Chronic Sinus Infection - Symptoms and Causes.

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You can find two kinds of sinus infection. It might be acute or chronic and among the two, a lot more individuals get afflicted with the chronic sinus infection.

The difference between chronic and acute sinus infection is the fact that this can last for 12 weeks or longer and this can recur once you get much better. An acute sinus infection is gone after a week.

Common causes for chronic sinus infection consist of allergies, airborne fungus, nasal or sinus obstructions, trauma to the face, particular medical conditions and respiratory tract infections.

As a result, some of the symptoms that most individuals feel consist of headaches, congestion, difficulty breathing, reduced sense of smell, ear pain, fatigue, cough, nausea, sore throat and aching within the upper jaw or teeth.

Since you probably tried already to self medicate yourself without any positive results, the doctor is your only hope to make it go away.

After reviewing your medical history, some test will need to be done such as an MRI, CT scan, nasal endoscopy, extracting nasal or sinus cultures and an allergy test.

An MRI or CT scan is similar to an X-ray machine because they can show details of your sinus and nasal area without inserting anything into your body.

If this is needed, the doctor will have to do a nasal endoscopy by putting a thin, flexible tube with fiber optic light up your nose to see what is happening inside.

Not many people like that because it is like putting a similar tube up your anus. If possible, they will give a nasal or sinus sample instead so this can be checked.

If your doctor has not yet determined the exact cause of the chronic sinus infection, you may be referred to another specialist especially if he or she suspects that this is caused by an allergy so they can conduct an allergy test.

Once the results come in, the doctor will probably prescribe some antibiotics until you are free of the symptoms. To deal with the inflammation and swelling in the nasal cavity, you will be prescribed a corticosteroid. If this doesn’t work, then you will probably try antihistamines, decongestants and expectorants.

The doctor may also try moisture or humidification to help flush the nasal cavity and loosen the dried mucus. Should the chronic sinus infection be caused by an allergy, it can be treated with immunotherapy. A method designed to stimulate the antibodies that block the body’s reactions to a specific allergy.

Chronic sinus infection can be prevented and the steps that you take are not that different when you are suffering from an acute sinus infection. You just have got to practice proper hygiene, get flu shots once a year, stay away from people who have colds as it is a contagious illness, limit your drinking, keep yourself hydrated at all times, buy a humidifier and avoid being in polluted areas or around people who smoke.

Should you already have chronic sinus infection, just follow the instructions of the doctor and update him or her on any progress.

Chronic sinus infection is no joke. Just to give you an idea of how serious it is, over 30 to 40 million Americans get it every year. If you don’t want to be another person added to the statistics, do what is needed so you are always healthy.

Sinus Infections - What Brings It About?

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Ever wondered what truly brings about a sinus infection? You can find numerous possibilities and it's sometimes tough to pinpoint which one is the culprit. You could have gotten it while you're at work, out within the mall, doing a particular activity or even at house so here are some from the recognized things that brings about sinus infections.

Most sinus infections are caused by the common cold otherwise referred as viral influenza. This brings about congestion within the nasal passages and inhibits the drainage from the sinuses which is why it becomes inflamed.

When this happens, the nose is filled with mucus caused by the accumulation of white blood cells in the lining of the nose. This makes it difficult for the person to smell or even breathe and the only way to get rid of it is to blow it out.

Generally a common flu stays a maximum for a period of one week. After that we usually recover, but it leaves our sinuses inflamed. The nose is a very sensitive part of our body which catches a viral infection very easily.

Sinus infection can also be caused by exposure to dust particles, pollen and other irritants in the air. If there is too much of this already in the nasal passages, it prevents mucus from draining away. When these bacteria such as streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae end up in our upper respiratory tract and multiply, then it causes us to have a sinus infection.

You can come into contact with these every time you go outdoors or when you are inside the house especially in places where natural sunlight cannot reach. Another example is the fungus known as aspergillus that can cause problems to the immune system.

If you have asthma, you are a high risk for sinus infections because your nasal polyps inside your nose are swollen. This results in chronic sinus infections that could last for 2 weeks.

Lack of water also causes a sinus infection. This is because the mucus will thicken making it difficult for the cilia to move it through the sinuses.

Sinus infections can also happen whenever we are stressed. To prove the point, one such condition known as vasomotor rhinitis shows that stress does cause excessive swelling and mucus production.

You can also get a sinus infection by blowing your nose too much. This is because your nose will swell after blowing it too hard or too much.

Certain activities that are fun can also cause sinus infection. Traveling by air and scuba diving are very common because to much pressure in the sinuses causes bacteria to grow.

If you don’t watch your kids carefully, they may inhale harmful substances or other foreign objects that introduce bacteria into the sinuses.

Certain medications are also known to cause sinus infections as a side effect because it may affect the functioning of the mucus membrane.

Lastly, although very rare, you can get a sinus infection from disease teeth because the maxillary sinus in the cheekbone becomes infected by the root of a diseased upper tooth.

There are many causes of sinus infections and it is not only bacterial or viral. Now that you know what these are, it is time for you to take steps to prevent this from happening.

Conventional Medication Used To Treat Sinus Infections

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You will find numerous medications that you are able to take to fight a sinus infection. Apart from antibiotics, you will find others too namely antihistamines, decongestants, leokitrienes, mucolytics, nasal saline irrigation and steam inhalation too as steroids.

Antihistamines are recommended if the doctor has determined that your sinus infection is caused by an allergy. Majority of them don't need to be prescribed by a doctor so you are able to easily get this off the counter. The only limitation with antihistamines is the side effects. Individuals who take it will generally feel groggy or sleepy while some might experience dryness. To counter this, decongestants are added to the ingredients of the antihistamine.

Then there are decongestants. These are also available over the counter and in prescription form. These are designed to relieve congestion, nasal pressure and nasal swelling by reducing the blood flow to the membranes that in turn will improve air flow, lessen breathing through the mouth, decrease pressure in the sinus and head as well as ease discomfort.

The one thing it cannot do is relieve a runny nose. Sadly, it also has side effects such as increased blood pressure and heart rate which means patients who have high blood pressure or heart problems have to consult a doctor before taking them.

Leokotrienes are anti-inflammatory prescription drugs that are used to prevent inflammation in the airway and sinus cavities. It has been proven useful in helping patients who have sinus infections due to asthma. The side effects associated with this drug include dryness of the nasal passages, headaches, bleeding, crusting, upset stomach and skin rashes.

The doctor may also recommend the use of mucolytics. This is also used in treating cough because it destroys or dissolves mucus which makes it difficult for the person to breathe. These are available in tablet or liquid form. You can also inhale it when this is placed inside a nebulizer.

This is usually given in high dosages as this is the only way to achieve easier drainage. Once this is done, it will be easy for the body to expel through coughing. If not, this has to be done with the help of suction.

Your doctor may also recommend nasal saline irrigation and steam inhalation. This is the only one that does not have any side effects. It is safe and non-addictive. This works almost immediately especially when what you are dealing with is indeed a viral infection so you can stop using it after 3 to 5 days.

Steroids are also used to get rid of sinus infections. In fact, there are two kinds and the one used for inflammatory conditions are known as glucocorticosteroids. This can be administered orally, applied to the skin or by injection.

The side effects associated with it include increased appetite, weight gain, upset stomach, increase blood sugar and blood pressure, sleep disturbance, mood swings as well as fluid retention. These gradually disappear of course once you stop taking it.

As you can see, there are other medications around that doctors can use to help you fight off your sinus infection. They will have to determine first what is causing it rather than through trial and error because this can lead to complications and you surely don’t want that to happen to you.

Sinus Infection Prevention Tips

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You do not often need to wait for a sinus infection to strike prior to you taking action. Actually, you will find steps you are able to take to avoid this from happening and here are a few.

1. Moisten the air in your house. You are able to do this by purchasing a humidifier or an air conditioning unit as this regulates the temperature throughout hot and cold weather.

2. Aside from humidifiers or air conditioning equipment, you are able to also install electrostatic filters which are designed to remove allergens within the air.

3. Should you live in a region that's polluted, move somewhere else. You've to remember that sinus infections are also triggered by strong fumes and chemicals that might irritate your sinus linings.

4. Drinking a significantly large amount of alcohol might also trigger a sinus infection simply because it swells the nasal and sinus membranes which leave them exposed to irritation. This merely means that you simply ought to drink moderately.

5. Smoking also causes sinus infections simply because it irritates the sinus lining which causes bad drainage from the mucus and also gets the sinuses to congest up. So, you ought to quit smoking and stay away from individuals who smoke.

6. Should you travel frequently, you ought to cut down the number of times you've to fly from one destination towards the next. This is simply because a bubble of air within the bodily air passages expands as the air pressure within the plane reduces. When this occurs, this could result within the blockage from the Eustachian tubes causing your nose to clog throughout the plane’s ascent or descent. If you have to fly, be certain to bring with you a decongestant nose drop or inhaler and use this prior to the flight.

7. Whenever you have a sinus infection, the greatest method to fight it off is to stay continuously hydrated. The same thing goes is you want to avoid it. You can achieve that by drinking lots of water, juice or any other liquid to replenish what was lost from the body.

8. You ought to also practice a greater degree of hygiene since most sinus infections are triggered by bacterial and viral infections. This means taking a shower twice a day and washing your hands with soap and water every time you go to the bathroom. You ought to also do this each time you sneeze simply because whenever you cover your mouth, the germs get on to your hands.

9. For years, we have said that consuming dairy items will keep our bones strong. But studies have shown that dairy products can significantly thicken your mucus and cause nasal passages to narrow down which results to headache and pain.

10. You ought to also get a flu shot each year.

11. Drinking liquids ought to also be followed with eating good nutritious food particularly fruits and vegetables. After all, these are rich in antioxidants which will boost your immune system and assist your body resist infection.

12. Lastly, stress makes us prone to sinusitis and numerous other infections. So we ought to get sufficient rest like 8 hours at least each night.

13. You ought to also take some multivitamins and supplements to add for your daily supplement.

You are able to avoid sinus infections from happening so that you simply do not need to call in sick and miss a day at work or school. It takes a little effort to take these safety measures which happen to be significantly cheaper than going for your doctor and purchasing over the counter medication.