Allergies and Sinus Infection

A recent article by HealthDay reporter, Ed Edelson, indicates that allergens can worsen sinus infection. Excerpts from his article are reproduced as follows:


[MONDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- A new Dutch study provides solid proof that allergies can trigger the sinus problems that afflict millions of Americans.

When allergy-causing substances were dripped into the noses of people with chronic sinusitis, almost all of them developed significant sinus responses, such as inflammation, evident on X-ray and ultrasound images, according to a report in the December issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery by physicians at the Allergy Research Foundation in Breda, the Netherlands.]

[An estimated 30 million to 40 million Americans have chronic sinusitis, a swelling and inflammation of the maxillary sinuses located mid-face below the cheeks, said Dr. Michael Benninger, chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Head & Neck Institute. It's been known that a high percentage of them also have allergies, and the new study provides objective evidence of the link, he noted.

It's sometimes difficult to disentangle the two conditions, Josephson said. "Sometimes it's called an allergic sinus infection, sometimes an allergy," he said. "There can be sinus infection with accompanying allergy."]

[The study included 71 people with chronic sinusitis and 16 others who had nasal allergies without sinus disease. When allergy-provoking substances were dripped into the noses of those with sinusitis, 67 of them developed 104 nasal responses, with 89 responses showing significant changes in the sinuses. No significant sinus changes were seen in nasal tests of people without sinus disease or when nonallergic substances were dripped into the noses of people with sinus disease.

"What is interesting is that you see this response fairly quickly," Benninger said. "There is not just swelling in the nose, where the allergen is, but in the sinus as well as the nose."

The findings are directly applicable to clinical measures aimed at preventing and treating chronic sinusitis, Josephson and Benninger said.]

[Preventive measures aimed at allergies may be needed for a large percentage of people with sinusitis, Benninger said. Since response to allergens such as ragweed occurs quickly not only in the nose but also in the sinuses, "you can try treatment before exposure," he said. "Our response could be focusing on initiating treatment to prevent the allergic response."

Such treatment can include over-the-counter antihistamines or nasal sprays, Benninger said.]

It seems that people with chronic sinus infection often have some allergy issues. These could be airborne such as pollen, mold etc. Or the food that they consume could cause allergy symptoms.

One must always be aware of chronic nasal congestion, which is a significant sinus infection symptom. People who have clogged nose practically the whole day even if the are not sick run the risk of have chronic sinus infection.

There are various steps you could take in preventing sinus infection. The use of an indoor air purifier can greatly improve the environment for those who are susceptible to airborne allergens.

Another good way in maintaining optimum nasal health for everyone is through sinus irrigation with a neti pot. It is a very simple procedure but the benefits are immense. This is one of the proven and effective sinus infection home remedies.

Sinus Infection Misdiagnosed

Dr William S. Andereck, in his article, spoke about a misdiagnosed case of sinus infection. Excerpts of the article as follows:

[The phone rang at 3 in the morning. It was the emergency room. A fellow physician was calling.

"I want to tell you that we have found out what is wrong with your patient," Dr. Jones proudly proclaimed. He said she had arrived by ambulance at 10 the previous night after complaints of dizziness at a cocktail party. After determining that her blood alcohol level was low, the emergency room team considered the possibility of a heart attack and ordered a series of electrocardiograms and blood tests that ruled out that diagnosis.

There was no answer to what had caused her dizziness, which had subsided by then. The patient also reported that in the past week she had experienced discomfort in her face, just below the left eye. Additionally, she had had a skin cancer removed from her nose five years earlier. Faced with the possibility that she could be suffering from an extensive tumor, Dr. Jones ordered a CT scan of the head and sinuses. He had found the answer, and now he was calling me to see how I wished to proceed.

The patient was suffering from a sinus infection.

I listened patiently, clearing my head from sleep as Dr. Jones recounted his case. When he finished, I thought to myself that he should apologize to the patient for spending $10,000 to make a diagnosis that could have been made in a doctor's office in 10 minutes. ]

It is indeed appalling to realize the high cost of medical investigations today. What is even worse is the misdiagnosis of something like sinus infection that is not really life-threatening leading to the patient having to fork money that is totally unecessary.

Sometimes, it is better for us to understand more about the ailments that plague us so that there is a lesser chance of the doctors misdiagnosing.

Sinus infection dizziness normally affects older people.

Learn more about sinus infection symptoms and sinus infection treatment at Sinus Infection Help.

A sinus infection or just a common cold?

Sinus infections usually go untreated until it becomes acute. This is because many people cannot distinguish sinus infection symptoms from those of a common cold.

A recent article provides some insight into this issue. Excerpts are as follows:

[The common cold, also known as a viral upper respiratory tract infection, is a self-limited contagious illness that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. More than 200 different types of viruses are known to cause the common cold. Because so many different viruses can cause a cold and because new cold viruses constantly develop, the body never builds up resistance against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact, children in preschool and elementary school can have three to 12 colds per year while adolescents and adults typically have two to four colds per year. The common cold is the most frequently occurring illness in the world, and it is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school and work.

What are the symptoms of the common cold?

Symptoms of the common cold include nasal stuffiness or drainage, sore or scratchy throat, sneezing, hoarseness, cough, and perhaps a fever and headache. Many people with a cold feel tired and achy. These symptoms will typically last anywhere from three to 10 days.]

[What is the treatment for the common cold?

There is no cure for the common cold. Home treatment is directed at alleviating the symptoms associated with the common cold and allowing this self-limiting illness to run its course.

Supportive measures for the common cold include rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter medications such as throat lozenges, throat sprays, cough drops, and cough syrups may also help bring relief. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) or antihistamines may be used for nasal symptoms. Saline sprays and a humidifier may also be beneficial.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) and ibuprofen (Advil and others) can help with fever, sore throat, and body aches.]

[Are antibiotics a suitable treatment for the common cold?

No. Antibiotics play no role in treating the common cold. Antibiotics are effective only against illnesses caused by bacteria, and colds are caused by viruses. Not only do antibiotics not help, but they can also cause allergic reactions that can be fatal (1:40,000). Furthermore, using antibiotics when they are not necessary has led to the growth of several strains of common bacteria that have become resistant to certain antibiotics (including one that commonly causes ear infections in children). For these and other reasons, it is important to limit the use of antibiotics to situations in which they are medically indicated.

Though occasionally a bacterial infection, such as sinusitis or a middle ear infection, can develop following a cold, treatment with antibiotics should be left at the discretion of your physician or health-care practitioner.

When should a doctor or other health-care practitioner be consulted?

Generally speaking, the common cold can be treated at home and managed with over-the-counter medications. However, if you develop more severe symptoms such as shaking chills, high fever (greater than 102 F), severe headache or neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing or chest pain, you should consult your physician or health-care practitioner immediately.

If you have a sore throat and a fever with no other cold symptoms, you should also be seen by your physician. This illness may be strep throat, a bacterial infection requiring treatment with antibiotics.

Finally, if you notice facial pain or yellow/green drainage from your nose accompanied by a fever, it is possible that you have a sinus infection (sinusitis) that would benefit from a medical evaluation and a possible course of antibiotics.]

Some of the sinus infection symptoms that is largely different from the common cold include sinus headache, pain in the upper molars due to a maxillary sinus infection, sinus infection dizziness and sinus pain in the areas of the infected sinus.

Perhaps the symptom that causes the most pain is a sinus headache and many people are searching for effective sinus headache remedies instead of resorting to drugs.

Tumeric and ginger for sinus infection

A recent article by Kelli Mae Willis gives us an insight of what Tumeric and ginger can do for our body. Excerpts are as follows:

[ Turmeric is a warming herb that relieves inflammation in the body. Many

of the foods that are central to the American diet, such as grains,

bread, and conventional animal fats, can contribute to excess

inflammation in the body. Inflammatory illnesses include allergies,

arthritis, asthma, and skin rashes such as eczema and psoriasis. Though

each of these ailments have very different symptoms, they are all

results of a similar imbalance in the body.

Turmeric is one of the best anti-inflammatory herbs, and doesn’t need

to be taken as a pill or tincture to be effective. Simply cooking

regularly with turmeric can help balance these problems.
Turmeric can also be taken in larger doses by drinking a teaspoon in

water 1-3 times a day. As a digestive aid, add turmeric to apple cider

vinegar, water, and honey to taste. The warming properties of turmeric

will increase “digestive fire.”

I have had great success with using turmeric during sinus infection as

well. If you have a sore throat, gargle with warm water and salt, apple

cider vinegar, turmeric, or cayenne powder. In India, I was instructed

to breathe in the steam from toasted turmeric powder to relieve sinus

pressure and congestion. I usually use turmeric powder rather than the

fresh root as it is more widely available and stronger medicinally.

Ginger is known in Chinese medicine as a panacea – an herb with

hundreds of applications. The easiest place to bring ginger into your

kitchen is in tea. Chop up about ½-1” of fresh ginger root into slices

and simmer in enough water for a cup of tea for 10-15 minutes. This

process is known as decocting an herb, and is commonly used to extract

denser plant parts like roots and bark.

Ginger tea is a remedy for many ailments, but especially stomachaches.

We are more familiar with ginger ale to relieve stomach sickness, but

ginger tea can be even more soothing. It acts as a digestive aid, adds

heat to the digestive fire, and also helps to dispel gas in the belly.]