The Osceola Sentinel Tribune published a list of reasons to go and see an ear, nose, and throat specialist. It’s a quick overview of symptoms and possible conditions. As is indicated in the list many of these symptoms can be related to allergies, sinusitis, or even physical deformities or obstructions in the sinuses or nose.

It is possible that some of the conditions listed are unrelated to allergies or sinus problems, though the commonness of allergies and sinus infection or viruses that cause congestion make them more likely candidates. If you’re suffering from congestion, facial pain, and headaches located in the face or behind the eyes you may be suffering from a sinus infection and you should seek help for that. Contact our office to set up an appointment.

The UK’s Daily Mail is reporting on a new nasal spray under development that will vaccinate children under five against the bacteria pneumococcus. Pneumococcus can cause sinus infections, pneumonia, blood poisoning, meningitis, and ear infections. There are more than 90 varieties of the bacteria and the vaccine aims to give children, who are particularly susceptible to the bacteria, a chance against all these types before they may even be exposed to them.

The vaccine is particularly aimed at children under five and previous reports on the vaccine, which is currently being tested for its effectiveness as a nasal spray, have suggested that the vaccine is not as effective for children over the age of five.

Bacteria sinusitis infections can be treated with antibiotics, though some bacterial strains are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. A vaccine for children will go a long way to preventing infections and saving lives. If you have questions or concerns contact our office to set up an appointment.

An article on Sify is suggesting that the deaths of actress Britney Murphy and her husband in late 2009 and early 2010 may have been linked to mold. As the article states certain varieties of mold can cause health problems when inhaled. Mold typically causes respiratory problems, including sinus infections and bronchitis.

Being aware of potential causes for sinus infections or allergies in the home can help your doctor determine the best treatment. Mold is typically associated with high humidity or water damage. Any flooding or leaking in your home can lead to the formation of mold. Proper ventilation can help prevent the formation and spread of mold. Be aware of the conditions that could lead to the formation of mold in your home and if you start experiencing sinusitis symptoms mention these with your doctor so you can investigate the possibility that mold is the cause of your symptoms. If you have questions or concerns, contact our office today.

The LA Times Health blog reports on the FDA warning people about the use of ear candles. Ear candles are an alternative treatment offered as a kind of cure-all for everything from excess ear wax to sinusitis to cancer. The use of ear candles involves placing a wax coated tube of fabric in your ear and setting it on fire. As the FDA states there is no valid scientific evidence of any kind of medical benefit from using ear candles. In fact, there are many reports of injury from burns, wax blockage of the ear, and ear drum puncture.

It’s nice to think there’s an easy solution to health problems. Unfortunately, the alternative medicine offerings that claim to relieve a variety of ailments rarely have any evidence to back up their claims. Choosing to use an alternative method to relieve a case of sinusitis could lead to the worsening of that condition if the method is questionable like these ear candles. More dangerous than the alternative method itself is not pursuing treatment for the condition. Sinusitis can become extremely painful and even life-threatening should it go untreated. Before pursuing any treatment consult with a special. For questions and concerns contact our office to set up and appointment.

BC Local News has an article about Bonnie Shortreed, a woman suffering from an extreme case of chronic sinusitis. Mz. Shortreed’s case has persisted for 22 months and is causing her extreme pain. She has undergone multiple treatments for her condition but has found no relief. Treated with antibiotics the infection persists having become immune to the treatment. Mz. Shortreed’s only option now is surgery, which she may have to wait years for with the backlog of patients currently faced by the area’s specialist.

This is an extreme example of chronic sinusitis. Mz. Shortreed has blockage behind the eyes and a mastoid bone infection. She’s leaking blood and fluid from the ear. She suffers from extreme headaches due to the excess pressure build up in her head. This serves as an example of just how bad a chronic sinus infection can get and how seriously the condition should be taken. If you’re suffering from symptoms of sinus infection over the course of months you may have a chronic sinus infection. Contact our office to pursue your treatment options.

Velonation has a story about Tour de France cyclist Oscar Freire’s recent health issues, first attributed to allergies and then to sinusitis, being identified as nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are not necessarily a dangerous condition. They can cause difficulty breathing as they have with Oscar Freire and as with any athlete this can cause performance problems.

The misdiagnosis is not unreasonable. Allergies and sinusitis are far more common conditions than nasal polyps. Also, both sinusitis and nasal polyps can be caused by or related to nasal allergies. Luckily, nasal polyps can be removed without much difficulty and Oscar Freire should be back to cycling soon without the health issues that have been plaguing him because of these nasal polyps. If you have questions or concerns about allergies, sinusitis, or are having difficulty with breathing or other symptoms related to these conditions, contact our office.

The Chicago Tribune has a quick overview of common allergy related terms. It doesn’t go into much depth but the brief article provides some useful basic information. It covers the basics of allergies and how sinusitis can be caused by allergens when they infect or irritate the sinuses.

Being aware of the basics of allergic reactions can help with know which symptoms to pay attention to and report back to your doctor. If you have questions or concerns about allergies and sinusitis or would like more in depth information, contact our office to set up an appointment.

The Australian has an article about bacteriophages, viruses harmless to humans that prey upon bacteria. These phages are considered by some to be the solution to the problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria, a major concern among health professionals. Bacteriophages were discovered in the early 20th Century and though their value was quickly apparent development of treatments using them fell to the wayside as antibiotics became more widely used.

Antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pose a serious risk as there is no treatment for an infection by these bacteria. There may be a danger that more bacterial strains could become antibiotic resistant and this could be disastrous. Bacteria sinus infections are currently treated with antibiotics but if the bacteria that cause sinus infections are resistant to the antibiotics used to treat them, then these infections could worsen and spread. Bacteriophage research may provide an alternative to antibiotics that could help end the potential danger posed by bacteria adapting resistances to antibiotics.

Not all sinus infections are bacterial. Sinus infections can be cause by viruses and foreign objects in the sinuses. A doctor is the best person to make a determination of the cause of a sinus infection and the treatment of that infection. If you have a sinus infection and questions about treatment, contact our office.

CNN Health has an article about a woman who is engaged in a long term weight loss strategy and the effects it has had on her health. She notes that during one stage of her efforts she became very ill suffering from sinusitis, bronchitis, and an upper respiratory infection. This was because her efforts were too extreme and her body had entered starvation mode, making her more vulnerable to infection.

Maintaining overall good health is a key component to avoiding sinusitis and other infections. In this case, the woman was trying to lose weight with frequent exercise and a reduced calorie diet. Unfortunately, she overdid it and this made her more susceptible to infection. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly is important not just for those seeking to lose weight but is good for overall health. Maintaining healthy habits gives you body the energy it needs to fight infection. If you have questions about sinusitis and how to treat or avoid it, contact our office for an appointment.

The International News is reporting on a study from the University of Amsterdam suggesting that Honey may kill bacteria that cause chronic sinusitis. The study focused on methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeriginosa, three types of bacteria linked to chronic sinusitis. While honey is reportedly killing these bacteria, that doesn’t mean you should just start eating large quantities of honey to cure your chronic sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis can’t be gotten rid of as simply by taking a spoonful of honey. Typical store bought honey is unlikely to share the characteristics of the bacteria killing honey as it may be heavily processed. Diet is important to health and adding honey or replacing other sweeteners with honey may help to avoid or reduce the severity of chronic sinusitis. Still, when suffering from chronic sinusitis it’s best to consult an expert. For questions and concerns contact our office.