Tonsillitis is a condition, which is characterized by infection of the tonsils in your throat. The tonsils are a pair of lymph nodes that are situated in the throat; its primary function is to protect the body from various infections. Although the disorder can occur at any age, it is majorly common among children. A large number of bacteria or viruses can cause this disorder, but the most serious symptoms occur when it is caused by the streptococcal bacteria.

Causes

The first defense mechanism of the body is made up of the tonsils. They synthesize white blood cells which fight against infections. Although tonsils combat these infections, at times, they can fall prey to the same, thus resulting in tonsillitis. Tonsillitis can be caused by both virus and bacteria; however, it is mostly caused by the former. Kids and school going children are very vulnerable to this disorder as they can come in contact with harmful viruses and bacteria very easily.

Symptoms

You will experience symptoms such as a sore throat, bad breath and have difficulty in speaking. Swelling of the tonsils will also make swallowing of food a difficult affair. Other symptoms of tonsillitis are stomach cramps, fever and headaches. The neck and the jaw may also feel tender due to the swollen lymph nodes.

Treatment

If the symptoms are mild, then it usually does not require any specific treatment. For severe symptoms, antibiotics are prescribed to combat the bacteria that caused the infection in the first place. Chronic cases of this disorder warrant a surgery known as tonsillectomy. This is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils. In case of dehydration, intravenous fluids are administered. In addition to these treatment methods, there are certain home remedies that you can follow. The tips you can follow are:

Keep yourself well hydrated
Use a humidifier
Gargle with lukewarm water mixed with salt, regularly

Tonsillitis - Easy Home Remedies to Help You Treat it 

A nose bleed can take place due to a number of reasons, which usually all boil down to acute dryness of the nasal passages. The nosebleed and dryness can stem from sinus, allergic reactions, constant blowing of the nose, infections, and also during very harsh winter months when there is no lubrication in the nose. Nose bleed can also occur due due to conditions, such as high blood pressure and when a foreign object gets stuck inside the nose. Here are a few tips on treating nosebleeds.


1. First step: the very first action when you experience a nose bleed should be to sit down. Once you are sitting, you should firmly pinch the spot that is soft. This lies just above the nostril. Do this for at least ten to fifteen minutes. The trick is to stay upright rather than lying down as this will bring down the blood pressure in the nasal blood vessels to stop further bleeding.


2. Breathe: breathe with your mouth as you lean forward to help in draining the blood into your nose, rather than out of it or towards the throat.


3. Ice compress: find a bag of frozen corn or peas in your freezer or an ice pack, and press this firmly against the nose to help in stemming the bleeding. As you are doing so, do not forget to cover the bridge of your nose with a towel so that it prevents you from catching a cold.


4. Medication and side effects: if you are on any kind of anticoagulants that end up thinning the blood, then you may immediately want to see your doctor about a possible side effects and a change in the medication. This could also be an effect of haemophilia where the bleeding does not stop.


5. Children: if a child who is under the age of two years suffers from such nosebleeds, then you will need to rush him or her to the doctor immediately as it could point at a more serious problem.


6. Anaemia: nose bleeds could also suggest the presence of anaemia, so you may want to see your doctor about lab tests to determine and possibly rule out this cause. You can also start medication accordingly for this kind of an ailment.


7. Nasal packing: the doctor can carry out this procedure with the help of gauze that can seal the spot where the bleeding is happening.


8. Cautery: this is a minor procedure that involves burning the blood vessel that is causing the persistent bleeding with a stick of silver nitrate. The stick will be inserted after local anaesthesia is administered to the patient.

You must see a doctor for severe and prolonged bleeding.

How to Treat a Nosebleed

Dizziness, vertigo and balance issues are common symptoms and most of us may have experienced momentary symptoms. It is a sensation of feeling a movement even after the movement has stopped. For example the sensation we feel when we get off a merry-go-round or feeling butterflies in the stomach when we are on a roller coaster ride. Imagine if these symptoms are constant and start affecting our day to day activities. Even a simple task of walking can be bothersome as we may feel like our body is drifted and we cannot balance properly. We may feel a severe spinning sensation when we change position from lying down to sitting or rolling over in bed. It can also cause fear, anxiety and make us limit our movements and activities. These may cause more complications such as neck pain, headaches, body pains and depression. It is therefore very important to find out the root cause of vertigo and treat it immediately.

Dizziness is a sensation of light-headedness or unsteadiness. It can be caused heart disease, brain related causes like stroke, prolong illness, psychological issues, side effect of certain medications, blood pressure fluctuations and many other conditions. Neck stiffness, pain and weakness can also cause dizziness called Cervicogenic dizziness or Cervical Vertigo.
Vertigo is a spinning sensation or a feeling of motion when we are not moving. Its a common symptom in inner ear disorders. Some of the conditions that cause vertigo are: BPPV or Positional Vertigo, Meniere's, Labrynthitis, Vestibular Migraines, Vestibular neuritis, mal de barquement syndrome, perilymph fistula, toxicity of ears due to certain antibiotics, acoustic neuroma etc.
Balance problems or Disequilibrium means unsteadiness, imbalance or loss of equilibrium. It can occur as a primary symptom or with vertigo and dizziness.
You need to consult a Vestibular Therapist or Vertigo specialist who can diagnose your problem correctly. If you have Positional Vertigo known as BPPV then specific tests and manevers can help cure it completely. If there is inner ear disease such as Menieres disease, ear infections, labrynthitis or vestibular neuritis then proper medications prescribed by ENT specilialist and Vestibular Therapy can help you get rid of vertigo. In case the symptoms are related to Central nervous system (Brain) then promt treatment from Neurologist and Vestibular Therapist can help decrease vertigo and improve daily activities. If the symptoms are related to the neck called Cervical Vertigo or Cervicogenic Dizzienss then proper treatment of neck by a Vestibular Physiotherapist can help. Also making sure the posture is good when working on computer/laptops for prolong periods can prevent strain and reduce dizziness related to neck and back muscle tightness.

Vertigo & Dizziness - How You Can Get Rid Of It With Physiotherapy?

Swimmer's ear is an infection of the ear canal, the passage that carries sounds from the outside of the body to the eardrum. It can be caused by many different types of bacteria or fungi.

Swimmer s ear is a kind of infection which occurs in the outer ear canal and it results in an infected ear canal, long-term pain and irritation. Swimmer s ear, as you can understand by the name, is referred in such a way because it is caused by water which is left inside the ear after swimming. The stuck water inside the canal gets damp where bacteria and fungus grows and results in an infection. Now we will discuss what are the causes that can bring such a condition.

Causes of Swimmer s Ear - There are many reasons because of which people suffer from a swimmer s ear: The entry of too much water inside the ear canal, leaves a part of it inside the ear which eventually allows bacteria to infest. The overcleaning of the ear canal with cotton buds causes the ear wax to come out which allows water to enter. When cosmetic chemicals like hair spray, enter the ears, it causes a sensitive chemical reaction which can lead to infection. Careless scratching inside the ear can result in small cuts inside the sensitive canal, where bacteria can infest. Swimming in water without covering your ears can also cause this.

So next time when you are swimming or scratching your ear without safety, remember that it can cause a swimmer s ear. But you may have a question in mind, how will I know if I am suffering from this? We have thus listed the symptoms as well.

Symptoms of Swimmer s Ear-

Constant itching and irritation inside the ear. The pain or itching increases when you pull your year or chew something. There is an acute sensation of blockage inside the ear which is caused because of this condition and results in reduced levels of hearing. Someone suffering from swimmer's ear will have pus or ear fluids draining out from their ears.

Swimmer s ear condition can be easily prevented if you follow some simple but very effective steps like blocking your ear with buds while swimming, cleaning the ear softly so that no water remains stuck etc. If you neglect any of the symptoms, they can result in a very chronic disease which can even result in hearing loss. So read through our article and understand what Swimmer s ear is. 

Swimmer's Ear - What Causes It?

Sinusitis refers to an extremely painful condition caused due to the inflammation and swelling of sinuses. A host of causes contribute to sinusitis, chief among them being allergies, air pollution or sometimes infection. It causes extreme discomfort, throbbing headache, sore throat and a blocked nose. Though different branches of medicines have tried in their own ways of dealing with this problem, ayurveda with its reliance on natural products as remedial measures have emerged as a clear favorite. Some of the ayurvedic remedies for sinusitis are-

1. Inhalation of steam with tulsi
The benefits of tulsi are widespread and need little introduction. The ambit of its advantages is expansive, making its presence felt even in treating sinusitis. In case of severe bouts of sinusitis, it is highly recommended that you inhale steam with tulsi almost every day in the week.

2. Have ginger along with honey
Another way of treating acute pangs of sinusitis is by making a paste of ginger and honey. Make small tablets of this mixture and for most effective results it is advisable that you have it every day.

3. Avoid certain food
Just how incorporating certain food in the diet help in reducing the pain of sinusitis, eliminating few, often times help you to achieve the same purpose. When you suffer from sinusitis, it is only advisable that you diligently avoid dairy products like milk, yoghurt as well as intoxicants like cigarettes and alcohol.

4. Lemon juice and water
In the initial stages of sinusitis, having a daily concoction of lemon juice and water is considered very beneficial. During this phase maintaining a light diet is advisable.

5. Practice pranayama
The gamut of ayurvedic remedies includes not only the prescription of what to eat and what to avoid but also several exercises that help in expediting the process of recovery. Among them, pranayama with its focus on control and regulation of breath is particularly beneficial in curing sinusitis.

Ayurvedic Remedies for Sinusitis

Have you tried a host of conventional therapies, taken numerous medications, consulted the best physicians - but a cure still seems elusive?

If you are looking for a faster and completely natural method of healing from these balance disorders, Ayurveda is your best option.

What is Tinnitus?
The word tinnitus is a latin derivative meaning  to ring . In this condition, the person suffers from a disparity of sound in both ears without any external noise present, like hissing, roaring clicking, whistling and others.The ringing can be sporadic or continuous and the volume ranges from minute to blooming to clamourous.

Tinnitus has also been associated with-

Sensorineural hearing loss in people with a vata dominant type of body
Pulsatile tinnitus or rhythmic pulsing, a thumping sound that coordinates with the heartbeat.
Globally, 50 million, which is 10-18% of the total population, suffer from tinnitus.

What is Vertigo?
Vertigo is characterized by a feeling of sudden rush in the head which leads to swaying or spinning. This makes it difficult to stand in an upright position. Ayurveda calls it  brahma .

Causes-
Ayurveda states that vertigo is an outcome of  pitta and vatta dosha .

When these  doshas  becomes overactive, it imbalances the entire functioning system and causes irritating sensations like ringing in the ears.
 Vestibular imbalance  in the inner portion of the ear is another reason causing vertigo
When adequate oxygen flow to the ear is disrupted, it also causes abnormal ringing in the ears
Treatment-
Panchakarma is a five (pancha) therapy (karma) which makes use of complete ayurvedic techniques in detoxification and body-mind healing. It eliminates diseases from their roots by examining individual needs like the body constitution, pitta dosha, age, digestive fire, and other factors. It is a proven therapy to restore the optimal health of the body, vitality and inner balance.

This rejuvenating program believes in two major treatment methods-  shodhana  and  shamana . Shodhana is cleansing of the body and Shamana refers to treatment with medications.

1. Panchakarma to treat Tinnitus

Nasya or errhine medications- Nose drop oils like vacha calms and balance the prana vayu. The oil is warmed, put in one nostril and it flows out of the other. This removes excess vata from the head and the neck area.
Abhyanga is of two types- Shiroabhyanga is a head massage and padabhyanga is a foot massage. In padabhyanga the soles of the feet are rubbed with warm sesame oil which calms the prana vayu. The oil penetrates deep into the skin, relaxes the body, nourishes every starved cell and removes excess waste products. It propels arterial and lymphatic circulation.
Karnapoorna or ear drops are used to relax the vata in the ears. Approximately ten drops of sesame oil is applied and allowed to stay for five-ten minutes. The ear is cleaned and the process is repeated for the other ear.
Kawala and Gandush is the gargling of specific medicated oils or kawath (liquid). It provides strength to the nerves of the ears and appeases the vata gandush.
2. Panchakarma to treat Vertigo
The science of Ayurveda does not state vertigo as a chronic disease. Rather it is a disorder of the nervous system. The vitiated pitta is responsible for causing the spinning sensation. This is where the Ayurvedic method of Panchakarma benefits the human body by balancing the pitta and purifying it. The healing techniques include-

Abhyanga or regular oil massaging
Swedana or treatment by applying herbal steam
Lymphatic massage
Basti or medicated enemas
Nasya or administering oils through the nostrils

Tinnitus And Vertigo Management With Panchakarma!

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