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Sinus Problems
Questions and Answers

What are the sinuses?
They are hollow empty spaces or cavities mostly within the face. They reduce the weight of the skull, protect and insulate it and gives resonance to the voice. They also humidify, warm and filter the air that passes through the nose. They are lined with a membrane that procuces mucus and has thousands of hairlike organellles called cilia which move mucus and other elements to keep the sinuse cavities healthy and functioning properly.

How many sinuses are there?
There are four pairs or a total o eigh cavities: The maxillary in the cheek areas. The frontal above the eye brows. The ethmoid between and behind the eye areas. The sphenoid in the center of the head.

What causes sinus problems?
Viruses, "colds,"allergies, mucus, congestion allowed to stagnate, smog, very dry air, certain foods, almost anything that would irritate the sinuses membranes on a regular basis could cause them. Unknown to many, house dust can be a powerful allergenic and can cause sinus afflictions and excessive sinus drainage.

Are sinus problems preventable?
The answer may vary depending on who you ask. A person with a genetic predisposition to them obviously will have a more difficult time with prevention than one who does not. In both cases lifestyle--food, drink, physical exercise, relaxation, spiritual values--may be the key to prevention. Over time, however, anything that irritates the sinuses on a regular basis will probably cause sinus problems. In any case lifestyle can lessen or exacerbate sinus problems like sinus drainage, pressure, congestion. On the other hand there are some specific things one can do to prevent, as much as possible, sinus problems:

• maintain the sinus clear at all time through:
  • acupressure
  • herbals
  • sinus irrigation
• avoid mucus producing foods
• allow full nerve energy to flow through the spinal cord
  • to improve general health
  • to give immune system better chance to fight, etc.
• drink as much pure water as possbile thorughout the day
• take herbal remedies at the first sign of a sinus problem

What is sinusitis?
It is an infection or inflammation of the sinuses. Often it starts with a cold, flu or allergy attack that makes the nasal membranes swell and increase the production of watery mucus. If the sinuses become blocked and the mucus and air cannot flow easily between the nose and sinuses, pressure builds up in the latter creating pain. In such cases the stage is set for a bacteria to grow and a bacterial sinusitis; unless air and mucus begin flowing again soon enough.

What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
One does not need to have all these symptoms:

• facial pain, congestion, pressure
• nasal discharge--often yellow or green
• reduced ability to breath normally through the nose
• loss of the sense of smell and/or taste
• fever, fatigue
• chronic cough
• phlegm
• bad breath

At times some of these symptoms can also apply to other medical conditions, this makes sinusitis difficult to diagnose.

What is the best way to treat sinusitis?
To go to the root cause of the problem not just to treat symptoms. This is the approach I used very successfully. OTC remedies help cope with the symptoms stress.

What is sinus congestion?
This occurs when the sinus cannot be kept clear so that mucus and air can flow freely, mucus accumulates in the sinus cavities. Or it cannot flow fast enough to the back of the throat or from the nasal passages. This condition is often produced by some irritant in the environment like pollens, some foods, or a cold, or the flu.

What is the best way to treat sinus congestion?
There are a number of medications sold over-the-counter which usually treat the symtoms of this condition satisfactorily. Would it become a chronic problem a physician should then be seen.

The green snot, what is ist?
Green snot is mucus usually associated with a sinus infection. I can be the last stage of the infection. Snort or mucus has poweful enzymes and chemicals to destroy invading germs that would otherwise infect our breathing organs. One co-enzyme that arrives to battle those germs is the myeloperoxidase; one which contains iron elements which give the mucus the green color.

What is PND--post-nasal drip--or sinus drainage?
Whenever there is an irritation of the nasal passages whether by environmental elements such as pollens, dust, smog, "colds," etc., the sinus and nose membranes produce an abnormanl amount of mucus or histamine which is intended to wash away the irritation. This excessive amount of secretions that go down the back of the throat is the PND or excessive drainage.

In many instances the post-nasal drip goes away when the the irritant ceases to affect the nasal membranes. If the flow is blocked it will accumulate and result in sinus pressure and pain. Thus antihistamines remedies are used to neutralize the effect of histamine in the body. They can be purchased over-the-counter. Should this condition last por a prolonged period then a physician should be consulted.

What is sinus pain or headache?
Sinus cavities fill with mucus because the sinus openings are blocked and mucus and air cannot flow through. The swollen sinuses cannot drain and pressure builds up and pain results. Or when the nose cavity is congested and runny or filled with mucus, it is probably a so called "sinus headache." Sometimes allergens in house dust can cause this kind of discomfort.

What is the best way to treat sinus pain?
Some of us use acupressure to open the sinuses so they can begin to drain and release pressure. Or one can use one of a nunber of over-the-counter medications which are intended to do that. If this condition lasts more than a few days, then a physician should be consulted. The problem is probably a sinus infection which would require an antibiotic; which can only be dispensed by prescription. Or sinus pressure.

There are differences of opinion. Most people with sinus issues I have talked with and who have experimented by eating certain foods, and then not eating them and have evaluated the results, have told me that two foods, let's call them food #1 and food #2 definitely made a difference. This has also been my own personal experience.

Is there any such thing as foods good for sinus problems?
As indicated, above, some would argue food has nothing to do with sinus problems. Scientific research has demonstrated otherwise. For example, the German Government's Commission E has published the results of scientific research it conducted on 150 medicinal herbs. The conclusions showed that some herbs do alleviate certain ailments and in some cases they can be as effective as prescription medications. Thus we can say that certain herbal foods--botanicals--can be good for sinus problems. Especially considering that some of the botanicals they researched have proven to contain natural antiviral and antibiotic properties; these are needed sometimes to treat sinus issues like sinus drainage, congestion, phlegm, pressure, pain. An excellent way to promote sinus health is by fasting one day per week or every two weeks. It detoxifies, cleanses the body thereby boosting the healing properties of the immune system.

Are sinus ailments such as congestion, sinusitis, pressure, etc., transmittable?
That depends on which kind of sinus ailment we are talking about. Any sinusitis or excessive drainage or discharge connected with a viral sinus issue can be transmitted to another person through coughing, mucus, or some other means of physical contact with the virus, just like the flu. Many sinus ailments are not virus connected. For example, allergic reactions often cause sinus problems--such as sinus pressure and some sinus pressure symptoms--,which are not connected with a virus. And some of the medications used for the relief of sinus pressure symptoms can be used to relieve ofther sinus ailment symptoms.

Do antibiotics cure sinus problems?
Antibiotics are used mostly to treat infections. To the degree that a sinus issue may involve a bacterial infection they would usually be employed to kill it, but not if it is a viral infection. Antibiotics do nothing to viruses.

Why is a sinus nasal discharge sometimes green or yellow?
A sinus infection can produce a thick, sticky mucus with pus discharge or drainage which has a yellowish or greenish color. A nasal discharge should not be confused with phlegm which is produced by the lungs and should always be coughed up and out through the mouth.

What is the best way to decongest the sinuses?
The answer varies depending on which healing system a person decides to use: medicine, homeopathy, acupressure (also know as sinus pressure points), chiropractic, botanicals, etc. For this particular sinus issue I use acupressure very successfully or sinus rinse. By pressing one specific point on the back of my neck I can drain my sinuses in a few minutes. It's free, no side effects, conven-ient and takes just a few moments. Inhalations are also good, but you should be careful not to harm the cilia which lines the nasal and sinus cavities. Take care of congestion and sinus pressure right away.

Is there a connection between sinus infections and allergies?
A main cause of sinus problems is allergies to the environment: pollens, smog, dry air, house dust, chemical substances one is exposed to, etc. The reason is that they irritate the sinuses which in turn can an inflcause congestion, PND, pressure, headache, etc. Whenever pollens and house dust are the allergens and the allergy is severe--and so the accompanying sinus problem--allergy injections are often used to alleviate the problem.

Are rhinitis and sinusitis related
Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane linig the nasal cavity. While sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus cavity membranes. While these two ailments are not related per se, a chronic case of rhinitis can be associated with allergens, viruses or bacteria which could eventiually affect the sinus cavities also. Some of the symptoms of one may mimic some of the others'.