Important Facts about Sinus Infections

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The infection of the sinuses (cavities situated inside the skull, which are filled with air), also known as sinusitis is produced by bacteria, fungus and sometimes by pollutants and allergic factors. It can be acute or chronic and can lead to serious complications like the facial bone infection or the exacerbation of respiratory tract conditions, and the extension of infection to the brain and eyes.

There are different types of sinuses: frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid and the symptoms might differ when each one is affected; the symptoms also differ for acute and chronic sinusitis.

The role of the sinuses is not completely elucidated, scientists believing that the sinuses are important in absorbing impacts that occur from the front and preventing them from affecting the brain. They are also important in warming, moistening and filtering the inhaled air.

In the air there are numerous bacteria and when breathing we inhale them. If the cilia filter is malfunctioning, these bacteria can get blocked in the sinus cavities and produce an infection.

For acute sinusitis, that generally lasts 2-3 weeks, doctors recommend antibiotic treatment for 5 to 7 days. The chronic sinusitis lasts longer, about 6-8 weeks and it is more difficult to treat. Infectious sinusitis is generally caused by a bacteria; the non-infectious one is caused by pollutants and allergic factors.

The sinus infections affect every year 37 million Americans. Sinusitis also appears when the nasal membrane gets affected by pollutants, cold or dry air and becomes inflamed. People who have a weakened immune system (due to cancer, HIV, diabetes), children and elders can easily develop sinusitis. People who work in places exposed to infections, people who suffer of allergies, and smokers are more vulnerable to sinusitis than others.

If a patient has followed the classical antibiotic therapy and there were no signs of improvement the surgical therapy will be recommended because a complication could have occurred: the infection of the facial bones.

Some general symptoms of sinus infection are: headaches, fatigue, facial and upper jaw pains, and tenderness of the sinus area, sore throat, cough, colored nasal drainage, bad breath and swollen eye lids.

If symptoms last longer than 10 days you should call your doctor before any complications occur.

The doctor will diagnose sinusitis by looking inside the nose with an endoscope, then request for a computerized axial tomography, and even a MRI. Others might perform a rhinoscopy for looking into the back of the nasal passages.

Treating sinusitis is made with drugs prescribed by the doctor, and some home remedies.

The treatment must kill the bacteria, make facial pain and pressure disappear, clear up the nasal cavities and maintain intact the sinus and nasal tissues.

For keeping your cilia system intact and for avoiding or recovering more quickly after sinus infections you should drink hot tea. If you get hydrated, your cilia movements will improve and the mucus from your sinuses will be washed out, so you will cure faster. Chicken soup is also helpful.

Applying wet bandages on your face also helps. The compresses must be soaked in warm water in order to help the cilia move more efficiently. You must apply them three times a day and keep them for five minutes on your face. You can also use steam inhalations to minimize your nasal congestion.

The doctor will prescribe an antibiotic drug (oral or inhale drugs) if the sinusitis is caused by a bacterium; a decongestant, analgesics who will reduce the pain and corticosteroids to slow down the inflammation in the nasal cavities.

The most important thing is preventing sinus infections by keeping your nose clear, quitting smoking and treating well and as soon as possible any type of colds and allergies

You can visit http://www.sinus-infection-guide.com or http://www.sinus-infection-guide.com/home-remedies.htm for more home remedies information

Sinus Headache Relief

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Sinus headache is a result of inflammation in the passage behind the cheeks, nose and eyes. It causes a severe pain in the face or the forehead that at times becomes benumbing. Bending or leaning aggravates the pain. Even cold and damp weather increases the patient's suffering. People suffering from this have looked for a definitive sinus headache relief but there is no one sure shot way of dealing with it. However there are a lot of remedies that have been tried.

First of all, medication can be used for sinus headache relief. There are decongestants that aim at reducing the inflammation, thereby relieving the pain. But prolonged use of such medication might lead to dependency and since it constricts the blood vessels many patients suffering from other diseases can't use it.

Sometimes doctors do go for a surgery if there are some structural problems. But it is used always as the last resort as it does not always mean a relief from sinus headache and as any other surgery it involves the potential risks.

One option that is increasingly being used these days is to keep sinusitis in check through proper nutrition and dietary supplements. They work either by reducing the chances of a sinus inflammation or by protecting the patient from being affected by cold.

Some medical practitioners are even suggesting herbs as an alternative medicine for sinus headache relief. The way it works is almost the same as the supplements. But herbs also have side effects. So if they are used they should be done so under supervision. Barberry and Echinacea are the most common herbs used for sinus headache relief.

Homeopathy medicine such as Belladona and Arsenicum album are also used for sinusitis. In fact of all the different treatments available, many patients who had suffered from sinusitis do agree that homeopathy did help them more than any other method.

There are several alternative treatments that are being tried out. Acupuncture is one of them. Acupuncture defines any disease ? or condition, as an acupuncturist would say ? as an imbalance of the energy levels in different parts of our body. An acupuncturist would ideally try to strengthen the spleen meridian by using needles and may be herbs also. Other methods used for sinus headache relief are chiropractic, meditation, and biofeedback.

There are several home remedies available too. One would be to wet a towel in cold water and apply it on the forehead until it gets warm. Then repeat the process again. A short little nap also helps. Eating jalapeno pepper also helps. So does inhaling peppermint vapor. One can also make a paste adding dry ginger to some water or milk, which when applied to the forehead does provide some relief from sinus headache.

But whatever remedy one uses one should first be sure that he indeed suffers from sinusitis at all. And once he knows for sure he should always be in consultation with his doctor before actually starting any serious treatment for his sinus headache relief.

June Mala ? 2006 www.GKiO.com

Sinus Pressure Relief and Air Travel - 4 Steps to Take

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Many people have a tendency to come down with sinus infections during or after air travel. The four steps discussed in this article can help provide sinus pressure relief for those who travel by air on a regular basis.

There are a number of reasons why people who are susceptible to sinus infections tend to contact them during air travel. Sharing stale air in close proximity to others is certainly one reason, and oftentimes this air contains more bacteria and viruses than the air in our normal living environments. The low humidity in plane cabins is another contributing factor. The dry air we breathe in airplanes tends to impair the normal mucous-cilia system and make people more prone to bacteria and viruses. Since airplane cabins are pressurized and the pressure is changing during climb and descent, this can also have harmful effects.

Four suggestions to obtain sinus pressure relief in conjunction with air travel include: drinking lots of water before and during long flights; using a saline solution during the flight; doing the Modified Valsalva maneuver; and taking a decongestant before air travel.

Drink Lots of Water

The air intake that occurs at very high altitudes to ventilate plane cabins contains very dry air. Drinking water prior to and during flights can help retain moisture in the body and keep the nasal system as moist as possible. In addition, alcohol and caffeine are often consumed by people on long flights, and these also tend to dehydrate people. Making an effort to drink water regularly on long flights can help avoid dryness of the nasal passages.

Use Saline Solution Often During the Flight

It is wise to bring a small bottle of saline solution along and use it every hour or so to help keep the nose moist. Over the counter saline solutions all contain preservatives, and some people are bothered by these. It is possible to mix a solution yourself without preservatives and avoid this problem. One-half of a teaspoon of salt added to 8 oz. of water is a proper mixture. I personally use a product called Breathe-ease XL? for both nasal irrigation and for making a spray bottle without preservative, and this will be good to use for about a week. These saline sprays offer sinus pressure relief by keeping the nasal membranes irrigated and maintaining proper drainage.

Use the Modified Valsalva Maneuver

Dr. M. Lee Williams describes the maneuver in his book ?The Sinusitis Help Book?. To do this one clamps the nose between the thumb and forefinger, swallows, and then immediately blows into the nose without letting go. One should not blow forcefully into the nose, a gentle pressure will suffice. Dr. Williams says that this should be done several times per minute during ascent and especially descent as cabin pressure is changing during those times. It should also be done several times per hour while the plane is at altitude. It is important not to forget to swallow just before blowing gently into the nose.

Consider Taking a Decongestant Before the Flight

I generally use flonase spray each night as part of my regular regime to combat sinus problems. I?ll also use it about an hour or two before any flight. On long flights to Europe, I?ll also take 5 mg of prednisone. I find this keeps my nasal passages clear and functioning well, even though flights to Europe from the U.S. are long. Prednisone should be used very sparingly, however, as it can cause damage to the immune system, so this should be taken only in consultation with your doctor.

By realizing that the air in airplane cabins is stale, dry and often polluted, one can obtain sinus pressure relief by drinking lots of water before and during flights, using a saline spray, doing the Modified Valsalva maneuver as described above, and taking a decongestant prior to takeoff, especially on long trips. You should also try to simply avoid air travel if you have a cold and stuffiness prior to a trip.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of http://www.postnasaldrip.net a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled ?Sinus Treatment Success Stories?, visit http://www.postnasaldrip.net and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Acupuncture for Sinus Headaches Pain Relief

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Sinus headaches are triggered when the mucous membrane of the sinus cavities in your face get inflamed. If you suffer from sinus headaches, you get a deep, dull pain in front of your head or face (at specific points such as behind the eyes or side of the nose). The pain gets worse if you moved your head physically, especially while bending down or leaning over.

Sinus headaches pain peaks during the morning hours after waking up and it generally subsides by after noon. And quite often, the pain starts when you get a bad cold.

Conventional treatments for sinus headaches usually involve antibiotic cure and surgery in acute cases. More recently, it has been found that acupuncture is an effective complementary and alternative therapy for sinus headaches.

Acupuncture is the one of the oldest and widely used holistic medical practices in the world. It is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The term ?acupuncture? stands for a variety of procedures that involves stimulation of anatomical points on the body using different techniques. The most popularly studied technique involves inserting extremely thin metal needles at the acupuncture points. These needles are then either manipulated by electric signals or bare hands. This procedure does not involve injections of drugs or medical substances. You usually do not feel any pain and sometimes you do not even realize that a needle has been inserted into your body.

Now here is how acupuncture relieves sinus headaches. Modern science believes that acupuncture brings about biochemical changes in the blood serum to stabilize serotonin ? a vital chemical that acts as a messenger between the spinal cord and brain ? and stimulates the release of endorphins (human body?s natural painkiller) to alleviate the pain. Further, it activates the parasympathetic nervous system to relieve stress, anxiety and muscle tension, and promotes cerebral circulation so that the affected region gets more oxygenated blood supply and nutrients.

Acupuncture for sinus headaches is usually prescribed based on a detailed diagnosis of your medical condition. Your practitioner has to first determine what the imbalances in your body are before he decides a course of treatments.

If you wish to consider having acupuncture for sinus headaches, you will need to find an expert acupuncturist. Check with the local acupuncture association to get some referrals. The better skilled your acupuncturist is, the more effective you will find this alternative and complementary treatment.

Overconsumption of drugs for headache relief can result in rebound headaches and worsening migraines. Get more information on natural headache remedy or remedies here on this site at http://www.naturalheadacheremedies.com

Sinus Infection Symptoms

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Sinus infections are one of the most common infections across the world. Sinus attacks are caused by an infection in the sinuses or cavities that are present in the bones near the nose. When there is any swelling in these sinuses because of some infection, breathing becomes difficult resulting in fever, headaches, and other discomforts. This is known as sinusitis.

Each sinus or cavity in the skull has an opening that allows free exchange of mucus and air. Each sinus is joined to the other by a mucous membrane lining. When there is an infection like hay fever or a disease like asthma, these sinuses and the lining become inflamed, causing air and mucus to be blocked inside or a vacuum to be created. This can cause pressure on the sinus walls, causing severe pain. There are four kinds of sinuses: frontal sinuses, maxillary sinuses, ethmoid sinuses, and sphenoid sinuses. Any part of these four sinuses can be infected, causing pain in that particular area.

There are different kinds of sinus infection symptoms depending upon the sinus that is infected. There can be pain anywhere near these sinuses. With frontal sinuses there can be pain over the eyes in the brow area; with maxillary sinuses, inside each cheekbone; with ethmoid sinuses, just behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes; and with sphenoid sinuses, behind the ethmoids in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes. This pain is the most common symptom for sinusitis.

Other common symptoms for sinus infections are pain in the head, ear or neck; headaches early in the morning; pain in the upper jaw/ cheeks /teeth; swelling of the eyelids; pain between the eyes; nasal discharge; stuffy nose; loss of smell; and tenderness near the nose. Sometimes, there could be fever, tiredness, weakness, severe cough and runny nose. Sinusitis can be diagnosed by tapping the sinus areas with fingertips. Very rarely, acute sinusitis can lead to infection in the brain or some other complications.

There are many over-the-counter decongestions and pain killers available to provide relief from sinus infections. These can be in the form of tablets or sprays. There are also home remedies for sinus infections like a cold/hot compress, jalapeno pepper, ripe grape juice, etc. These can provide effective relief from sinus symptoms. But acute or chronic sinusitis requires continuous treatment from a specialist.

Chronic Sinus Infections provides detailed information on sinus infections, sinus infection symptoms, sinus infection treatment, home remedy for sinus infection and more. Chronic Sinus Infections is affiliated with Rhinoplasty Facility Costs.

What Causes a Sinus Infection

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A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, can cause a great deal of pain. It is the result of an inflammation of the sinus or nasal passages or both. When someone has a sinus infection there are several symptoms that will help him or her to recognize that that is what he or she are suffering from. Sinusitis is often accompanied by a feeling of tenderness or pressure around the nose, eyes, cheeks or forehead. Sometimes it is accompanied by headache pain. If you have a sinus infection you may also have a cough, a fever or congestion resulting in discharge from your nose. A sinus infection can come on suddenly and then leave after the correct treatment, lasting a few weeks, or it can be a chronic problem that lasts more than eight weeks at a time with at least four occurrences yearly. Surprisingly most cases of sinusitis are chronic in nature.

Most people do not know the purpose of the sinuses. They are there to protect the skull. They make it feel lighter as well as to give the voice the ability to echo inside of it. There are four pairs of sinuses that connect the nostrils to the nasal passages. If germs get into any of them it will cause a sinus infection. One way to think of a sinus infection is that it is an inflammation of the lining of the sinuses. If all of them are inflamed then it is called pansinusitis.

The most frequent cause of a sinus infection is the common cold. The cold causes congestion in the nasal passages and this inhibits the drainage of the sinuses and can cause them to become inflamed. But sinusitis can also be caused by flying or scuba diving because of the pressure changes that occur. Pregnancy is another common cause of sinus infection. This is because there are hormonal changes that can cause swelling of the nasal passages and this can result in a sinus infection. Women who use birth control pills, which copy the state of pregnancy by hormone changes, can also experience this problem. Those who are asthma suffers are also at risk for an increased number of sinus issues.

Treatment for sinus infection is usually the same as most other types of infection. Antibiotics will be prescribed to reduce the infection. As well other medications may be suggested, like nasal sprays, to increase the comfort of the sinusitis sufferer.

M. Hazman is a Internet Enterpreneuer who own mutiple Niche Websites. The Latest website is Common Infections Learn More about the Facts of Infectious Diseases.