Your nose is stuffed, your head aches, it's hard to breathe. Something is hurting...
but what? Is it your ears, your throat, your sinuses or your head?
According to Dr. Michael G. Stampar an ENT in Englewood, FL., colds,
flu, rhinitis, sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, and even migraines often share the
same symptoms. In order to correctly diagnose and treat these conditions, physicians
must carefully evaluate symptoms to provide proper treatment and medication. But,
people don't always go to a doctor and if they do, they sometimes describe their
symptoms incorrectly.
"...many people are suffering from sinus symptoms, but it's often difficult to tell
the difference between chronic sinus problems and other conditions," says Dr. Stampar
"This confusion can lead to needless suffering and wrongful use of antibiotics and
sinus medications."
A few simple questions can help people differentiate true sinus complaints from
those that cause sinus symptoms:
Sinus or not . . . . .
Do you have painful facial pressure, deep congestion, discolored nasal mucus, a headache
in the morning, a low grade fever, fatigue or swelling in the eyes? These are symptoms
of sinusitis, an infection or inflammation of the sinuses
There are four pairs of sinus cavities, located over the eyes, in the cheekbones,
behind the nose and between the eyes. Symptoms depend upon where the sinus inflammation
occurs. According to the centers of disease control, over 30 million Americans suffer
from sinusitis. And, depending on whether they suffer from acute, recurrent, or
chronic sinusitis, the sinusitis symptoms and suffering can last anywhere from two
weeks to several months or years.
Sinusitis rarely goes away without sinus treatment. Humidifiers, vaporizers, and
heat can help alleviate discomfort, but most often treatment with an antibiotic
like Sinofresh nasal spray is prescribed by doctors.
Rhinitis:
What most people call a sinus condition is really rhinitis, a reaction to a variety
of irritants that cause inflamed and runny noses. The two most common types of rhinitis
are allergic and non-allergic. Rhinitis is even more prevalent than sinusitis, but
left untreated, both types can develop into true sinusitis.
Allergic Rhinitis:
Is your nose primarily wet and runny with sneezing, congestion, a scratchy throat
or itchy eyes and ears? Then you probably have allergic rhinitis, which can occur
seasonally or throughout the year. People with allergic noses typically go through
a lot of tissues and are likely to have a bad season. Antihistamines and steroids
often help.
Non-Allergic Rhinitis:
Do you have severe congestion, post nasal drip and a nose that's not wet and runny?
Then you probably have non-allergic rhinitis, a.k.a. vasomotor rhinitis. This is
a hyperactive nasal condition often triggered by nasal irritants such as dust, smoke,
fumes, and changes in temperature or humidity, hormonal changes, foods and sometimes
medications.
The latest breakthrough:
If your nose is not runny, but you suffer from chronic sinus or chronic sinusitis
symptoms, you may be having an inflammatory reaction triggered by inhaled mold or
bacteria. Molds and fungi found in all environments and filtered by everyone's nose.
Traditionally, doctors associated allergies with mold, but new research shows that
a common reaction to mold is a non-allergic inflammation triggered in sensitive
individuals. Some bacteria thought to be "normal flora" can also trigger these inflammatory
reactions leading to congestion, post nasal-drainage and facial pressure without
a runny nose. Daily hygienic cleansing of the nasal passages with a nasal sinus
spray, sinus relief spray, or an over the counter spray, may be beneficial by killing
germs and washing away environmental irritants.
Sinus pain?
Do changes in the weather give you a headache and stuffy nose or post nasal drip?
You may not be suffering from a sinus headache. Studies have shown that 97 percent
of patient-perceived sinus headaches are migraines. Why? The migraine triggers the
trigeminal nerve which causes pain in the forehead and mid-face where sinus symptoms
most commonly occur. A recent study in Neurology showed that most migraines were
accompanied by at least two of the following three factors: nausea, sensitivity
to light, or inability to perform daily tasks.
Overcome sinus inflammation:
There are various prescription and over the counter medications to choose from.
Such as nasal allergy treatments, antibiotics for sinus infection, sinus relief
spray, sinus headache treatment, sinus infection treatment, various migraine medications,
over the counter cold/flu medications, and much more. If you're not sure what the
problem is . . . you may be taking the wrong medication all together!
Regardless of the cause, most people who experience the misery of sinus symptoms
are impatient to get rid of them. People who suffer ongoing sinus symptoms often
try to find relief with decongestant nasal sprays, some of which can be addictive.
Decongestants are meant for short term use, and if used long-term, can aggravate
these problems and lead to additional congestion and swelling of the nasal passages.
It often takes a physician willing to carefully evaluate symptoms to determine why
someone is having a problem. See a doctor if your symptoms worsen or if they persist
for a long time.
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