What is a Sinus Wash?

Have you ever felt that your cold would never end? A cough that follows a cold can last several weeks making you feel like you will never get over it. However, if you have suffered from a lingering cough, it could indicate you are dealing with more than your typical cold virus. If you've had a cold with a cough lasting 3 weeks or longer you may have developed an infection known as sinusitis.

WHAT IS SINUSITIS?

Sinusitis is an infection or inflammation of the mucous membranes that line your sinus cavities and nose. A blocked sinus can prevent the proper drainage of mucous - usually because of a cold or allergy. The inflamed membranes cause swelling which can lead to a feeling of pressure or pain in the sinus areas.

A blocked sinus cavity is then susceptible to the growth of bacteria and fungus. The condition can come on suddenly (acute) after a viral infection such as a cold, or become long term (chronic) where the individual suffers from symptoms indefinitely.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE SINUSITIS?

The key distinction between a cold and sinusitis, according to one health manual, is that a cold usually lasts about seven days and symptoms begin to lessen. Sinusitis suffers may experience prolonged symptoms which can worsen with time.

A Mayo Clinic study reported on in 'Prevention' magazine claimed that approximately 1/3 of individuals with chronic coughs (lasting more than three weeks) could be suffering from sinusitis. The research was based on CT scans of the sinuses of 132 patients with chronic coughs.

Other symptoms, besides a chronic cough, that can be linked to a sinusitis infection are: headaches, bad breath, post-nasal drip, stuffy nose, fever and tooth pain.

WHAT DO I DO IF I THINK I HAVE SINUSITIS?

Mild cases of sinusitis can be treated at home with over the counter decongestants, keeping air moist with a humidifier (especially in the bedroom) and drinking fluids to thin the mucus.

If symptoms are not responding to home treatment you may need a doctor to prescribe antibiotics or other medication. Fungal infections, which are not treatable with antibiotics, will need to be treated with other medication or surgery.

A chronic case of sinusitis may also need more intense treatment. Your doctor should be able to determine if you are suffering from sinusitis based on your history. Sinusitis may not be identified based solely on a physical exam.

HOW DO I PREVENT SINUSITIS?

Taking care of yourself during a cold - keeping air moist, drinking fluids and resting - can help reduce the inflammation that can lead to sinusitis. However, repeated colds or allergies may make you more vulnerable. Seek the advice of your physician if you feel that your symptoms are not consistent with a typical cold or allergy and you just can't shake that cough.

Allergies are becoming more common as each year goes by. Reports of individuals, who have lived their entire life without a single problem, are suddenly coming down with allergies.

The causes of such cases can be from a variety of sources, including reactions to medicines, food allergies, and most common, environmental toxins. This is why it is extremely hard for doctors to pinpoint a person's specific problem. However there are measures that can be taken to help you cope with your allergies.

Schedule An Appointment With Your Doctor

The absolute best thing you can do if you suspect that you have an intolerance to a substance is to see a doctor, specifically an allergist. You might not realize this but there are some allergies that might be life threatening. Although they may start out with very light symptoms allergies need to be diagnosed as early as possible.

Your allergist will be able to run you through a series of tests to determine what sensitivities you have developed and how series they are. Such examples include insect stings, food allergies (peanuts is a common one), and adverse reactions to certain medications.

The next step your allergist will take after identifying what your body is sensitive to, will be to educate what you can do in terms of coping with your allergies. Some patients receive a series of injections that help reduce their symptoms almost immediately.

Injections will not only reduce your current symptoms but will help ward off allergic reactions in the future, should you come across a specific plant, animal, or toxin that might otherwise set off your symptoms again.

Additional Coping Solutions

Injections are not the only way to cope with your allergies. Other measures exist that you can use to relieve your allergies. For example, many people have allergic reactions to irritants that are airborne. Investing in a home air filtration system can produce amazing results in terms of your allergies and breathing.

Of course the cost for such a filtration system may be a bit on the high side but the relief from severe allergies is worth the price tenfold. You also have the option of smaller air filtration units, such as desktop system that are less expensive.

What About Allergies Due To Pets?

Unfortunately when a person has develops allergies to their dog or cat there are not many solutions or coping measures you can take to reduce your symptoms. The only option to eliminating your symptoms is find a new home for your pet. Of course this depends on the severity of your allergies, and if they are not too serious you can minimize breakouts by keeping your house clean, well vacuumed and pet-hair free as best you can.

Medications May Help

And finally you might want to talk to your doctor about additional options in terms of medications. You can buy antihistamines over-the-counter that can be used on a daily basis to help relieve minor sensitivities. Stronger antihistamines are available but only by a doctor's prescription.

Do you or someone you care for have snore trouble?

Snoring is a comparatively frequent occurrence with nearly 40% of adults in America. Many people have snoring problems every single night.

There is not a simple reason for snoring. Each person is different and there are many reasons you may experience the nuisance of snoring.

We will briefly cover 10 possible causes of snoring in this article.

Weight Gain:
Snoring can be caused by the fact that you have gained weight. Extra pounds cause excess fatty tissue to form and that fatty tissue in the neck can cause your throat opening to become smaller and increase your chances of snoring.

Genetics:
One cause of snoring can be traced to your heredity. Regrettably our ancestors can pass on the characteristic of a smaller throat which can cause you problems with trying to breath properly and lead to snoring.

Your Gender:
Males tend to snore more because they have more narrow airways in their body than females. This gives men more likelihood of snoring than women.

Aging:
As you get older your throat becomes more narrow. Also as you age, you begin to lose muscle tone in your throat. So the combination of weak throat muscles and narrower air passages can lead to snoring.

Drinking Alcohol:
If you drink alcohol it relaxes your body which includes your throat and tongue muscles. The more these particular muscles relax, the great chance of snoring.

Medical Drugs:
Some sleeping pills and antihistamines cause the same effects on muscle relaxation as does alcohol and this can lead to snoring.

Deformities of your Nasal Passages:
If you have a deviated septum this can cause snoring.

Sleeping on Your Back:
Sleeping on your back sometimes produces more snoring than sleeping on your side. Simply try sleeping in a different position to reduce snoring symptoms.

Sleeping with Soft Pillows:
If you sleep with a soft pillow, you can raise the slant of your neck, and that can obstruct your airways and cause snoring.

Allergies:
Quite often a symptom of allergies, is stuffy nose and clogged nasal passages. Lack of air flow makes breathing difficult and the labored breathing may cause snoring.

These causes of snoring are in no way a complete list. When trying to figure out your problem with snoring, reviewing this list will give you a starting point for which direction to go to get help with your snore problems. Your next step is to see your family doctor and get their opinion on what might be causing your snoring.