ScooterGirl, my husband seems to get a sinus infection every winter too. My sympathies to both you and your sinuses.
When I went looking for information on how to prevent sinus infections, one of the first things I found was a video on ABC News' web site from Dr. Ralph Metson, a sinus specialist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. His answer:
"Sinus infections can best be prevented by preventing the initial swelling of the nose and membranes that line the sinuses, which predispose one to a sinus infection. Typically that means reducing your exposure to viruses that cause upper respiratory tract infections and colds. Good hygiene, hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, is an excellent way to reduce those infections, particularly during the cold and flu season."
OK, I thought, that's interesting about preventing swelling of the nose and membranes. Let's see if we can find out more about that.
Here are some tips from sinuswars.com on preventing sinus infections:
-- If you have allergies, you are predisposed to inflammation in the nose. Be sure you treat your allergies to try to keep them at bay.
-- Keep the air moist in your home; it makes your sinuses drain better. If it's dry, take hot showers and inhale the steam.
-- Try to avoid polluted environments, they irritate the nasal passages.
-- Don't smoke, of course, and try to stay away from second-hand smoke.
-- Drink plenty of water, which helps thin the mucus and prevent congestion.
-- Minimize dairy products, which actually thicken the mucus, giving you less room in your nasal passages.
-- Avoid swimming and diving -- chlorine can irritate the nasal passages, and diving can force water into the sinuses from the nasal passages.
Fighting allergies seems to be key. Here's a page from Better Nutrition that discusses the allergen's role in this:
I was surprised to find that not only can cold and flu viruses set off sinusitis, almost anything that causes the nasal passages to narrow can start the chain reaction that leads to a sinus infection. Swollen nasal passages can trap bacteria and allow them to multiply and cause infection.
A couple other interesting things from the Medical College of Wisconsin:
"Medicines, too, can set off a nasal reaction with accompanying sinusitis. For example, intolerance to aspirin and other related non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, can be associated with sinusitis in patients with asthma or nasal polyps (small growths on the mucous membrane lining of the sinuses).
"Sometimes, fungal infections can cause acute sinusitis. Although these organisms are abundant in the environment, they usually are harmless to healthy people, indicating that the human body has a natural resistance to them. Fungi, such as Aspergillus and Curvularia, can cause serious illness, in people whose immune systems are not functioning properly. Some people with fungal sinusitis have an allergic-type reaction to the fungi."
Here is their page:
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/946414028.html
It sounds like with care, avoiding a sinus infection this year might be possible. Good luck! Let us know!
Comment Reply
ScooterGirl, my husband seems to get a sinus infection every winter too. My sympathies to both you and your sinuses.
When I went looking for information on how to prevent sinus infections, one of the first things I found was a video on ABC News' web site from Dr. Ralph Metson, a sinus specialist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. His answer:
"Sinus infections can best be prevented by preventing the initial swelling of the nose and membranes that line the sinuses, which predispose one to a sinus infection. Typically that means reducing your exposure to viruses that cause upper respiratory tract infections and colds. Good hygiene, hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, is an excellent way to reduce those infections, particularly during the cold and flu season."
OK, I thought, that's interesting about preventing swelling of the nose and membranes. Let's see if we can find out more about that.
Here are some tips from sinuswars.com on preventing sinus infections:
-- If you have allergies, you are predisposed to inflammation in the nose. Be sure you treat your allergies to try to keep them at bay.
-- Keep the air moist in your home; it makes your sinuses drain better. If it's dry, take hot showers and inhale the steam.
-- Try to avoid polluted environments, they irritate the nasal passages.
-- Don't smoke, of course, and try to stay away from second-hand smoke.
-- Drink plenty of water, which helps thin the mucus and prevent congestion.
-- Minimize dairy products, which actually thicken the mucus, giving you less room in your nasal passages.
-- Avoid swimming and diving -- chlorine can irritate the nasal passages, and diving can force water into the sinuses from the nasal passages.
Fighting allergies seems to be key. Here's a page from Better Nutrition that discusses the allergen's role in this:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_4_69/ai_n18791511
I was surprised to find that not only can cold and flu viruses set off sinusitis, almost anything that causes the nasal passages to narrow can start the chain reaction that leads to a sinus infection. Swollen nasal passages can trap bacteria and allow them to multiply and cause infection.
A couple other interesting things from the Medical College of Wisconsin:
"Medicines, too, can set off a nasal reaction with accompanying sinusitis. For example, intolerance to aspirin and other related non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, can be associated with sinusitis in patients with asthma or nasal polyps (small growths on the mucous membrane lining of the sinuses).
"Sometimes, fungal infections can cause acute sinusitis. Although these organisms are abundant in the environment, they usually are harmless to healthy people, indicating that the human body has a natural resistance to them. Fungi, such as Aspergillus and Curvularia, can cause serious illness, in people whose immune systems are not functioning properly. Some people with fungal sinusitis have an allergic-type reaction to the fungi."
Here is their page:
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/946414028.html
It sounds like with care, avoiding a sinus infection this year might be possible. Good luck! Let us know!
November 13, 2008 - 9:40amThis Comment
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