Sinusitis What Is It? Information On Sinusitis & Some Natural Remedies

By Peter Salazar 

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Individuals who seem to experience recurring instances of prolonged colds may actually have sinusitis. If one notices that a cold or allergy seems not to get cured, it is possible that the individual has sinusitis. Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses due to infection. The sinus is a hollow space or cavity inside the facial bones. The sinus' lining contains mucous membranes.

Sinusitis consists of the infection of the sinuses. The usual indicators of sinusitis include cold-like symptoms, sneezing, sniffing, and mucous secretions from the nose. Other people experience severe discomfort brought about by headaches that sometimes accompany the other symptoms. Doctors usually characterize sinusitis as acute, subacute, chronic or recurrent.

Acute sinusitis lasts for 4 weeks or less. Subacute sinusitis lasts 4 to 8 weeks. Chronic sinusitis can continue for several months or years. Recurrent sinusitis, which refers to several acute attacks per year, may be caused by different organisms. [NIAID, NIH]

Sinusitis may be started with a cold. Virus causes colds but do not cause sinusitis directly although they cause the sinus to inflame. The inflammation of the sinus increases the chances of contracting acute sinusitis. Facial pain may also accompany sinusitis, making this condition a truly inconvenient disease. Sometimes, sinusitis may cause swelling of the eyes and parts of the face.

All human bodies have healthy bacteria in them. Some of these bacteria live in the upper respiratory tract and are usually harmless. If the body's defense mechanism weakens, the bacteria may divide uncontrollably and infect the sinuses. Once they affect the sinus, the symptoms of acute sinusitis appears. There are other types of sinusitis that are caused by fungi. These are mycetoma fungal sinusitis, allergic fungal sinusitis, chronic indolent sinusitis, and fulminant sinusitis. A weak immune system makes it possible for fungus to infect the body. Fungi usually favor dark and moist environments. The sinuses, which are naturally of moist and dark cavities, are a perfect environment for the fungi to breed. When fungal infection sets in on the sinus, then we have fungal sinusitis.

Antibiotics do not aid in the prevention of sinusitis.

The number one vitamin that can reduces the risk of contracting sinusitis is Vitamin C. Vitamin C, a widely known immune system booster, offers advantages to people whose allergy attacks lead to sinusitis. Flavonoids are also good in this area. Vitamin A is known to protect the mucous membranes. It is also good to take in supplements containing vitamin E since this vitamin increases immunity to disease.

Know the Signs of Childhood Asthma

By Abbie Frank 

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According to the Mayo Clinic, a well respected medical resource, and the American Family Physician, a newsletter from the American Academy of Family Physicians, childhood asthma has risen significantly in over the past few decades. The American Lung Association states that in 2004, an estimated 4 million children under 18 years old have had an asthma attack in the past 12 months, and many others have "hidden" or undiagnosed asthma.

Asthma is the most common cause of school absenteeism due to chronic disease and accounted for an estimated 14 million lost school days. They claim that childhood asthma has become more widespread and is now the most common chronic illness in children.

If you have children, it's important that you can recognize the symptoms and signs of an asthmatic condition. Understand that the symptoms below "may" indicate asthma, but could be symptomatic of a wide range of bronchial or pulmonary illnesses.

The most common signs and symptoms of childhood asthma are very similar to bronchitis and other respiratory infections. The symptoms include:

1. Coughing. The need to cough is created by mucus, which builds up and needs to be cleared. The mucus is usually caused by some type of infection or irritation. Coughing is symptomatic of many childhood and adult illnesses. Notice that although coughing is a symptom, the type of cough plays a role in understanding the cause. Simply put, a rattling or lose type cough is very different than a tight or hacking cough and both types can indicate certain illnesses

2. Wheezing. Wheezing is most commonly associated with asthma, however, all children with asthma do not necessarily wheeze. You can identify wheezing as a whistling type sound when your child breathes.

3. Chest congestion and tightness.

4. Shortness of breath

While these signs and symptoms may indicate childhood asthma, they may also point to various illnesses common to kids. As a parent, you cannot be expected to understand how various symptoms may interact or be able to accurately diagnose an illness such as asthma.

Another factor to consider is frequency. The child who frequently coughs or suffers ongoing or recurrent bouts of respiratory infection illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis may have childhood asthma.

As you can see, the diagnosis of this disease can only accurately be done by a medical doctor. Childhood asthma is a disease that has been strongly associated with genetic factors and usually involves some aspect of allergies. In the American Family Physician newsletter of April 2001 it was suggested that almost 80% of children with asthma can be expected to have allergies. This suggests that one strategy to control childhood asthma attacks is to control the environmental factors that may trigger an event. Those triggers may include dust, dirt, pollen and other factors. Visit the link below and get a free report on how to control on how to control and eliminate common allergy and asthma triggers in your home

Tips for Choosing the Right Allergy Mattress Cover

By Morgan Hamilton 

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People who suffer from allergies can find it hard to get sleep. They often suffer frequent bouts of sneezing, runny nose, and itching that can keep them up all night long. To make it worst, the bed which is supposed to be the most restful place in the house can contain a lot of allergens that can trigger allergic reactions. Those who are prone to allergies can suffer from itchy skin, hay fever and other allergic symptoms because of the dust, pollen, and even dust mites that are present in their beds. If you are allergic to a lot of things, then you can benefit from an allergy mattress cover that will help you to get the rest that you need.

However, you should know that not every allergy mattress cover will suit your needs. A hypoallergenic mattress cover has to be very well made if it is to be effective. It has to be produced in a completely sterile factory with materials that will not irritate the skin and aggravate allergies themselves. It should also be designed to have holes that are small enough to prevent the infestation of dust mites. An allergy mattress cover can help keep you away from allergens and help you get enough sleep, but it will not make all of your allergies go away.

In general, an allergy mattress cover only reduces your exposure to contaminants that may have seeped into your bed. This means that you have to take certain actions to keep your exposure to allergens at a minimum, in addition to your allergy mattress cover. A hypoallergenic mattress cover is almost useless in dealing with airborne dust, mold, fungus and pollen.

You also have to keep your house clean if you want to reduce your exposure to allergens. You also need to change your bedding frequently, even if you have an allergy mattress cover. It would also help if you can keep your floor and all surfaces in your house clean, and ensure that your air intake is kept in tip top shape. Not many people realize that allergies can be caused by furnace contamination or by things leaking in to the air ducts leading up to their houses. Nevertheless, an allergy mattress cover can help reduce your allergic reactions and help you get the sleep that you need.

Latex Allergies

By Michael Russell 

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Latex gloves and other latex rubber materials, contain natural latex. These gloves are often added with cornstarch powder to reduce friction, like when a surgeon dons the glove and many other chemicals. It is important to point out that anything that is foreign to the body can cause an allergic reaction depending on the gravity of the human body's response to it. The body can react in different ways. Normally, there would be little to no reaction at all. However when one is allergic to the latex, in a glove for example, there are three major possible reactions.

The least dangerous of these is a reaction that is contained locally, called Irritant Dermatitis. This is when the latex causes an irritation in the skin in contact to it but does not involve the systemic immune response of the body. This is not considered an allergic response, however, irritant hand dermatitis causes breaks in the skin integrity which could permit a lot more of the sensitizing latex proteins or chemicals to enter into the body. This could turn an uncomplicated dermatitis into a full blown latex allergy. Irritant Dermatitis could also be caused by inadequate drying after washing the hands, scrubbing the skin too hard or using very strong detergents, the mechanical abrasion sometimes caused by the glove powder, or anything that could dry the skin and encourage cracks and cuts in it.

The second reaction that the body could have is the Delayed Cutaneous Hypersensitivity or the Type IV Allergy. This reaction is still local, limited to the skin exposed to the allergen and mediated by the T-cell lymphocytes. The danger, again, is when the skin breaks and permits the entry of more of the allergen. The difference of this reaction is that the signs of the reaction are seen 6 to 48 hours after exposure.

The third possible reaction of the body is the Type I Allergy. It is a systemic allergic reaction and its symptoms occur almost immediately or half an hour after exposure to latex. The reaction is caused by the Immunoglobulin E antibodies that are specific to the proteins found in natural latex. A person can be exposed to latex through different routes like cutaneous, (skin), mucus membranes (nose, mouth), aerosol (inhalation), or parenteral (blood). The symptoms could range from a not-so-serious case of rhinitis or conjunctivitis to hives and asthma brought about by bronchoconstriction. It is when these symptoms are full-blown than they become fatal like cases of hypotension and anaphylaxis.

In the use of surgical gloves, it is not only the latex that is the issue. The use of cornstarch powder, which has been a staple in glove manufacturing to reduce friction, also plays a major role in the allergies caused by latex gloves. Research has shown that the cornstarch powder binds with the latex proteins in the gloves. This union allows the antigen in the gloves to reach the wearer's skin (especially when the skin becomes moist) and, ultimately, the patient the person is in contact with. Also, when the gloves are removed, the cornstarch powder is released into the air carrying with it the latex proteins. This is the major factor that causes most of the aerosolized latex allergies.

 

Asthma - An Allergy

By Michael Russell 
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Undoubtedly, allergies often cause asthma. The terms asthma and allergy are often used as synonyms by laymen and in medical terminology. Unfortunately, only a few cases of asthma are really caused by allergies.

The term allergy is difficult to define. Allergy basically means "to react differently". As a matter of fact, many asthmatic patients react differently to various kinds of inhaled substances than do healthy people. Antibodies, which are usually significant in the protection from pathogenic agents, initiate a fateful chain of reactions in the case of asthma.

Allergic asthma due to pollen is a good example. Whereas about 90 percent of the population can inhale large amounts of pollen from grasses and ragweed, which bloom during spring and autumn, the remaining 10 percent of the population suffer from hay fever or pollen asthma. The link between the nose and the airways is obvious. Anyone who suffers from hay fever, called pollinosis in medical terminology, will complain about the discomfort it causes. While everyone else enjoys the first signs of summer, the sunshine, the warmth and the blooming of the meadows, the person suffering from hay fever hides behind the drawn blinds because otherwise, his eyes run and the itching of the eye becomes intolerable. A person suffering from hay fever may also experience a constantly running nose, difficulty of breathing through the nose and may feel generally ill although the illness seems to be so harmless.

Nonetheless, the person with hay fever suffers far less than the one with pollen asthma. Pollen asthma affects a part of the bronchial system, which is far more important for breathing than is the nose. It is not known why the disease affects the nose in one person and the bronchial system in another. Unfortunately, children who suffer from hay fever while still in school develop asthma as adults. Causes for this development are unknown.

How does the seemingly innocuous pollen cause asthma?

Pollen is usually too large to infiltrate the bronchial wall as a whole. Rather, the bronchial mucosa dissolves the pollen into protein particles small enough to pass through the epithelium (a membranous tissue composed of cell layers forming the covering of most internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs). These pollen particles then encounter cells in the bronchial mucosa, which develop antibodies against it. It would appear that this formation of antibodies to trap the pollen particles is normal. Unfortunately, the antibody struggles with the intruding pollen particle without success. The formation of allergy antibodies initiates a reaction, which is more harmful to the body than if nothing had happened. The struggle between the intruding allergens and the antibodies formed by the body takes place on the membrane of so-called mast cells, which are composed of dangerous substances. Mast cells take part in the body's allergic response. They can be found in most body tissues, but are predominantly abundant in connective tissue, such as the bronchial mucosa. In an allergic response, an allergen stimulates the release of antibodies, which attach themselves to mast cells. Following subsequent allergen exposure, the mast cells release substances such as histamine (a chemical which causes allergic symptoms) into the tissue. These substances lead to a spasm of the bronchial muscles, make the small vessels in the bronchial mucosa permeable, allow blood plasma to escape into the tissue and lead to the production of extremely viscid bronchial mucus.

Dealing With An Asthma Allergy

By C Dietzig 

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For someone suffering from asthma allergy, it is beneficial to have an idea of what exactly this condition entails, and ways you can prevent it from having a negative effect on your life. Depending on the person and what has caused the asthma, an asthma allergy can vary from a mild attack of asthma to a more severe attack of asthma. A severe attack of asthma is characterized by a difficulty breathing, with lack of oxygen in the lips and extremities.

Often the best way to treat an asthma allergy is to have a checkup by a trained medical professional such as a doctor. A doctor can run a series of tests to confirm if you have an allergy that causes asthma. Then the doctor can choose the best course for treatment.

The best type of medication for the treatment of an asthma allergy involves a substance, which is able to decrease the inflammation of the lining of the respiratory system. Some of these medications function by decreasing the production of other chemicals, which cause inflammation and narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi and bronchioles. It is important to seek help quickly so this type of medication can be administered quickly in the event of an acute asthma attack.

Even with medications for treating an asthma allergy, it is still a good idea to remember that prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, it is a good idea to stay away from any of the chemicals and substances, which cause you to have an asthma attack.

 

If You Think Allergies Are Not a Big Deal, Think Again

There's always seemed to be a suspicion of a link between asthma and allergies. Asthma, is a chronic illness characterized by inflammation of respiratory tubes that result in wheezing, a choking sensation and shortness of breath. A better understanding of asthma will result in an appreciation of the importance to address allergies quickly. Simply stated, continued research is suggesting that allergies are a main cause of the development of asthma.

The case concerning the connection between allergies and asthma is so strong that it has led Dr. James T. Li, an allergy specialist at the www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergies-and-asthma/ to suggest that it's many as 60% of the people with asthma have a form of allergy induced asthma. If correct, this makes allergies one of the leading causes of asthma. Given the high number and type of asthmatic triggers that have been identified, it shouldn't come as a surprise that allergies may play a large role in the development of asthma

A trigger is simply an event that can cause someone with asthma to have an attack. While many people with allergies have cold and flu like symptoms, an allergy attack can seriously affect one's ability to breathe. Asthma triggers include dust, dust mites, molds and mildew, pet dander, smoke odors and almost anything that can be taken into the body by breathing. So it stands to reason that many of the causes of allergy would be closely related to asthma.

Allergen immunotherapy, which is allergy shots that desensitize, have been shown to significantly improve asthma. If you or someone you know has allergic asthma, the best treatment continues to be reducing your exposure to the things that may trigger an asthma attack. Understand however, that having allergies does not automatically mean that you will develop asthma, only that it increases your risk significantly. According to Dr. Li, up to 78% of the people who have asthma also have hay fever.

The key then is to understand that at a minimum, there is a casual link between allergies in the development of asthma. For this reason alone, it makes sense to try and limit your exposure to potential asthma triggers that may be in your home.

Although allergies seem to play a key role in the development of asthma, it's not the only cause to consider. There are many other forms of asthma that can develop over the course of time. With the prevalence of allergies playing a large role in the number of asthma cases, it just makes sense to protect yourself as much as possible.

By Abbie Frank 

News--No allergy after tree is sprayed

By Joe Graedon, Teresa Graedon:
The People's Pharmacy

My son and I have suffered yearly from allergies when we bring our freshly cut Christmas tree into the house. We tried rinsing it off and letting it dry in the garage before setting it up, but the allergies still whacked us.

Last week, after we cut the tree and brought it home, we sprayed it thoroughly with a natural fruit and vegetable cleaner made of citrus, corn and coconut. We left the cleanser on for five minutes before spraying it off with water and letting the tree dry overnight in the garage. We have had no allergies to the tree this time!

Some people can be allergic to pine sap or mold on the bark and branches of pine trees. Washing off the contaminants and letting the tree dry was a brilliant idea and seems to have worked well for you.

Should I See a Doctor?

See Doctor If:

your symptoms occur at the same time every year or seem to last year-round
your symptoms last only as long as you are exposed to a particular substance
your symptoms occur only when you are at work or school
you have any respiratory illness that lasts longer than a week or 2

You need emergency help at once if you have any of the following symptoms after being exposed to a substance you might be allergic to:

wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the lips, tongue, or mouth
chest pain and tightness
shock or sudden loss of consciousness
hives, itchy skin, or joint swelling
widespread, intense skin redness
nausea, vomiting, or abdominal cramps

Waiting for your allergies to go away probably won't help. Most allergies get worse rather than better without proper diagnosis and treatment, and treatment can help you feel better.

Some people avoid treating allergies. One reason is they fear medication will make them sleepy. Your doctor, though, can recommend prescription medications that can help control your allergy symptoms without making you sleepy. Another option is allergy shots, called immunotherapy. These shots can be effective for 9 out of every 10 people with seasonal allergies and for 70% to 80% of those who have year-round, or perennial, allergies.

What Is Happening to Me?

If you have nasal allergies, you are extra sensitive to certain substances. When you're exposed to these normally harmless substances, your body has an exaggerated reaction that mainly affects your nose, throat, eyes, and ears. The good news is nasal allergies can be treated, and you can feel better.

Here is what some people have said about having nasal allergies.

"Since I've gotten help with my nasal allergy, my life is easier and happier. I can work and enjoy my family a lot more." Oleta

"I can get through my day without problems now, thanks to my medication. I used to be miserable all the time." Susan

"I could hardly function with the sinus pressure, headaches, ear and throat pain, coughing, and nose blowing. I couldn't breathe." Cassandra

Food allergy

A food allergy is an immunologic response to a food protein. It is estimated that up to 12 million Americans have food allergies of one type or another, and the prevalence is rising. Six to eight percent of children have food allergies and two percent of adults have them. The most common food allergies in adults are shellfish , peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and eggs, and the most common food allergies present in children are milk, eggs, and peanuts.
At this time, there is no cure for food allergies. Treatment consists of avoidance diets, where the allergic person avoids any and all forms of the food that they are allergic to. For people who are extremely sensitive, this may involve the total avoidance of any exposure with the allergen, including touching or inhaling the problematic food as well as any surfaces that may have come into contact with it. Food allergy is distinct from food intolerance, which is not caused by an autoimmune reaction.
Persons diagnosed with a food allergy may carry an autoinjector of epinephrine such as an EpiPen or Twinject, wear some form of medical alert jewelry, or develop an emergency action plan, in accordance with their doctor.