by Jason Samanski

There are approximatley 35 million people in the United States that suffer from Chronic Sinusitis.  That is roughly one out of every seven Americans.  Typically, sinusitis is the result of a viral or bacterial infection that began because of poor drainage or ventilation of the sinuses.  Pneumococci, streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrrhalis are the bacteria responsible for causing most sinusitis symptoms.  Chronic Sinusitis is often caused by staphylococci and gram negative bacteria.

Each year millions of Americans take a long list of over the counter medications along with antibiotics, steroids and other prescription medications.  Multiple trips back to most doctors yield the same diagnoses and standard treatment protocol of an antibiotic and any one of a multiple of combinations including an oral steroid, nasal steroid, decongestants, antihistamines, expectorants, cough suppressants, etc.

Do you ever find yourself questioning this endless cycle?  Are you frustrated by the inconvenience of having to return to a physician’s office or other patient caregiver repeatedly to receive temporary or at times, marginal results?

Unless you have an anatomical problem that requires a surgical procedure performed by an ENT Surgeon, you do have another option.  Sinus Irrigation is an effective technique used by many ENT surgeons after surgery to keep the nose free of bacteria.  Many provide lavage bottles to deliver a salt water solution into the nasal cavity to rinse the nose of topical allergens and bacteria that may lead to a sinus infection. 

However, there is a more effective form of sinus irrigation called pulsatile irrigation offered by the company Respiraid.  Pulsatile irrigation delivers a gentle pulsating stream of a buffered saline solution into one nostril that flows out the nostril on the other side.  This device not only washes away topical allergens and nasal irritants; its pulsating action actually removes the thick, sticky, infectious bio-film that is preventing the cilia in your sinus passages from working efficiently.  Cilia are microscopic hair-like appendages that work synergistically with mucous to trap allergens, bacteria, viruses and fungus and clear them down the back of your throat.

Here is the bottom line; if you like the results you are getting then keep on doing what you are doing.  If not, it may be time to consider an alternative approach that requires personal responsibility.  Learning to partner with your health care practitioner to preventively treat chronic sinusitis has the potential to yield relief and long lasting results.  After you shave, brush your teeth, pluck your eye brows, paint your nails and comb your hair, please consider practicing good nasal hygiene and flush your nose!

All patients are encouraged to direct their specific questions to their personal physicians. The information is written to help patients better understand and participate in their own medical care.

Posted via web from respiraid’s posterous

by Jason Samanski

Snoring is estimated to affect approximately 20% of the population.  Unfortunately, spouses are often the collateral damage; having to endure the deafening, bed-quaking rumblings of a loved one challenged by chronic snoring.  Obstructed airflow is ultimately responsible for invoking the resonation of the soft tissue structures lining a person’s throat.  The usual suspects vibrating include the tonsils, uvula and soft palate.  There are also anatomical deformities such as a deviated septum, nasal polyps or excess tissue in the throat that may contribute to the nightly percussion ensemble.

However, for many, the solution may be as simple as addressing sinus symptoms created by sinusitis and/or allergies.  You may be thinking to yourself right about now, “well my husband or wife is already taking antihistamines, decongestants, steroids and other medications and the music keeps on playing!” 

Have you considered Sinus Irrigation? 

Sinus Irrigation’s technological evolution from Neti Pots and Lavage Bottles makes it more effective and convenient for Chronic Allergy and Sinusitis Sufferers to use daily; resulting in immediate natural relief and control of their sinus symptoms.

How Does It Work?

Chronic Sinusitis and Nasal Allergy Sufferers often have a dysfunctional mucociliary system.  The mucociliary system is a complex network of mucous and cilia that work together to trap and remove debris out of the nose and to the back of the throat for elimination.  Mucous is to cilia as a spider web is to a spider.  The spider’s web is designed to capture food for the spider inhabiting the silk trap.  If the web collects undesirable debris blown into it by the wind, the insects the spider seeks to capture may easily escape. 

Similarly, if the mucous produced by the body becomes infected by the toxins produced by a person’s over-reactive immune system, bacteria or viruses; the thick infectious bio film obstructs the microscopic hair-like cilia from energetically pulsating backward and forward.  When the cilia in the nose shut down, the transfer of mucous to the back of the throat for disposal thorough the digestive tract is compromised.  Visualize what happens when your garbage disposal is broken; typically the only direction the water migrates is up the pipe instead of down the drain.  Likewise, when the nose is congested and stopped up; the tacky infectious mucous has to be manipulated out of the nostrils.  For many, the forced expulsion of this material is attempted by blowing their brains out; often causing retrograde (back flowing) of the infectious mucous into their upper sinus cavities and spreading the infection. 

Pulsatile Sinus Irrigation provides a practical solution to restoring the proper functioning of the mucociliary system.  Respiraid offers an inexpensive device that delivers a pulsating buffered salt water solution that removes the bio film and soothes the sinus passages.  Moreover, if the cilia are functioning properly, daily use of the machine during periods of seasonal allergy challenges will help cleanse the nose of the allergens that lead to sinus infections.

Bottom line, if you want to reduce or eliminate snoring, consider flushing out the gunk that is obstructing the normal flow of oxygen through the nose and into the lungs. 

Understanding your disease and to how to responsibly care for yourself helps improve your chances of effectively managing or overcoming chronic conditions.  If you have specific questions concerning your disease, always consult with your medical provider.

Posted via web from respiraid’s posterous

by Jason Samanski

Allergic Rhinitis is simply the inflammation of the nasal mucosa, the nasal lining inside of your nose.  Allergic Rhinitis is commonly linked to allergies.   Allergic Rhinitis may be seasonal or perennial (lasting year round).  If you are experiencing sinus congestion, sinus headaches, post nasal drip, a runny nose, burning and watering eyes; you are probably allergic to something in the environment in which you work, play, live or sleep.

There is also a non-allergic form of rhinitis that is triggered by fluctuations in the environment or in the biological processes of the body.  Environmental factors may include smoke, temperature and humidity changes, chemical irritants and medications.  Changes in a person’s biological processes such as puberty, pregnancy and their menstrual cycle may trigger the aggravating symptoms of sinus congestion, post nasal drip and a runny nose.

Here are some simple practical strategies to obtain allergies treatment and to better manage your allergy symptoms:

Nasal hygiene is one of the quickest methods to get immediate natural relief.   Sinus Irrigation flushes out the pollens, mold, fungus, pet dander, insect waste, and chemical irritants that are triggering the symptoms inside of your nose.  Pulsatile Irrigation administers a soothing stream of a saline solution into each nostril.  Pulsatile Irrigation not only cleans out the allergens causing your misery; Pulsatile Irrigation also removes static mucous that collects bacterial and viral causing sinusitis pathogens.  Respiraid is a company that offers an affordable Pulsatile Irrigation System.

Seek out the assistance of an Allergist or ENT physician to be skin tested.  Skin testing will help determine which allergens you display the greatest sensitivity too.  Once allergen sensitivity has been determined, you can develop a strategic plan to eliminate or avoid your exposure.  Dust mite sensitivity may involve replacing carpet with hardwood floors or purchasing a dust mite insecticide to kill and control the populations of these microscopic critters defecating all over your carpet.  Pet sensitivity may require the animal being transitioned outdoors or found a new home.  If you are like most people, you are probably unwilling to give up your beloved pets.  The good news is you can commit to receiving immunotherapy injections over a two to four year period to determine if your Allergist or ENT physician can desensitize you to your pets.  If you decide to receive allergy shots, you might as well consult with your physician about attempting to desensitize to as many allergens as possible. It is reported that approximately 70 % of people receiving immunotherapy injections experience a reduction in their symptoms.

Cromolyn Sodium is an effective mast cell stabilizer.  Nasalcrom nasal spray is an over the counter medication that stabilizes the cellular structure of mast cells in your nose.  These tiny cells pack a powerful punch for the allergic rhinitis sufferer.  Mast cells release histamine, one of many biological chemicals responsible for triggering your nasal symptoms.  Nasalcrom could take weeks to begin stabilizing the mast cells.  To maximize the amount of medication that comes into contact with you nasal mucosa, remember to irrigate the nose with a Pulsatile Irrigation System.  Mast cells also release newly formed mediators that attract inflammatory cells to your nose within four to six hours.  Your physician can prescribe a nasal steroid to help diminish this late stage reaction that contributes to your sinus congestion and headaches.

Here is the bottom line, Pulsatile Irrigation can help clear out the gunk in your nose and provide immediate relief to your nasal congestion and sinus headaches naturally.  Seek out a Board Certified Allergist or ENT to discuss skin testing, immunotherapy and practical approaches to avoid allergic triggers of your symptoms.

Always consult the advice of your physician before adopting any approach to treating your medical conditions.  This article is intended to educate and inform sinus sufferers how to seek out qualified medical care and take preventative steps to achieve relief for their condition.  

Posted via web from respiraid’s posterous

by Jason Samanski

Sinusitis and Allergies negatively impact tens of millions of Americans in the workplace, at home and at leisure.  Each year they suffer the same symptoms because they continue to treat their conditions by blindly following commercials designed to market medications targeting symptom relief for sinus headaches, sinus congestion, post nasal drip and a runny nose.  Eventually the body develops resistance to the pharmacologic effects of these medications, and newer generations of antihistamines, decongestants, expectorants, nasal steroids and antibiotics have to be utilized to obtain some form of relief as the body battles to fight off symptoms and/or infection.

You may be thinking right about now; “what else can I possibly do?”

Below is a simple phrase, direct and comical, that should help you to remember how to begin treating the underlying condition instead of just seeking symptomatic relief: 

Hose Your Nose!

I do not mean spraying a garden hose into each nostril and flushing your nose like a car radiator.  One of the most effective allergy remedies for removing pollens, animal dander, insect waste, molds and chemical irritants is by practicing some form of sinus irrigation.  There are several forms of sinus irrigation that are adopted by individuals fortunate enough to have been made aware that this solution even exists.  I only recently became aware of nasal irrigation a few years ago and I am into my mid forties.  However, not all forms of sinus irrigation provide the same level of effectiveness to relieve sinus sufferers of their symptoms and to restore their noses to top working condition. 

For your consideration:

The neti pot is a plastic, ceramic or metal container that looks very similar to Aladdin’s lamp or a distorted tea kettle.  The neti pot is filled with a salt water solution and the spout is directed into one nostril and poured into the nose.  People often report the awkwardness and messiness resulting from using a neti pot.  It does provide some benefit to rinse the nose of allergens that are in contact with the inner lining of the nose.  However, it is limited in scope to efficiently cleanse the cilia in the nose of gummy, infectious mucous; the bulk of the solution poured into the nose flows directly over the top of the bio film covering the cilia.  If the hair-like cilia in your nose are unable to oscillate freely, the mucous in your nose becomes stagnant and breeding grounds for bacterial and viral infections.

Lavage bottles or sinus rinse bottles hold a salt water solution.  When squeezed a large volume of water is channeled through a spout and forced into a nostril.  Once again, they may be effective at rinsing out allergens; however, the solution typically will flow over the top of the bio film covering the cilia.  Sinus irrigation is most effective when you restore the mucociliary system to transport mucous to the back of the throat.

The good news is that neti pots and lavage bottles have been dramatically improved upon.  Pulsatile Irrigation Systems delivers a soothing stream of a saline solution into your nostrils that provides immediate natural relief.  Pulsatile Irrigation accomplishes two different objectives.  First, it flushes out the reactive allergens adhering to the inside of your nose.  Second, the pulsating action of the saline solution gently erodes way the thick, infectious bio film preventing the mucociliary system from performing the function of ridding the nose of debris.  Respiraid is a company with the mission to help people breathe more freely and distributes a cost effective and convenient to use Pulsatile Irrigation System.

Here is the bottom line; washing out a cut or laceration is common protocol to prevent infection.  Does it not make sense to clean your nose? 

The purpose of this article is to inspire people to think more practically about how to treat their underlying sinus conditions.  Medication does play an important role in alleviating symptoms and promoting healing when appropriate.  Consult your medical provider to discern how you may be able to reduce your dependence upon or increase the effectiveness of medications designed to help sufferers of sinusitis and allergies.

Posted via web from respiraid’s posterous