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Information on asthma and sinus infection symptoms, treatment, relief
and problems:
The Allergy
Relief Center - Your BEST resource for sinus
relief and asthma control
The Allergy
Relief Center offers high-quality, physician-recommended products for
sinus relief, sinus congestion and infection relief, asthma relief and
asthma control. The Allergy Relief Center is dedicated to providing he
finest sinus relief and asthma control products at competitive prices,
together with superior customer service.
Sinusitis:
The sinuses are four pairs of hollow spaces in the bones of the face
lined with mucous membranes and connected to the nose. The sinuses allow
air to flow freely within the spaces in and out of the nose. Small hairs
in the sinuses (cilia) regularly help move mucous out through the nose.
When the small openings from the nose to the sinus cavities (sinus ostia)
are blocked, or when too much mucous is produced, inflammation can occur
within sinus cavities and cause acute sinusitis.
Approximately
31 million people in the U. S. suffer from acute sinusitis each year.
Some individuals particularly susceptible to sinusitis have several
bouts of sinusitis every year and many have chronic sinusitis.
Symptoms
of sinus congestion and sinus infection (Acute sinusitis):
- Pain and
facial tenderness around the eyes, forehead or cheeks.
- Eye
pain
- Teeth
pain
- Pain in the
roof of the mouth.
- Sinus
headaches-originating at the center forehead, temples or
cheekbones.
- Sinus
congestion and nasal congestion
- Yellow or
green nasal discharge.
- Sinus bad
breath
- Sinus cough,
especially at night when lying down slows drainage.
- Constant
sinus drainage at the back of the throat.
- A tickling
sinus cough caused by constant drainage.
- Sore
throat
- Lethargy
Fever.
Causes
of sinus congestion and sinus infection:
Sinusitis may follow colds or other respiratory infections. Persons with
allergies may develop sinusitis following an allergy reaction or a
series of allergy flare-ups. Allergy reactions also cause inflammation
and swelling of the nasal passages and may close the small openings from
the nose to the sinuses. Intermittent inflammation of nasal passages
from allergy reactions encourages mucous production and promotes
bacteria and fungus growth. Individuals with weakened immune systems are
at risk since they are prone to infections of all kinds. Other causes of
blocked sinus ostia may include:
- Not
completely clearing the first sinus infection.
- Blowing the
nose too hard (spreading a mild infection within the body).
- Not enough
rest
- History of
asthma.
- Cystic
fibrosis
- Dental
work.
- Frequent
swimming or diving
- Overuse of
nasal decongestants, especially over-the counter sprays that cause
sinus rebound effects.
- Foreign
bodies in the nasal passages
- Nasal bone
spurs.
- Nasal and
facial tumors
- Nasal polyps.
Treatment
of sinus congestion and sinus infection:
When people talk about sinus infections, they are usually referring to
the sinuses on either side of the nose (maxillary sinuses) and the
sinuses in the center of the forehead, above the eyebrows (frontal
sinuses). The best way to treat sinus infections is to prevent them.
Treat respiratory infections, even mild colds, promptly.
Treat
allergy reactions promptly:
- Use the
Hydro Pulse® Nasal / Sinus Irrigation System
regularly to assist cilia in
moving mucous.
- Install HEPA
air filters in bedrooms.
- Avoid
cigarette smoke, chemical and environmental pollutants.
- Avoid
temperature extremes.
- Avoid
bending the head down.
- Use a
humidifier to help thin mucous and allow it to drain.
- Drink fluids
to increase the body's moisture content.
- Take
physician prescribed decongestants for respiratory infections.
- Use Grossan
BreatheEase XL Nasal Wash.
- Use
over-the-counter pain medication.
- Use
prescribed medications such as steroid nasal sprays, antibiotics and
anti-fungal.
- Use Air Free Purification Systems in your home to reduce most of the common asthma triggers.
For patients
with recurring sinus
infections or chronic sinusitis:
- Surgery to
clean and drain the sinuses.
- Surgical
repair of nasal polyps or a deviated septum or to remove a foreign
body.
All acute sinus
infections should be treated promptly with continued treatment for 10-14
days. Chronic sinusitis usually takes 3-4 weeks of continuous treatment.
It is vital that sinusitis patients take all their prescribed medication
to avoid complications such as:
- Meningitis-infection
spreading to the brain.
- Osteomyelitis-infection
spreading to the facial bones.
- Sinus
abscesses-pockets of infection in sinus cavities.
- Dental
abscesses-may spread into the sinus directly.
Asthma:
The Allergy Relief Center offers high-quality, physician-recommended
products for asthma relief, asthma prevention and asthma control. The
Allergy Relief Center provides asthma relief and asthma control products
at competitive prices.
More than 17
million Americans, including 5 million children, have asthma, a chronic
lung disease that inflames and constricts the airways. Asthma patients
have difficulty breathing and are often hospitalized. Every year more
than 5,000 people die from asthma and more than half-a-million are
hospitalized for treatment.
Asthma costs,
both direct and indirect, account for nearly $11 billion, and grow every
year.
Although the
cause of asthma is unknown, asthma is increasing among the U. S.
population. During 1980-1994 asthma patients increased by 75 percent. In
many individuals, asthma resembles allergic reactions to
allergens-substances that produce an overreaction of the immune system.
We know that allergies and asthma have a genetic link. Children of two
allergic or asthmatic parents are predisposed to both allergies and
asthma. When asthmatics encounter an asthma trigger, mast cells release
chemicals to fight the trigger and airways become inflamed and
constricted. Asthma can cause permanent damage to lung tissue. Without
treatment asthma attacks can cause death.
Common
asthma triggers:
- Dust
mites
- Pet
dander
- Pollen from
grass, weeds, trees, flowers and shrubs.
- Mold and
mildew
- Dust
- Chemicals
- Tobacco
smoke.
- Air
pollution
- Perfumes
- Colds and
other respiratory infections.
- Exercise
- Cold weather.
Symptoms
of asthma:
- Difficulty
breathing
- Wheezing
- Blue or gray
colored lips and fingernails.
- Chest pain
or tightness in the chest
- Cough
Shortness of breath.
Tips
on controlling sinusitis and asthma:
Since avoiding allergens and asthma triggers is the best solution for
preventing sinusitis and controlling asthma, the Allergy Relief Center
offers these suggestions to make your home an allergen-free haven for
the sinusitis and asthma sufferer:
Avoid
cumulative allergen exposures:
Allergy symptoms grow more severe with each successive allergen
exposure. Like stacking blocks, one too many blocks causes the whole
stack to topple.
Some common
allergies include:
- Airborne
Pollen Allergies-allergies, sinus and asthma symptoms triggered by
trees, grass, plants and flowers
- Dust Mite
Allergies-allergies, sinus and asthma symptoms activated by
microscopic bugs that live in carpets, upholstered furniture, bed
linens, mattresses and box springs, animal dander and house
dust.
- Pet
Allergies-allergies, sinus and asthma symptoms triggered by animal
dander.
- Mold
Allergies-allergies, sinus and asthma symptoms set off by mold,
mildew and fungi, inside and out.
- Food
Allergies-allergies, sinus and asthma symptoms triggered by
something eaten. Although any food can cause an allergy,
life-threatening food allergies can be caused by allergic reactions
to peanuts, shellfish, citrus and monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Allergy
treatment:
Reduce
your exposure to dust mite allergens:
- Remove
carpets and keep upholstered furniture to a minimum.
- If you keep
carpets and upholstered furniture in the home, regular use of ADS
Spray, a tannic acid solution, breaks down dust mite allergens,
pollen allergens, mold spores and animal dander.
- X-Mite,
a moist powder, can be brushed into carpets, allow to dry for three
hours, then vacuumed. X-Mite safely deactivates allergens created by
dust mites, pets and certain pollens. At the same time, X-Mite
cleans and refreshes velvet, velour, corduroy, carpets and other
textiles. Frequent cleaning is important-dust mites constantly
produce the fecal matter that causes allergic reactions.
- Encase your
mattress, box springs and pillows in allergy-free, washable zippered
encasings.
- Place a 3M
Filtrete Allergen Reduction Air Filter or allergy-free
Taskmaster Air Purifier in the bedroom of the allergy
sufferer.
- Hang clothes
in your closet and shut the door, or put them in dresser drawers.
- Wash all
bedding in hot water to reduce the dust mite population.
- Keep pets
out of the bedroom, pet dander is a popular feeding source for dust
mite allergens.
- Cooler
nighttime temperatures (between 68 and 72 degrees) promote better
sleep for the allergic individual.
- Use Air Free Purification Systems to control mold, odors, dust, animal dander as well as some bacteria.
Reduce
your exposure to house dust:
- Leave the
dusting and vacuuming to someone without house dust allergies or
dust mite allergies.
- If you must
dust, wear a dust mask and use Allerdust
Dusting Aid to limit dust allergens and avoid making dust
airborne.
- If you must
vacuum, wear a dust mask or pollen mask to avoid allergens and use a
vacuum cleaner with a anti-allergen high-efficiency HEPA filter,
with a 3M Filtrete Vacuum Bag or a Micro-Lined Anti-Bacterial Vacuum
Bag.
- If you must
vacuum, wear a dust mask
or pollen mask to avoid allergens and use a vacuum
cleaner
with an anti-allergen high-efficiency HEPA
filter, with a
3M Filtrete Vacuum Bag
or a Micro-Lined
Anti-Bacterial Vacuum Bag.
- Also
available are, electrostatically
charges cleaning cloths and dust mops which attract and hold
dust keeping it from becoming airborne. Use a damp mop and damp
cloth on floors, window sills, under furniture, on window blind
slats, bed springs and other dust catchers.
- Keep pets
and pet dander allergens out of the house. Your family's
allergy-free health is more important than the habits of your
pet.
- Install a
high-performance allergy-free electrostatic
air filter in your central air conditioning and heating system
to household dust.
- Wipe kitchen
counters with X-158
surface stabilizer.
Reduce
your exposure to pollens:
- Educate
yourself and your family about the pollen allergy season and the
local pollen allergen timetable.
- Stay indoors
during peak pollen allergy seasons.
- Keep windows
and doors closed. "Fresh air" is not "fresh" for
allergic individuals.
- Caulk and
seal windows to stop pollen and dust infiltration. Wear a pollen
mask when working outside, doing household tasks or grooming
pets.
- Bathe pets
frequently with Allerpet
and keep pets outdoors. Pets bring pollen inside on their fur and
dust mite feast on pet dander.
- Replace
regular filters on air conditioning system air returns with a 3M
Filtrete Allergen Reduction Air Filter.
The
Allergy Relief Center provides quality sinus relief and asthma products,
including:
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