can result in this condition. In addition, there are several other causes above and beyond the root causes identified for acute sinusitis that can trigger a chronic sinusitis condition. A really bad common cold can cause a respiratory tract infection, resulting in chronic sinusitis. Other causes include injury to the face, airborne fungi exposure or other medical conditions.

Acute sinusitis can be treated using several different methods. Over the counter medicine is one way you can treat it. There are many medications that you can purchase at your local pharmacy or drug start to treat sinusitis. Some examples include Claritin OTC, Dayquil, Nyquil, Actifed and Sudafed. Drinking hot soup or tea, doing a nasal rinse and inhaling hot steam are also ways you can help treat acute sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis should be treated by seeking out a medical professional. There are several treatments that a medical professional can recommend that you personally cannot engage in on your own. For example, chronic sinusitis may require access to medications that are not available over the counter. There are drugs such as Flonase and Prednisone that can reduce inflammation of the sinuses directly. Sometimes a medical procedure is needed in order to treat chronic sinusitis. A doctor can recommend procedures such as a ballon rhinoplasty as well as an endoscopic sinus surgery. This is why it is important that you seek out a doctor to treat chronic sinusitis. Otherwise you will simply suffer through the symptoms indefinitely.

About the Author: