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General Information on Asthma and Sinus Infections
General Information on Asthma and Sinus Infections
General Information on Asthma and Sinus Infections.
Medical Supplies & Equipment Company, LLC offers high-quality, physician-recommended products for sinus relief, sinus congestion and infection relief, asthma relief and asthma control. Medical Supplies & Equipment Company, LLC is dedicated to providing the 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:
- Install HEPA air filters in bedrooms
- Avoid cigarette smoke, chemical and environmental pollutants
- Avoid temperature extremes
- Avoid bending the head down
- Use humidifiers 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 BreatheoEase XL Nasal Wash
- Use over-the-counter pain medication
- Use prescribed medications such as steroid nasal sprays, antibiotics and anti-fungals
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:
Medical Supplies & Equipment Company, LLC offers high-quality, physician-recommended products for asthma relief, asthma prevention and asthma control. Medical Supplies & Equipment Company, LLC 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, Medical Supplies & Equipment Company, LLC 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:
- Avoidance of Airborne Allergens
- Symptomatic Medications-Drug Therapy
- Immunotherapy-Airborne Allergy Desensitizing Injections
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 Filtrere 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.
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 and Allergex Dust Control Spray 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 cleane with an anti-allergen high-efficiency HEPA filters, with a 3M Filtrete Vacuum Bag or a Micro-Lined Anti-Bacterial Vacuum Bag.
- Also available are 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.
Medical Supplies & Equipment Company, LLC provides quality sinus relief and asthma products, including:
