For sinus pain or pressure, avoid flying when you are congested. Avoid sudden changes in temperature or bending forward with your head down. 

Also read:

Sinusitis: All you need to know 

Sinusitis – diagnosis and treatment 

Alternative therapies for Sinusitis

Sinusitis is a condition which causes dull to throbbing pain and pressure in your head and face. This is basically caused by inflammation of the sinuses (small air chambers in the facial bones behind the eyebrows, cheeks and jaws). Sinus infection often follows cold.

What causes sinusitis?

Anything that causes swelling in your sinus or keeps its cilia (hair) from moving mucus can cause sinusitis. This can occur because of the constant allergic cold, infections due to viruses, bacteria and sometimes fungi, changes in air pressure or temperature (seen in people like pilots and flight attendants). Other issues could be due to:

• Structural problems like deviated nasal septum (the thin bone in the middle of your nose separating the nostrils) or nasal polyps (small fleshy growth inside your nose).
• Reduced immunity due to conditions like AIDS or certain medications
• In children, even pacifiers and drinking from a bottle while lying on one’s back can lead to sinusitis
• Extensive tooth infections/root canals/dental surgeries, especially in the upper teeth can cause a breach in the lining of the sinuses and cause infection.
• Smoking and alcohol also cause irritation of the sinuses, reduce immunity thus causing sinusitis

What are the various types of sinusitis?

• Acute sinusitis: A sudden onset of cold-like symptoms such as facial pain and runny, stuffy nose that does not go away after 8-10 days. It typically lasts 4 weeks or less. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection in the sinuses that result from an upper respiratory tract infection.
• Subacute sinusitis: A sinus inflammation lasting 4 to 8 weeks.
• Chronic sinusitis: A condition characterized by sinus inflammation symptoms lasting 8 weeks or longer. It refers to long-term swelling and inflammation of the sinuses that may be caused by bacteria or a fungus. If someone is allergic to airborne allergens, such as mold, dust, and pollen, which trigger allergic rhinitis, they may develop chronic sinusitis.
• Recurrent sinusitis: Several attacks within a year.  If you have asthma, an allergic disease, you may have frequent episodes of chronic sinusitis.

 How do I know I have Sinusitis? What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Acute sinusitis and Chronic Sinusitis?

The classic symptoms of acute sinusitis in adults usually follow a cold that does not improve, or one that worsens after 5 – 7 days of symptoms. The primary symptoms of acute sinusitis include:

• Facial pain/pressure
• Nasal stuffiness
• Nasal discharge
• Reduced sense of smell and taste
• Cough/congestion, often worse at night
• Sore throat

Additional symptoms may include Fever, Bad breath, Fatigue and Dental pain. Acute sinusitis may be diagnosed when a person has two or more symptoms and/or the presence of thick, green, or yellow nasal discharge.

The symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as those of acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and last longer than 12 weeks. People with chronic sinusitis may have the following symptoms:

• Facial congestion/fullness
• A nasal obstruction/blockage
• Pus in the nasal cavity
• Fever
• Nasal discharge/discolored postnasal drainage

Additional symptoms of chronic sinusitis may include Headaches, Bad breath, Fatigue and Dental pain.

When should I see a doctor?

Call your doctor if:

• Your symptoms last longer than 10 – 14 days or you have a cold that gets worse after 7 days
• You have a severe headache, unrelieved by over-the-counter pain medicine
• You have a fever

Which doctor should I consult when I have Sinusitis?

You should consult an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialist.

• The diagnosis and treatment for sinusitis.
• Alternate therapies in the treatment of Sinusitis  
• Self care and prevention of Sinusitis

Homeopathic remedies work in cases of Sinusitis because they work at the very basic level of the body’s own immunity. They make our immune system to fend off the symptoms and remove the root cause. The following are usually recommended in accordance with various symptoms:

• Kali bichromicum is considered the first choice homeopathic treatment for sinusitis.
•  Hepar sulphuricum for the later stages of sinus inflammation when the pain is concentrated between the eyes and is worsened by cold or motion.
• Mercurius for sinusitis with thick, green, foul-smelling nasal discharge which may be blood tinged.
•  Silicea for individuals with chronic congestion accompanied by head pain that tends to be worse in the right eye.

Ayurveda advises Panchakarma treatment to treat sinusitis. Special form of cleansing called Nasya is used. Nasya with Anu oil and steam inhalation (Dhoopam) with turmeric both reduce sinusitis. Asarishtam, Lakshmivilas ras, Haridra khandam are herbs commonly used. Some of the other medicines are Chitrakaharitaki lehyamï, Mahalaxmivilas ras or Anu oil, Kanchanara guggulu, etc.

Acupuncturists usually describe sinusitis as dampness which creates inflammation and congestion in the mucus membranes. This dampness is cleared by strengthening the spleen meridian and by working with the stomach meridian.

In Yoga, Kriyas such as Jala Nethi are a good treatment for sinusitis. They can help to treat and prevent sinusitis. But you should avoid these postures when there is advanced infection.

Here’s all that you need to know about Sinusitis.

So, now you know the various causes, types and symptoms of sinusitis. Here we tell you about the various methods available to diagnose and treat it. Read on to find out.

What are the tests available for Sinusitis? How can Sinusitis be diagnosed?

The doctor will examine you or your child for sinusitis by:

• Looking in the nose for signs of polyps
• Shining a light against the sinus (trans illumination) for signs of inflammation
• Tapping over a sinus area to find infection
• A CT scan of the sinuses may also be used to help diagnose sinusitis or to evaluate the anatomy of the sinuses to determine whether surgery will be beneficial
• If sinusitis is thought to involve a tumor or fungal infection, an MRI of the sinuses may be necessary.
• Viewing the sinuses through a fiberoptic scope ( nasal endoscopy or rhinoscopy) may help diagnose sinusitis.

Regular X-rays of the sinuses and Nasal endoscopy are not very sensitive at detecting sinusitis.

If you or your child has chronic or recurrent sinusitis, other tests may include:

• Allergy testing
• Blood tests for HIV or other tests for poor immune function
• Ciliary function tests
• Nasal cytology
• Sweat chloride tests for cystic fibrosis

Researchers have pinpointed the gene responsible for it and the protein, called CIB2 which may be associated with the deafness in the syndrome. It may also be linked to non-syndromic hearing loss.

We hope we are inching closer to finding a genetic target for preventing non-syndromic deafness and that associated with Usher syndrome type – I.

About the research:

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, partnered the study with the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Kentucky. It was conducted on 57 people from Pakistan and Turkey.

Source: IANS

It’s an all too familiar sight these days – people, mostly youngsters, with earphones on, listening to music on their i-Pods or mobile phones. The constant exposure to high decibel sounds, however, may be doing more harm than good and can even lead progressively to hearing impairment, doctors warn. What’s more, it may be a few years until you realise the hearing loss since it grows over a period of time. ”Listening to loud music over long durations on your i-Pod or mobile phone can lead to hearing loss. It is a serious issue because it’s progressive and it may be a few years before you realise the effect,” Manuj Agarwal, senior audiologist with Amplifon India, a hearing aid company, told IANS.

“Moreover, people adapt to such kind of loss over a period of time; so you don’t realise immediately, until it becomes obvious,” he added. Roughly seven percent of Indians suffer from some kind of hearing impairment. Priyanka Madhok, consultant in the audiology and speech therapy department of Max Super Speciality hospital in Delhi, explained the science behind this “rising trend” of music-induced hearing loss. ”In a normal conversation, we are exposed to 40-50 decibel sound, which has no harmful effect. However, if the sound level goes beyond 80 decibels for a constant period of even two-three hours, the hearing ability will drop,” Madhok told IANS.

Added Agarwal: “If the magnitude of sound is high, then even a few hours of exposure is enough to cause you harm. Ninety decibels for four hours is risky and so is two hours of 100 decibel sound. In airports, the magnitude of sound is 120 decibels; so people working there have to wear ear protection devices.” One of Madhok’s patients is a disc jockey and is regularly exposed to loud music for long hours. ”He came to me with the complaint that he hears a buzzing sound in his ears in quiet surroundings. This buzz or ring in the ear is called Tinnitus. So I asked him to go for a hearing test, which came out normal. But when he went for an extended test, in high frequency, it was found that there was a drop in hearing, which meant that he had some loss,” Madhok said.

“Fortunately, it was a temporary hearing shift and I introduced him to therapy. After six months, his hearing has improved. Music is his livelihood; so now he is more careful,” she added. Talking about the possibility of reversing hearing loss, Madhok said: “If a person is exposed to industry noise, high frequency sounds, for 30 years, then there is a possibility of nerve damage and that cannot be repaired.” ”But if a person is exposed to loud music, like a DJ, for say, 10 years, and goes for regular check-ups, and then complains of hearing loss, then that is something that can be managed. So it really depends on the extent of damage,” she added.

While music-induced hearing loss is a major concern, industry workers, engineers, pilots, those who work in airports and DJs, among others, are exposed to threats of hearing impairment every day, thanks to their profession. ”Therefore, earplugs in such professions are a must. But even then, I would advice such people, and others, to go for regular check-ups,” Sameer Jain, an audiologist in Delhi, advised. Considering the initial dormant nature of the problem, doctors advise one to be on the lookout for warning signs of possible hearing impairment.

“Do you have a ringing or buzzing sound in your ears in quiet surroundings and it disappears after some time? Do you have to concentrate hard to catch words in a conversation? In a meeting, or while with friends in a public place, do you find it hard to hear full sentences? Your replies could indicate if you need to see a doctor,” Agarwal said. ”And hearing impairment has nothing to do with age; so don’t hesitate to seek help if you feel the need,” Jain added. So, the next time you turn up the volume of your i-Pod to blank out the surrounding noises, think again – you may be blanking out something much more vital.

Source: IANS

1. Get rid of dust: Dust, due to its allergy-inducing properties, causes havoc for asthmatics. Therefore it’s absolutely essential that very high levels of hygiene are maintained and that rooms are kept dust-free. This can be achieved by thoroughly vacuuming the entire room including every nook and cranny.

2. Keep the fungi away: Hygienic conditions need to be maintained. Especially damp corners because they are breeding grounds for fungal growth.

3. Kick the butt: Smoking not only triggers asthma attacks but is seen as one of the major sources which causes asthma among children. Even passive smoking affects asthma as much as first-hand smoking. It’s imperative to provide a clean and healthy environment for the entire family and that means one’s dwelling should be completely smoke-free.

4. Flower Power? No thanks: Pollen from flowers is a known trigger for asthma attacks and one will do well to avoid them. Maybe say it with some chocolates.

5. Avoid the kitchen: The smoke and aromas given off when cooking can be a major irritant to asthma sufferers so take steps to reduce such problems. If a proper exhaust fan or chimney is not available, then ensure there is an open window in the kitchen to help the cooking smells to escape outside.

6. Pet peeve: Animal lovers are going to the find the going tough. Research suggest that contact with cats or dogs is extremely dangerous for asthmatics not to mention the fact that small pieces of fur, particles of hair, saliva and even skin are all known asthma triggers. Even if the pet is not physically around you, their fur/hair might be in your environment and may pose risks.

7. Breathe clean air: Make sure your air conditioners are serviced regularly. If you are using them after a long break, make sure they are serviced before you switch them on. If your job requires you to travel in polluted areas, do cover your face with a mask.

8. Exercise: Contrary to popular belief, asthmatics should exercise. In fact it’s the best strategy to manage asthma as it increases your lung capacity. However, one should always consult a physician before starting any exercise regime  and keep one’s medication in hand.

9. Don’t neglect that cold: Common cold has been shown to precipitate an attack of asthma. So, try to avoid catching cold. Wash your hands often. Choose to say namaste instead of shaking hands. If you do catch one, take good care of it and make sure you recover fast.

10. Inhaler dos and don’ts: Always carry your inhaler in your bag. Do check the dose counter on your inhaler regularly (if it has one) so you know when to get a new one in good time. Always keep a spare inhaler. Ask your doctor to teach you how to use the inhaler correctly.

11. Get your nutritional supplements: Vitamin E, C, magnesium and omega 3 fatty acids have been shown by research to reduce the inflammation that contributes to asthma. Do ask your doctor if you need to take them.

12. Drink water at regular intervals: Water has been shown to reduce the secretions in asthma thus preventing attacks. Take your 8-10 glasses per day seriously.

13. Meet your doctor regularly: It doesn’t matter if your asthma is under control or not, do meet your doctor regularly. Share your doctor’s number with close friends and relatives in case of emergency.

14. No stress: Stress has been shown to trigger attacks. So, do whatever acts as a stress-buster for you – be it meditation, movies, music, friends or playing with kids.

Following these simple measures will greatly reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. Prevention is the best option for asthma and the seriousness of this condition should not be taken lightly as attacks can lead to death in extreme cases. Take action to control your own asthma and breathe easier starting today.

“Our results show that antibiotics aren’t necessary for a basic sinus infection – most people get better on their own,” says study co-author Jay F. Piccirillo, professor of otolaryngology at the Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. 

Sinus infection symptoms include sinus headache, facial tenderness, pressure or pain in the sinuses, fever, cloudy drainage and feeling of nasal stuffiness, sore throat and cough. 

In the US, as many as one in five antibiotic prescriptions are for sinus infections, Journal of the American Medical Association reports. 

And given the rise of resistant bugs, researchers say it is important to find out whether this treatment is effective, according to a Washington statement. 

“We feel antibiotics are overused in the primary care setting,” says Jane M. Garbutt, research associate professor of medicine at Washington, who led the study. 

In practice, instead of giving antibiotics, such as the amoxicillin used in this study, researchers suggest treating symptoms such as pain, cough and congestion, along with watchful waiting to see whether further treatment is necessary. 

The study included 166 adults whose symptoms fit the criteria for acute sinus infection recommended by an expert panel convened by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Source: IANS

Personal listening devices like iPods and better MP3 players permit users to listen to crystal-clear tunes at high volume for hours on end, a radical improvement over Walkman.

But according to Tel Aviv University (TAU) researchers, these advances have also turned these devices PLDs into a serious health hazard, with teenagers facing the greatest risk.

One in four teens is in danger of early hearing loss as a direct result of these listening habits, says Chava Muchnik professor of audiology at TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sheba Medical Centre, the International Journal of Audiology reports.

With colleagues Ricky Kaplan-Neeman, Noam Amir and Ester Shabtai, Muchnik studied teens’ music listening habits and took acoustic measurements of preferred listening levels, according to a TAU statement.

The results demonstrate clearly that teens have harmful music-listening habits when it comes to iPods and other MP3 devices.

“In 10 or 20 years, it will be too late to realize that an entire generation of young people is suffering from hearing problems much earlier than expected from natural ageing,” says Muchnik.

Those who are misusing MP3 players today might find that their hearing begins to deteriorate as early as their 30′s and 40′s – much earlier than past generations.

The first stage of the study included 289 participants aged 13 to 17 years. In the second stage, measurements of these listening levels were performed on 74 teens in both quiet and noisy environments.

The study’s findings are worrisome, says Muchnik. Eighty percent of teens use their PLDs regularly, with 21 percent listening from one to four hours daily, and eight percent listening more than four hours consecutively.

Taken together with the acoustic measurement results, the data indicate that a quarter of the participants are at severe risk for hearing loss.
Source: IANS