My own personal demon...coping with Sinusitus....
I have had sinus problems since i was a child and only till recently have i decided to tackle the this head on by doing some research on myself as well as looking up similar cases on the web...
After looking on hundred's of websites and talking to doctors the most import and effective advise i can give is " GIVE UP DAIRY!" before starting any treatment.
I know alot of people will say .."i cant give up cheese and chocolate and milk" , but all i can say is....what's better...to suffer less or eat what you like?
It's hard at first to give up..but after 30day's you should start feeling better and believe me, it really does help and you will notice that you will snore less and breath alot better....plus the weight will drop off if you cut out dairy.....
Losing weight is always a nice thing if you have extra padding and a good incentive!
Dont forget that cutting out dairy doesn't mean that you cant have nice food...there are plenty of good supplements out their like ALPRO Soya milk and ice-cream and dark chocolate is okay to eat....
I wont lie, Cheese alternatives are few and far between and the best seem's to be "cheezly"..and some can melt .
I have found that soya milk (alpro soy) if actually nicer than normal milk.
I dont say these things in haste as i love my food , so as you can imagine giving up luxury items like chocolate and cheese and milk was hard but worth it in the long run..though i do slip and have some dairy once in a while but the effect isn't as bad as it used to be, but you will then realise how quickly your sinus block after eating dairy...when you slip.
In terms of medicinal treatments...it depends how chronic your systoms are so it's best seeking a docters or specialists advice first.
I hope this helps and you can breathe easier after this article.
Take care...Rob
Sinusitis
This factsheet is for people with sinusitis or for people who want to find out more about sinusitis.
Sinusitis is inflammation of the linings of the sinuses (the bone cavities of the face) that surround the nose. Common symptoms include a headache and a swollen tender face.
Sinusitis is inflammation of the linings of the sinuses (the bone cavities of the face) that surround the nose. Common symptoms include a headache and a swollen tender face.
What are sinuses?
The sinuses are air-filled spaces in your skull behind the bones of your face and forehead that open up into the nasal cavity. They are lined with the same membrane as your nose. This is called the mucous membrane and it produces a slimy secretion (mucus) to keep the nasal passageways moist and to trap dirt particles.1People have four main sets of sinuses.2
The frontal sinuses are on either side of the forehead, above the eyes.
The maxillary sinuses are in each cheekbone.
The smaller ethmoid sinuses are behind the bridge of the nose, between the eyes.
The sphenoid sinuses are between the upper part of the nose and behind the eyes.
The maxillary sinuses are the largest of the sinuses and the most commonly affected by sinusitis.2
What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of one or more of the sinuses.
Sinusitis lasting anything from a few days up to a month is called acute sinusitis. When it is an ongoing problem lasting three months or more it is termed chronic sinusitis.1,3 The medical terms "acute" and "chronic" refer to how long the condition lasts for, rather than how severe it is.
Sinusitis is one of the most common problems of the respiratory (breathing) system treated by GPs.1,4 It can affect people of any age, although children have very small or non-existent sinuses until the age of around five or six, so tend not to get sinusitis.5
Sinusitis lasting anything from a few days up to a month is called acute sinusitis. When it is an ongoing problem lasting three months or more it is termed chronic sinusitis.1,3 The medical terms "acute" and "chronic" refer to how long the condition lasts for, rather than how severe it is.
Sinusitis is one of the most common problems of the respiratory (breathing) system treated by GPs.1,4 It can affect people of any age, although children have very small or non-existent sinuses until the age of around five or six, so tend not to get sinusitis.5
What causes sinusitis?
The mucus that is produced by the mucous membranes in your sinuses normally drains into your nose through small holes called ostia. The ostia can become blocked if the sinuses get inflamed. This can happen if your membranes are irritated by something you are allergic to, such as pollen, or if you have an infection.
Most bouts of acute sinusitis are caused by an infection such as a cold.6
Chronic sinusitis is caused by anything that constantly or regularly irritates the lining of the nose and so results in inflammation of the mucous membranes.
Examples of irritants include:
infection with bacteria, viruses or fungi3,7
grass and tree pollen3,7
overuse of nasal decongestants1,3,8
chronic drug misuse (snorting substances)
People who have allergy-based asthma often have chronic sinusitis as well. Indeed, any problem with the nose that blocks the drainage holes can cause sinusitis.
Most bouts of acute sinusitis are caused by an infection such as a cold.6
Chronic sinusitis is caused by anything that constantly or regularly irritates the lining of the nose and so results in inflammation of the mucous membranes.
Examples of irritants include:
infection with bacteria, viruses or fungi3,7
grass and tree pollen3,7
overuse of nasal decongestants1,3,8
chronic drug misuse (snorting substances)
People who have allergy-based asthma often have chronic sinusitis as well. Indeed, any problem with the nose that blocks the drainage holes can cause sinusitis.
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What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of sinusitis is a throbbing pain and pressure in the face, which is worse bending forwards.1,3
Frontal sinusitis can cause pain above your eyebrows, and your forehead may be tender to touch.
Maxillary sinusitis can cause your upper jaw, teeth and cheeks to ache and may be mistaken for toothache.
Inflammation of the ethmoid sinuses can cause pain around and between your eyes and the sides of your nose.
Inflammation of the sphenoid sinus can cause you to ache behind your eyes, at the top of your head or in your temples. You may also have earache and neck pain.
Other typical symptoms of sinusitis include:
a blocked nose with discoloured mucus, which tends to drain down the back of the nose into the throat3
frequent headaches3
reduced sense of smell3
cold symptoms that don't respond to treatment
Very rarely, the infection can spread to the facial bones or the membranes lining the brain (meningitis). Also very rarely, sinusitis can spread to form a pocket of pus (abscess) in an eye socket, the brain or a facial bone.1
Frontal sinusitis can cause pain above your eyebrows, and your forehead may be tender to touch.
Maxillary sinusitis can cause your upper jaw, teeth and cheeks to ache and may be mistaken for toothache.
Inflammation of the ethmoid sinuses can cause pain around and between your eyes and the sides of your nose.
Inflammation of the sphenoid sinus can cause you to ache behind your eyes, at the top of your head or in your temples. You may also have earache and neck pain.
Other typical symptoms of sinusitis include:
a blocked nose with discoloured mucus, which tends to drain down the back of the nose into the throat3
frequent headaches3
reduced sense of smell3
cold symptoms that don't respond to treatment
Very rarely, the infection can spread to the facial bones or the membranes lining the brain (meningitis). Also very rarely, sinusitis can spread to form a pocket of pus (abscess) in an eye socket, the brain or a facial bone.1
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How is sinusitis diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and will examine parts of your face to locate any pain or swelling.
If your symptoms and doctor's examination point towards sinusitis, no further testing is usually needed. If you have chronic sinusitis, it may be necessary to have further tests, including X-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computerised tomography) scans.
Nasal endoscopy may also be used to diagnose chronic sinusitis.3 This involves inserting an endoscope (a small, flexible tube with a light and a camera lens at the end) into the nostril to examine the inside of the sinuses. Your doctor watches a TV monitor to see the inside of your sinuses. It is performed under local anaesthesia, which means that the area will be numb but you will be awake.
If your symptoms and doctor's examination point towards sinusitis, no further testing is usually needed. If you have chronic sinusitis, it may be necessary to have further tests, including X-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT (computerised tomography) scans.
Nasal endoscopy may also be used to diagnose chronic sinusitis.3 This involves inserting an endoscope (a small, flexible tube with a light and a camera lens at the end) into the nostril to examine the inside of the sinuses. Your doctor watches a TV monitor to see the inside of your sinuses. It is performed under local anaesthesia, which means that the area will be numb but you will be awake.
Treating acute sinusitis
Acute sinusitis can usually be treated with home treatments and over-the-counter medicines.
Breathing in steam from a bowl of hot water containing a few drops of aromatic oil (eg Olbas oil or Karvol) can bring relief, although you should be careful not to scald yourself with the hot water.1
Taking ibuprofen or paracetamol may help to relieve pain and lower your temperature if you have a fever.
Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine (eg Sudafed), may reduce swelling in your nose and allow your sinuses to drain. Decongestant nasal sprays are also available but you should not use them for more than three days, as prolonged use can actually make nasal blockage worse in the long run.3 Ask a pharmacist for further advice.
See your GP if symptoms do not improve after a week of trying home remedies. If your sinusitis is a result of an infection, this is much more likely to be due to a virus than a bacterium as bacterial infections develop in only around 1 in 50 cases of sinusitis.1 For this reason, your GP will need to see clear signs of a bacterial infection before prescribing antibiotics.
Breathing in steam from a bowl of hot water containing a few drops of aromatic oil (eg Olbas oil or Karvol) can bring relief, although you should be careful not to scald yourself with the hot water.1
Taking ibuprofen or paracetamol may help to relieve pain and lower your temperature if you have a fever.
Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine (eg Sudafed), may reduce swelling in your nose and allow your sinuses to drain. Decongestant nasal sprays are also available but you should not use them for more than three days, as prolonged use can actually make nasal blockage worse in the long run.3 Ask a pharmacist for further advice.
See your GP if symptoms do not improve after a week of trying home remedies. If your sinusitis is a result of an infection, this is much more likely to be due to a virus than a bacterium as bacterial infections develop in only around 1 in 50 cases of sinusitis.1 For this reason, your GP will need to see clear signs of a bacterial infection before prescribing antibiotics.
Treating chronic sinusitis
Some GPs recommend gently flushing out the nose, using a syringe and a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of salt added. This can dislodge some mucus in the nose and sinuses, and bring some relief. An alternative is to use pre-filled squeeze bottles, which are available from pharmacies.3
Nasal sprays containing steroids such as beclometasone (eg Beconase) are available over-the-counter and on prescription from your GP. They can help to reduce swelling of the nasal lining and open up the drainage holes.
If your chronic sinusitis is caused by an allergy, nasal sprays can also reduce inflammation. Antihistamine tablets such as loratidine (eg Clarityn), which you can buy without a prescription, may also help. In severe cases, your GP may recommend a short course of steroid tablets but these are only available on prescription.
Surgery
If your chronic sinusitis doesn't get better with medical (drug) treatments, surgery may be needed. In functional endoscopic nasal surgery (FESS), tubes and instruments are passed down a nasal endoscope to wash out the sinuses and widen the drainage holes.3
This can be done under a local or a general anaesthetic. A general anaesthetic means that you will be asleep throughout the procedure and will feel no pain. It is a routine and generally safe procedure, but all surgery does carry some element of risk. Complications include minor damage to the lining of the nose or sinuses, or damage to the skull bone.
Other types of surgery can correct bent nasal cartilage (septoplasty) or remove nasal polyps that may be the cause of your sinusitis. Your doctor will give you more information on surgery.
Nasal sprays containing steroids such as beclometasone (eg Beconase) are available over-the-counter and on prescription from your GP. They can help to reduce swelling of the nasal lining and open up the drainage holes.
If your chronic sinusitis is caused by an allergy, nasal sprays can also reduce inflammation. Antihistamine tablets such as loratidine (eg Clarityn), which you can buy without a prescription, may also help. In severe cases, your GP may recommend a short course of steroid tablets but these are only available on prescription.
Surgery
If your chronic sinusitis doesn't get better with medical (drug) treatments, surgery may be needed. In functional endoscopic nasal surgery (FESS), tubes and instruments are passed down a nasal endoscope to wash out the sinuses and widen the drainage holes.3
This can be done under a local or a general anaesthetic. A general anaesthetic means that you will be asleep throughout the procedure and will feel no pain. It is a routine and generally safe procedure, but all surgery does carry some element of risk. Complications include minor damage to the lining of the nose or sinuses, or damage to the skull bone.
Other types of surgery can correct bent nasal cartilage (septoplasty) or remove nasal polyps that may be the cause of your sinusitis. Your doctor will give you more information on surgery.
Preventing sinusitis
There are a number of things you can do to help prevent sinusitis developing:
1.take a short course of decongestants when you have a cold
2.have a flu vaccination
3.stay well-hydrated
3.don't smoke
4.avoid smoky environments
5.keep your allergy symptoms under control- ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice
Further information
The British Association of Otorhinolaryngology ENT-UK
020 7404 8373
www.entuk.org
1.take a short course of decongestants when you have a cold
2.have a flu vaccination
3.stay well-hydrated
3.don't smoke
4.avoid smoky environments
5.keep your allergy symptoms under control- ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice
Further information
The British Association of Otorhinolaryngology ENT-UK
020 7404 8373
www.entuk.org
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