Natural Remedies for Sinus Infection

A recent article by Melanie Grimes shared some sinus infection home remedies as follows:

Using turmeric or salt inhalation with a neti pot and using simple steam inhalation can treat sinus infections.

Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, is an infection or inflammation of the lining of the sinus cavities in the nose. This condition affects more than 40 million Americans annually. Sinusitis can be caused by colds, flu or allergies. Diseases such as bacterial infections also cause sinusitis, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. Sinus infections can be painful, leading to headaches and work impairment. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that sinusitis causes a loss of four workdays per year, causing employers to list sinusitis as one of the top ten medical conditions.

Turmeric Reduces Sinus Inflammation
Gargling with turmeric can help heal a sinus infection and reduce chronic sinus inflammation. The active ingredient in turmeric, known as curcumin, helps heal the sinus cavity. The herb turmeric has been used in Indian cuisine, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The University of California reports that turmeric has an anti-inflammatory action. Further recent research showed that turmeric also has antibiotic and antiviral health effects. The University of Michigan adds that turmeric reduces inflammation by lowering histamine levels. The Brain Research Institute at UCLA reports that the National Institute of Health has funded over eight studies on this herb, further evidence of this plant's efficacy.

Saline Drainage Heals Sinus Inflammation
Irrigating the sinuses with salt helps reduce sinus pressure and sinusitis, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Its site recommends the use of a neti pot to rinse the sinuses. A neti pot is used to pour a salt solution into the nostrils to clear the sinuses of mucous blockage. A cup of warm water with a half teaspoon of salt may be inhaled while holding one nostril closed. This technique of saline inhalation has a long history in Ayurvedic medicine where it has been used for thousands of years.

Steam Inhalation Opens Sinuses and Reduces Sinusitis
Inhaling steam can open the sinuses and reduce sinusitis. This can be accomplished by placing a towel over the head while inhaling from a bowl of hot water. A simpler method is to stand in a hot shower; however, this doesn't direct the steam to the sinuses as specifically as using a towel over a bowl.

Sinus infections can be simply treated by the above methods but if symptoms persist or become severe, consult with your health advisors.

Nasal Irrigation and Common Cold

Quite a number of ENT specialists recommend nasal irrigation to maintain good sinus health.

A recent article by Health Behavior News Service touched on this subject matter and is an interesting read.

Excerpts of the article are as follows:

[ Washing out your nose with a spray or spout of salt water is safe and might even get you back to work sooner after a cold or acute sinus infection. However, there is not enough evidence to show that it can reduce your symptoms significantly, according to a new research review.

The three studies in the review included small numbers of patients and varied widely in their details, “which means small beneficial effects may be missed,” said lead author David King, M.D., of the University of Queensland, in Australia.

One study found that people were more likely to return to work sooner after using the nose washes, and there was some intriguing evidence that nasal washes might reduce antibiotic prescriptions among those who seek the saltwater treatment.

“
with saline is a safe treatment that may be mildly beneficial to some patients, though the existing evidence is too limited to recommend it as a standard treatment,” King said.

“It is quite amazing that such a common treatment for a very common illness does not have a large body of evidence to support for or against its use,” he added.

The review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates research in all aspects of health care. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing trials on a topic.

Saltwater washes have long been a part of ayurvedic care, a traditional medicine used on the Indian subcontinent. Now saline sprays and nose “irrigators” like the neti pot − a small spouted pot used to pour water through the nostrils − have been showing up more often in Western culture, appearing everywhere from “Oprah” to the Mayo Clinic.

Saline nasal washes could flush out excessive mucus and infectious material, and might strengthen the nose’s own filtration system of waving, hair-like cilia, some studies have suggested.

If saline washes work, said the Cochrane reviewers, they could reduce the amount of decongestants, painkillers and improperly prescribed antibiotics used to treat upper respiratory tract infections, while reducing downtime from these illnesses.

“The economic impact of the common cold alone on workplace absenteeism is estimated to be billions of dollars,” they said.

The studies reviewed by the Cochrane team included 618 participants in the United States and Czech Republic, including children and babies. Many of the participants complained that the nasal wash felt uncomfortable, but the researchers did not find any serious adverse effects in the studies.

Other studies have shown that people with chronic sinus symptoms, and perhaps some allergy sufferers, might be able to prevent flare-ups with regular saline washes, according to David Rabago, M.D., an assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin., who had provided feedback on the review draft to the authors.

Some key information about nasal irrigation is still missing, he said: What is the best way to wash?

“No head-to-head comparisons have been made of volume, salinity, temperature, pH or delivery vehicle — do you use a squeeze bottle or a neti pot, for example?” Rabago said.

He said most washes, which use lukewarm water and a 0.9 percent to 3 percent saline solution, “are able to do something good.”]

You can find out more about what effective sinus infection treatment remedies you can adopt and recommended quality neti pot at Sinus Infection Help.

Natural Remedies for Stuffy Nose and Sinus Infection

This recent article from North American Press Syndicate may help you. Excerpts are as follows:

[(NAPSI)-You may be able to breathe a little easier if you're among the more than 37 million Americans who suffer from sinus pain and infection or are looking for a more natural way to keep healthy.

There are a number of simple remedies that might save you time and trouble:

• Sleep between seven and nine hours a night. Try for more sleep when you have a sinus infection.

• Practice good hygiene and wash your hands several times a day.

• Use a negative ion air cleaner or HEPA filter daily.

• Try using a humidifier when using an air conditioner or during the heating season.

• Avoid sugar, dairy, caffeine and alcohol and enhance your diet with fruit, vegetables, whole grains and fiber.

• Try daily aerobic exercise such as walking, preferably outdoors except on highly polluted days.

• Drink filtered water--a good measure is ½ ounce per pound of body weight.

• Use nasal irrigation to help dissolve mucus, clean and moisturize nasal passages and relieve irritated sinus, nasal passage and throat tissue. This simple procedure has been practiced in India for centuries as one of the disciplines of yoga. Whether you have allergies, a cold, sinusitis, chronic congestion or throat irritation, the irrigation solution doctors have been recommending for more than a century is Alkalol. Made from natural ingredients, it is an effective nasal irrigation solution providing soothing relief. And it contains no antihistamines, preservatives or chemicals that may irritate or damage tender mucous membranes.

• Consider steam therapy or mentholated air. An at-home steam treatment can help break up nasal congestion and ease your suffering while you look for a long-term solution to treat and relieve your sinus infections. Plus, they are safe for sinus sufferers of all ages.

• In the midst of an allergy attack, all you can think of is allergy relief. Try over-the-counter, non-drowsy formulations so you can get on with your day without the desire to nap. There are also one-a-day type products that do not require you to follow a dosing schedule. When in doubt, double-check with your pharmacist for the newest medical products right for you.

And remember to have patience. Natural remedies may take a little longer to work than antibiotics but may do a better job of cleansing to help prevent future infection.]

Adopt sinus infection home remedies and the use of a neti pot to fight sinus infection will keep your sinuses healthy to a ripe old age. So start early!

Common Cold Treatment

Most of us will suffer from a few episodes of the common cold each year. A recent article by Lesley Alderman touches on what you can do to relief cold symptoms. Excerpts of the article are reproduced below:

[THERE is still no cure for the common cold, but that hasn’t stopped consumers from spending billions of dollars every year on vitamins, medicines and doctor visits. (I admit I do, too, from time to time.)]

[If you’re suffering but also trying to be a smart spender, read on for advice. Some of the best treatments, it turns out, will not cost you much at all.]

[Also, make sure you get enough rest, stay well hydrated and exercise moderately, all of which can help strengthen your system, said Dr. Schaffner, who is also an infectious disease specialist. Finally, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.]

[Now on to a discussion of what you may want to avoid or use in moderation to treat your symptoms.

DOCTOR VISITS Most healthy people do not need to see a doctor for a cold or flu. But if you have a fever for more than three days, a cough that produces sputum, chest pain or difficulty breathing, call your doctor. These may be signs that an infection is developing complications, and your simple cold could turn into something more serious like pneumonia. If you’re not sure whether you need to see a doctor, call and ask to speak to an advice nurse or physician assistant, Dr. Lisa Bernstein, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Emory University, suggested. “A nurse can listen to your symptoms and figure out what care you need.”

ANTIBIOTICS You probably don’t need them. “Antibiotics have exactly no effect on the common cold,” Dr. Schaffner said. “That’s because viruses, which cause colds and flus, are uninfluenced by antibiotics.” Antibiotics attack only bacteria, and bacteria are rarely involved with respiratory infections.

Not only will the antibiotic be a waste of money, but it may also cause unpleasant side effects like diarrhea, a rash and possibly a yeast infection in women. Even more problematic, overuse of antibiotics leads to drug-resistant superbugs, which are difficult to cure.]

[If your cold or flu leads to a secondary bacterial infection, a course of antibiotics may then be necessary. Signs that you have such an infection include tenderness around your sinuses, reappearance of symptoms after your cold seemed to be abating and chest pain, said Dr. Shmuel Shoham, an infectious disease specialist at the Washington Hospital Center in the District of Columbia.]

[MULTISYMPTOM MEDICINES Cold medicines with multiple active ingredients like acetaminophen, a decongestant and an antihistamine have not been well studied. The reviews that have been done show they are no better than placebos in shortening the duration of colds, said Dr. Michael Brady, an infectious disease specialist and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

These medicines may help with some of your symptoms, but be sure to read the labels carefully. There is a risk when taking these medicines that you may end up taking more active ingredients than you really need.

This is particularly important in young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that over-the-counter cough and cold medications not be given to infants and children younger than 2 because of the risk of life-threatening side effects.

So, what does work? While few, if any, medicines can shorten the duration of a cold, some can help reduce the onerous symptoms of upper respiratory infections. Nasal sprays shrink swollen blood vessels and relieve stuffy noses, though the relief is temporary and you should not use spray for more than three days.

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can reduce fevers and body aches. Rinsing your nasal passages with a saline solution or breathing steam can help loosen mucous and increase nasal secretions, which can help to prevent a secondary sinus infection. Humidifiers and hot showers also help. Drinking warm liquids like tea has been shown to reduce a variety of cold and flu symptoms.]

It must be remembered that most sinus infections come after a common cold. The main cause of sinus infection is chronic nasal congestion. Once the nasal passages are blocked and the sinuses and nasal passages are not ventilated, bacteria will begin to multiply rapidly. This could lead to acute sinusitis.

Acute sinus infection symptoms include sinus pressure, sinus headache and sinus infection dizziness.

Maintaining good sinus health is the key to preventing sinus infections. Learn more about effective sinus headache remedies.

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.