Is it a cold or sinus infection?

As most people cannot tell between a cold or a sinus infection, this article by Jennifer Neff explains the difference between the two conditions. Excerpts of the article are reproduced as follows:

[ Susan Carol battled year-round sinus infections and colds for decades. She tried antibiotics and over-the-counter medicines to feel better, with mixed results.

"For years, I was confused about whether it was a cold or sinus infection," Carol said. "I just couldn't get better."

After a series of terrible sinus infections during the winter of 2008, the 54-year-old Fredericksburg native said she was referred to an allergist, who diagnosed a dust mite allergy.

Turns out that the sinus problems Carol experienced weren't just run-of-the mill colds. Allergies often play a big role in people's sinus woes.

Many people deal with irritated, inflamed sinuses by trying things such as over-the-counter nasal sprays, nasal rinses or antibiotics.

But it's important to distinguish between sinus infections--which may require antibiotic treatment--and other problems such as allergies or nasal polyps that call for different treatment.

INFECTED SINUSES

A sinus infection--known as sinusitis--occurs when the air-filled cavities, or sinuses, become inflamed or swollen.

Drainage becomes difficult, and mucus begins to build up, leading to sinus pressure and headaches.

Other symptoms of a sinus infection include:

Coughing

Aching in the upper jaw and teeth

Pressure around the eyes and nose.

But these symptoms also are associated with colds, which can make it hard to distinguish between the common cold and a sinus infection.

The main factor in determining whether a sinus infection is present is time. A good rule of thumb comes from Dr. Andrew Kim of the Allergy & Asthma Center of Fredericksburg:

If symptoms last less than seven days, the likely culprit is a cold caused by a virus, and antibiotics are not needed.

If symptoms last longer than seven days or get worse, the sufferer most likely has a bacterial infection or acute rhinosinusitis and will likely need antibiotic treatment.

Acute rhinosinusitis is a sinus infection that lingers for up to four weeks, Kim said. Treatment varies by person but may include a round of antibiotics, nasal rinses and decongestants.

If symptoms don't disappear after treatment, or if they rebound, then the problem may be chronic rhinosinusitis. Chronic rhinosinusitis lasts 12 weeks or more or is recurrent, according to Kim.

"Chronic sinusitis is usually caused by underlying conditions," Kim said.

Allergies, asthma, immune deficiencies, smoking and facial trauma all are closely associated with chronic sinusitis. So are anatomical obstructions such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps.

In rare instances, chronic sinusitis is caused by fungal infections, in which anti-fungal medicine is prescribed.

THE ALLERGY FACTOR

People with allergies are most likely to have chronic sinusitis, Kim said, so relieving their stuffy noses and facial pain means treating their underlying problem.

"Treatment of allergies definitely reduces sinusitis," Kim said.

Treatment ranges from over-the-counter medicines to allergy shots to, in some cases, surgery. People like Carol, with dust mite allergies, are encouraged to buy protective covers for their beds and pillows--dust mites are often found in bedding.

While over-the-counter medicines and decongestants are the most popular form of treatment for allergies, they come with a warning.

"If used chronically, symp-toms can become worse," Kim said.

Decongestants used for more than just a few days can cause symptoms to rebound and even become worse.

Allergy shots, which are less common, have more lasting effects than other medicines, studies say. According to one study reported in the Annuals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in 2004, 99 percent of 114 participants reported they thought their shots worked. Days off from school or work dropped by 72 percent.

Allergy shots not only help reduce allergy symptoms but also can help prevent asthma problems, as sinus troubles can cause asthma flare-ups.

For Carol, who long suffered from sinus problems, shots have helped. She said she started getting them a year ago.

"Even though I have the expense of the shots, it's more cost efficient," Carol said. "I'm going to the doctors less and now taking shots less. I just feel like I'm cured."

HOME REMEDIES

Though patients with sinus problems often are desperate for a pill to cure them, Kim cautions against the use of antibiotics.

"Most of the time you don't need antibiotics," Kim said.

Antibiotics have their place in the treatment of sinus infections, but overuse can breed antibiotic-resistant germs.

"It's not good to get antibiotics so frequently," Kim said. "We need to be more judicious about antibiotics."

Instead, Kim suggests first using home remedies such as nasal washes, neti pots and medicines containing Guaifenesin, and drinking plenty of water. Kim also suggests over-the-counter oral and nasal decongestants, but for only three days.

If problems persist, Kim recommends seeing an allergist for allergy testing, or an ear, nose and throat specialist to check for nasal polyps or a deviated septum.]

Reduce sinus infection risks by consuming more fruits and vegetables

A recent news article by David Liu reflects the importance of having more greens and fruits in our daily diet. Excerpts of the article as follows:

[ Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine researchers (BUSM)

found that eating at least seven servings of fruit and vegetables daily

moderately reduced the risk of an upper respiratory tract infection or

URTI.

The study of more than 1,000 pregnant women published in the journal

Public Health Nutrition showed that those who ate the most fruit and

vegetables were 26 percent less likely to have URTI than those who ate

the least amount.

But eating fruit or vegetables alone was not associated with reducing

the five-month risk of URTI. Women who were in the highest quartile of

fruit and vegetable intake were at reduced three-month risk than the

five month risk of URTI.

URTIs are the common cold and sinus infections that can lead to lower

respiratory conditions such as asthma or pneumonia. The majority of

affected people recovered without medical intervention.

Eating fruits and vegetables are known to boost immunity, but it has

not been known that eating fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of

URTI in pregnant women.

It's recommended that pregnant women should consume at least five

servings of fruit and vegetables each day. But the current study

suggests that only as higher levels of consumption of fruit and

vegetables as 6.7 servings ]

Do you know that a sinus headache is the most uncomfortable of all sinus infection symptoms?

Learn about these proven sinus headache remedies at Sinus Infection Help.

Why our body produces mucus?

Medical columnist, Mitchell Hecht, wrote an interesting article about " Why the need for phlegm and mucus?"

Excerpts of the article are reproduced below for your convenience:

[Phlegm is just an accumulation of thick mucus secreted by cells that line the nasal and respiratory tracts. It's usually clear/white/yellow in appearance and is spit out with coughing.
Mucus keeps the respiratory and nasal tissue moist and lubricated so it doesn't dry out, and traps small particles of dust and other foreign matter so that they don't enter the tiny air sacs of the lungs (alveoli).

Along with the mucus, there are millions of tiny hairlike structures called cilia that line our upper respiratory tract. They beat and sweep away allergens, bacteria, and irritants trapped in mucus at a rate of 10-20 times per second in the direction of the mouth. Smoking causes cilia hairs to fall out, which is one reason why smokers get more respiratory infections than nonsmokers.

Normally, mucus is thin and watery, but in certain inflammatory situations like a cold or bronchitis, there's an excess of thick mucus (phlegm). Allergies, sinus infection, or irritants like cigarette smoke are triggers, which may cause an overproduction of mucus and a post- nasal mucus drip.

Chronic lung disease also can be a frustrating cause of phlegm. Postnasal mucus drainage on the back of the throat is very irritating and often causes a sore, scratchy throat by morning. During sleep, saliva production decreases, resulting in less clearing of mucus. When awake, you'll drink liquids to thin the irritating mucus and wash it away; you'll also swallow much more often. That's why you'll notice that your scratchy/sore throat is much better after drinking liquid (hot or cold), and as the day goes on.

Gargling also helps to bathe and rehydrate the irritated tissues. Thinning mucus with guaifenesin (e.g.- Robitussin, Mucinex) makes it easier to cough up and clear. If you're producing abundant phlegm and it's not clearing up, get it checked out by a doctor.]

It is important to be able to distinguish between normal mucus and sinus infection mucus. Learn how to tell the difference between sinus infection symptoms and what remedies are effective for sinus infection treatment.