Sinusitis - Symptom, Treatment And Causes

There is probably no house in India, where dishes are prepared without the use of ginger. It forms an amazing spice that is savoury, both for spicy and sweet dishes and as a result, most Indian dishes include this spice for making them tastier and healthier. But did you know that both fresh and dried ginger has medicinal properties as well?

Here are the top 13 benefits proffered by ginger

1. Healing properties: Ginger can be used as a fresh root or a milled powder for healing all kinds of sores and cuts and it prevents spread of infections.

2. Helps in relieving pain: If you can boil ginger for a short time and drink the liquid, it can help in alleviating the chronic and acute pain caused by arthritis, rheumatism, abdominal cramps, back pain, bronchial asthma and bronchitis, neck stiffness, inflammation in the kidney and liver.

3. Regenerating properties: Ginger can help in increasing the blood circulation, eliminating toxins and regenerating the tissues that have been harmed with any kind of disease.

4. Fat burning abilities: Ginger can act as a fat burner and aids in weight loss. It can create a feeling of fullness and reduces sudden food craving so that you will not have to snack in between meals.

5. Anti-inflammatory properties: Regardless of what has triggered the cause of pain, ginger has the potential to set you free from it owing to the anti-inflammatory properties contained in ginger roots.

6. Helps in relieving sinusitis: Ginger has a notable impact on the health of those suffering from sinusitis. If you are suffering from asthma, you may have it too.

7. Alleviating nausea: Ginger root can soothe the nerve and can prevent headache, vomiting and migraine. It can relieve you from tiredness and soreness of muscles caused due to long voyages.

8. Fighting abdominal discomfort: By consuming ginger tea on regular basis, your digestion, as well as food absorption, can be prevented.

9. Reduction of inflammation: Ginger root helps in soothing swollen joints and tired muscles. It is also recommended for relieving pain and burning sensation.

10. Fighting menstrual problems: Dipping a towel in ginger tea and putting in the region of the uterus can aid in relaxing the muscles.

11. Relieving stress: A cupful of ginger tea can aid in improving the mood and reducing stress and tension.

12. Empowering the immune system: The antioxidants contained in ginger roots can help in strengthening the immunity system by reducing stroke risk and cleaning arteries.

13. Treating cancer: It has been proven that ginger tea can kill cancer cells.

There are specific rules and ways of consuming Aadrak (ginger) by people of different constitutions and regions. An Ayurvedic constitutional examination can help you in understanding which and when is the best way for you to consume ginger.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Kapha is responsible for governing all body functions related to lubrication. Some of the typical body functions that Kapha has a direct impact upon includes lubrication of lungs and joints, body weight, growth, and formation of the seven tissues- fat, bone marrow, nutritive fluid, reproductive tissues and fat. There could be several symptoms indicating an imbalance of Kapha in the system.

Some of them include the following:

1. Mind: An increased Kapha of the mind is characterised by symptoms, such as a feeling of lethargy, drowsiness, and sluggishness, excessive sleep, feeling of depression and melancholy, laziness and brain fog. An accumulation of Kapha in the mind can lead to severe depression, withdrawal symptoms, diabetic coma and frequent loss of consciousness.
2. Digestive tract: Kapha can wreak havoc on the digestive tract. Some early signs of Kapha accumulation in the digestive tract include a heavy feeling in the stomach, indigestion, excess salivation, poor appetite, nausea, slow metabolism etc. As a result of excess Kapha, the stool can be sticky, pale, heavy and oily. This can lead to diabetes and mucoid diarrhea. If not treated early excess Kapha can lead to hyperglycemia, anorexia nervosa, and blood in the stool.
3. Kapha accumulation in skin, adipose tissue, muscles and circulatory system: An accumulation of Kapha in other parts of the body can lead to hypertension, itching, lipoma formation, cold sweat, swollen lymph, pallor, low strength of the body, itching etc. In the case of long standing Kapha accumulation some serious aggravation from the present condition can lead to obesity, thrombosis, leukaemia, malignant tumours, edema, high cholesterol, blood stagnation, hypertrophy, heart failure etc.
4. Kapha in respiratory system: Kapha in the respiratory tract can lead to coughs, hay fever, sinuses, nasal crust, chest pain, runny nose, excess mucus and frequent cold. If the existing condition becomes serious and treatment is not done on time, some serious complications can lead to cystic fibrosis, sinus infections, excess phlegm in the throat, chronic sinus etc.
5. Other parts of the body: If Kapha accumulates in other parts of the body it can lead to symptoms such as excess urination, low libido, premature ejaculation, heavy testicles, swelling of the joints, dental tartar, sex desire, fibrocystic lumps, goiter, enlarged spleen, gallstones, endometriosis, cystic ovary, lordosis, protruded eyes, heavy feeling of the eye, prostate enlargement, white urine, neurofibromas, hydrocephalus, gangrene , prolonged menstrual cycle osteoma, kyphosis, prostatic calculi, bone spurs etc.
6. Food to avoid Kapha symptoms: Some foods that need to be avoided include carbonated drinks, oily food, chilled food, deep fried snacks, red meat, foods which are heavy to digest, milk especially buffalo milk, sweets, Ghee, fruits like Banana, Mango etc. excess salt and sour, all forms of alcohol except red wine, the latter can be consumed no more than once in a week.

Sinusitis, also known as a sinus infection, is defined as an inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the paranasal sinuses. Sinusitis can be caused by infection, allergies, air pollution, or structural problems in the nose.

Signs & Symptoms 

• Headache/facial pain or pressure of a dull, constant, or aching sort over the affected sinuses is common with both acute and chronic stages of sinusitis. This pain is typically localized to the involved sinus and may worsen when the affected person bends over or when lying down. Pain often starts on one side of the head and progresses to both sides.

• Acute sinusitis may be accompanied by thick nasal discharge that is usually green in color and may contain pus (purulent) and/or blood.

•  Often a localized headache or toothache is present.

• Fever may be accompanied.

• Sore throat and cough may be there.

• Halitosis (bad breath) may be there in certain cases.

• Poor sense of smell in certain cases or there may be complete loss of smell.

According to Ayurveda ,the disesase has kapha vata dosha dominance.The treatment principle incorporates increasing the immunity of the paient and treat the underying pathology with medicines and panchakarma.

• Avoid the cause ie dust,allergens,sour and cold food items,damp conditions.

• Oral medicines to balance the aggravated doshas.

• Panchakarma procedures-Primarily nasyam has wonderful role in treating the disease. Nasyam is a process wherein herbal oils and medicated ghrits are administered in the nostrils. Since nose is the gateway to the head, it is believed that this therapy is highly effective in curing a number of diseases related to the head. The therapy cleanses and opens the channels of the head, thereby improving the process of oxygenation which has a direct influence on the functioning of the brain. In this process, the imbalanced doshas are removed through the nasal openings.In certain cases vamana and basti karma are also given.

• Rasayana for improving the immunity of the patient so that the disease doesn’t reccur.

All these procedures act in totality and in maximum cases patient gets good relief and can maintain themselves without medicine after the course.

Some Home Remedies 

• Roast one teaspoon cumin seeds and crush them. Add one tablespoon honey to it and mix well. Consume this every day.

• Add one teaspoon fenugreek seeds in four cups of water. Boil the mixture till the water level reduces to half. Strain the liquid. Drink four cups of this liquid every day. This helps in relieving fever and eliminating toxins.

• Boil one glass of water with 8-10 basil leaves, 8-10 crushed powder of pepper, 15-20 grams of sugar candy, small piece of crushed ginger. Boil this till it reduces to half. Strain the mixture through a sieve and consume this warm two times a day.

• Take the fumes of turmeric, clove and carom (ajwain).

Allergies are the result of the immune system’s response to foreign objects such as pet dander, pollen, certain foods, bee venom etc. In response to the allergen, the immune system produces antibodies, anticipating that the allergen is harmful in nature, even though that might not be the case always. The immune system can inflame the digestive system, skin, airways or sinuses when it comes in contact with allergens. The severity of allergies can vary from anaphylaxis to a minor irritation. In most cases, allergies cannot be fully cured. It, however, can be controlled with medication.

What are the symptoms of allergy?

1. Various allergies cause different kinds of symptoms.
2. Hay fever can cause sneezing, fluffy nose, itching of the eyes, nose, and mouth, swollen eyes etc.
3. Food allergy can cause hives, mouth tingling, anaphylaxis, body itching etc.
4. Insect sting produces symptoms such as anaphylaxis, cough, swelling on the source etc.
5. Drug allergy can result in a rash, wheezing, swelling of the face, hives etc.
6. Atopic dermatitis often lead to flake, itching, and reddening of the skin.
7. There are other allergies that are triggered either by food or by insect bite. These can lead to a medical emergency known as the anaphylaxis. Some symptoms include skin rash, loss of consciousness, weak pulse, vomiting and nausea, shortness of breath etc.

What are the possible causes of allergy?

1. Air:  A number of allergies occur from the surrounding air. Examples of such airborne allergies include pollen, animal dander, mould etc.
2. Food items: Certain foods are known to be causing allergy such as tree nuts, eggs, peanuts, soy fish etc.
3. Medication: There are medications such as penicillin-based antibiotics that can lead to allergy.
4. Insect bite: Bite from insects such as wasp or bee can trigger an allergy in adults and kids.

What are the possible complications?
Allergy often leads to complication such as asthma, infection of the lungs, sinusitis, infection of the ear and anaphylaxis. The risk of getting these conditions increase, provided no treatment is done for a long duration.

How is the diagnosis done?
To investigate the type of allergy a person has, the doctor might ask for the exact symptoms that a person is encountering. He may ask questions related to intake of food and the possible triggers. A skin test is often performed, followed by a blood test to confirm the presence of allergy in an individual.

What are the methods of treatment?
Depending on the type of allergy one has, a doctor might prescribe nasal spray, eye drops, and pills to reduce the symptoms. Apart from this, if the allergy is severe in nature, a doctor might suggest going for immunotherapy and emergency epinephrine. Certain lifestyle changes and food habits go a long way in cutting down the symptoms.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

A condition that commonly affects young and middle-aged adults and lasts for at least 12 weeks despite treatment is chronic rhinosinusitis. The condition occurs when the cavities in close vicinity to the nasal passages become inflamed and swollen and can cause a disruption in the drainage that leads to mucus buildup, making the area around the eyes and face swollen.

Causes-
The disease can be caused by an infection, growth in the sinuses, or by a deviated nasal septum among others. The most common causes of the condition include,

1. Deviated nasal septum: When the septum becomes crooked, it may hinder or even block the nasal passages.
2. Nasal polyps: It refers to the growth of tissues in the nasal passage which can block the sinuses or the nasal passages.
3. Respiratory tract infections: Infections in the respiratory tract which is commonly referred to as colds can inflame and thicken the sinus membranes and block the drainage of mucus.
4. Hay fever: Inflammation that occurs alongside allergies may also block the sinuses.
5. Allied medical conditions: If there is a complication of cystic fibrosis or HIV or gastroesophageal reflux disease or any other immune-related ailments, it may cause chronic rhinosinusitis.

Signs and symptoms to watch for-
There are four primary signs and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis of which at least two must be present with nasal inflammation for being diagnosed with the disease. These symptoms include,

1. Thick and discolored discharge from the drainage down the back of the throat called postnasal drainage.
2. Nasal obstruction along with difficulty in breathing through the nose.
3. Tenderness, swelling, and pain in the eyes, nose, cheeks, or forehead.
4. Reduced sense of taste or smell in adults and coughing in children.

Other symptoms of the disease can include an ache in the upper jaw, sore throat, earache, bad breath, nausea, and fatigue along with irritability. It is worthy of mention here that both chronic and acute rhinosinusitis have similar signs and symptoms, but acute sinusitis is a temporary infection which is often associated with a cough and cold.

Treating chronic sinusitis-
The most effective treatments for chronic sinusitis include saline nasal irrigation, nasal corticosteroids, oral or injected corticosteroids and aspirin desensitization treatment. Sometimes, antibiotics and immunotherapy are also opted for treating the condition. One must consult with an ENT specialist to treat the condition effectively.

Prevention-
It is important to avoid infections in the upper respiratory tract and manage your allergies well in order to prevent frequent attacks of chronic sinusitis. One should also avoid staying for long hours in polluted air and smoking and use a humidifier to add moisture to the air which can prevent sinusitis.

Though treatable, chronic sinusitis tends to stay for several weeks with symptoms causing discomfort. Hence, it is crucial to seek medical care when diagnosed, and it is also important to follow your doctor’s instructions so as to avoid recurring episodes.