Tag Archives: viral infection

Sinusitis: Is Your Nasal Nuisance Here to Stay?

Healthcare, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Man Blows Nose

Acute sinusitis (more commonly known as a sinus infection) occurs when the sinus cavities fill with fluid instead of air, encouraging germs to breed which leads to an upper respiratory infection. Sinusitis can be a chronic condition, or an isolated viral episode. Acute sinus infections can be bacterial by nature, but are more often caused by a virus which invades the nasal passages. Chronic sinusitis is often caused by allergens. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acute and chronic forms of sinusitis are responsible for over 12 million doctor’s visits annually.

When Are Sinus Infections More Common?

While sinusitis is quite common in the summer and spring because of hay fever triggers, there are many allergenic triggers lying around the house in the winter months as well such as dust from forced air heating, pet dander that builds up because the windows can’t be opened and mold that can come in on Christmas trees or can grow around the house in cold, damp, unventilated areas. Winter is also a bad season for acute sinus infections because colds and viruses can cause infections, which are often rampant during the winter months.

A Real Pain

Anyone who’s been plagued with sinusitis knows how uncomfortable the condition can be. Common symptoms of sinus infections include:

  • Pain caused by inflammation of the sinus cavities
  • Severe headache, especially around or behind an eye (where certain sinus cavities are located)
  • Congestion or coughing
  • Sore throat
  • Toothache or earache
  • Excess mucus or thick yellow or green discharge
  • Post nasal drip (mucus dripping back down the throat causing irritation, coughing and other unpleasant symptoms)

(Many of these symptoms also apply to chronic sinusitis, often recurring frequently.)

Tips to Keep Sinusitis at Bay During the Winter

According to Sinus-Pro, there are certain things you can do to help decrease your chances of a sinusitis infection or flare up. Some of these provisions include:

  1. Take precautions against catching a cold which can lead to a sinus infection
  2. Buy small dehumidifiers for damp areas of your house such as a basement
  3. Take up carpet, and cover beds and pillows with hypoallergenic materials
  4. Keep pets out of bedrooms or other rooms you spend a lot of time in
  5. Eat and drink triggering food and drink such as alcohol in moderation
  6. Flush out extra mucus to prevent a buildup in your nasal passages and sinus cavities (you can do this by using nasal sprays, Nettie pots or by inhaling strong peppermint steam)
  7. If you have chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis, take your prescribed nasal sprays or decongestant medications

When to See a Doctor

In the past there have been problems with doctors overprescribing antibiotics to patients with viral sinus infections who didn’t need them, resulting in some people becoming antibiotic resistant, most doctors are more careful and cognizant about this issue now. Just because you have a viral sinus infection doesn’t mean there is nothing that can help you, your doctor may prescribe stronger decongestants, temporary nasal sprays or in extreme cases (or for those with severe asthma) corticosteroids may be necessary to help the patient overcome the infection. It is also important to visit a doctor if you have recurrent sinus infections, as they may refer you to an allergist or ENT specialist to get to the root of your condition and start you on the medication plan, or determine if surgical measures should be taken. So consult your PCP, or one of our esteemed DocChat physicians today to get some advice on your sinus situation!

Why Allergies Should Not Be Neglected

Allergies, Illness, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Young woman blowing her nose while being in the nature

Exposure to common allergens like pollen, animal dander, weed, and even some foods makes your immune system vulnerable, thereby causing allergic reactions. You are likely to be at more risk to develop allergy when your body is weak and healing after suffering through a fever or viral infection. Even though it is the allergens that trigger allergic reaction in your body, in reality it is when you neglect them that they worsen.

Although there is no cure for allergies, you can however treat them in order to control them and not let it worsen. Since allergy is a form of chronic illness, if you do not treat it in due time, it will aggravate.

Here are some problems that you could face if you neglect your allergies.

· You are likely to develop additional allergies

Common symptoms of allergy are cough, watery eyes, sore throat, runny nose, and itchiness. With time, people who already have some sort of an untreated allergy notice that their symptoms have become much more severe and unbearable. This might mean that you have developed additional allergies. For instance if people suffer from pollen allergy, they may also suffer allergy triggered by foods that contain similar elements.

· Your symptoms are likely to worsen

Allergies are chronic and they don’t go away on their own. If you don’t undergo a proper treatment plan in order to control the allergic reaction, it is likely to lead to much more severe symptoms like sinus infection, ear infection and advanced asthma.

· You may suffer from life threatening asthma

Basic symptoms of asthma are similar to most of the allergies, except that they are on a much more severe scale. Almost all sorts of allergies result in the allergic person suffering from cough. If you neglect it and leave it untreated, your allergy is likely to turn into a much more serious problem including asthma. Symptoms like severe coughing, shortness in breath and chest tightening are common in asthma. Delayed treatment of preexisting allergies like food allergy may cause chronic asthma.

Whether, you are an adolescent or an adult, neglecting allergies can cause severe problems and diseases in the future. One should avoid exposure to allergens, and in case it worsens, you ought to have a doctor’s advice and treat it with medicine such as nasal sprays and allergy shots.