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?
"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. Michael G. Stampar an ENT in Englewood, FL. "This confusion can lead to needless suffering and wrongful use of antibiotics and sinus medications."
According to Dr. Stampar, 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.
A few simple questions can help people differentiate true sinus complaints from those that cause sinus symptoms. This knowledge can help them get the right treatment.
Here are Dr. Stampar's tips on how to figure out what's making you feel so miserable:
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 and topical steroid is prescribed.
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, 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 such as Sinofresh Nasal Spray which is an over the counter spray, may be beneficial by killing germs and washing away environmental irritants.
What's the 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.
What to do?
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. Sinofresh nasal spray may be the best solution since it is non-addictive, contains no alcohol or harsh stimulants. 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment