"Oh no, my sinuses are 'acting up' again!" Understanding the misery of this statement would be difficult for anyone who does know the pain and frustration of having sinus trouble. Having sinus problems can make your life miserable. For those of you who do know the pain, this article may present you with some relief. So what exactly are these (sometimes) painful things we call the sinuses? The sinuses are open, air-filled cavities located within the facial bones and skull. They are located in four different areas and are mostly found in pairs. Most of us have four sets of sinuses which are: the maxillary sinuses – located under the eyes and are usually the largest of all sinuses, the ethmoid sinuses – located between the eyes, the sphenoid sinuses which are located in the sphenoid bone (located midline in the skull, deep behind the nose) and the frontal sinuses - located in the frontal bone, which lies in the forehead area of the skull. If not taken care of, a simple sinus problem could lead to an infection and ultimately sinusitis which is the inflammation of the sinuses. This inflammation may be confined to one sinus cavity by itself or all of the sinuses. Sinusitis can be brought on by the common cold, nasal allergies, nasal polyps, various fungi, cystic fibrosis and other anatomical variations of the nose and sinus cavities. There are two types of sinusitis – acute and chronic. In chronic sinusitis, there may be no pain or fever and persons with chronic sinusitis usually have facial fullness. With acute sinusitis, however, persons usually have fever, facial pain, and a runny nose.
According to one General Practitioner, Dr. Mahesh Patel, "It is very common for patients to come with sinus problems." The doctor, who has been practicing in Montrose since 1990, stated that the cases range from moderate to severe. When asked if the number of cases have grown since he started practicing there, the doctor confirmed that there has been a great increase in cases. What is responsible for this increase? "The environment in which we live is deteriorating because of pollution," Patel pointed out. He also noted that in times gone by, a lot of patients would come to him with sinus problems when cane started flowering, however, since the cane industry in Trinidad is not what it used to be (and that has since been ruled out), it is clear that a major cause is the deteriorating environment. So is there hope for sinus sufferers? Indeed there is. There are several types of medication which can be used. A pharmacist since 1997, Natasha Singh-Ramsook, who works at the Montrose Pharmacy told WomanWise about medication sinus sufferers can use, adding that sinus problems affect about 65 to 80% of patients coming into the pharmacy. The suggested medications are:
• Anti-inflammatory - Nasal Sprays Corticosteroids (commonly called steroids) which reduce the inflammatory response in the nasal passages and airways
• Pain Relievers - Acetaminophen and NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Naproxen.
Singh-Ramsook warned that "Patients with sensitivity to Aspirin, GI and bleeding disorders and those who are pregnant and breast-feeding SHOULD NOT USE NSAIDS." "Antihistamines which relieve the itching and sneezing can be used. These include Diphenhydramine, Doxlyamine, Loratidine, Cetirizine, Chlorpheniramine and Fexofenadine."The pharmacist added "Decongestants can also be used to relieve nasal congestion due to inflamed sinuses. These include Pseudoephedrine and Phenylephrine. In addition, Immunotherapy commonly referred to as allergy shots can be given mostly for patients with severe seasonal allergies." If you've exhausted the list of OTC medication, you can turn to herbal remedies. Many claim that herbal remedies have helped them immensely. Peppermint is one herb that I can vouch for; it has helped to some extent to calm my raging sinuses. In addition, several people interviewed (who have sinus problems), claim that grapefruit has helped them a lot. One herbalist also told WomanWise that herbs such as fenugreek, echinacea, ginger root, goldenseal, nettle, olive leaf and rose hips may help sinus sufferers since they help loosen phlegm and reduce congestion. "Echinacea also helps to boost the immune system and Eucalyptus is another old remedy which will help," the herbalist said. When asked about my remedy – the peppermint – the herbalist confirmed that drinking peppermint helps to minimise irritation in the mucous membranes with the sinuses. Interestingly, yoga is another remedy for sinus problems. A popular yoga instructor in Trinidad pointed out during an interview that there are several exercises one can perform to clear the sinuses. Two of them are: the Kapaal Bhaati and the Bhaastrika.
The Kapaal Bhaati (which means the cleansing of the skull) is very short (as in once for every heart beat). For this exercise you pull in your stomach and as you do so the air will automatically come out through the nostrils. Repeat this for five minutes. With this exercise you concentrate on your stomach, not on the breathing. For the Bhaastrikaa (which means bellows) you take a deep breath in, then blow out all the air in short spurts (avoid swelling of the cheeks) in order to get all the 'stale' air out of the lungs. Repeat this five times. With each expulsion the body should automatically bend forward in order to get out as much air as possible. When doing both the Kapaal Bhaati and the Bhaastrika, one should sit on a chair or the floor and keep hands on the knees while eyes are closed. Also, the Kapaal Bhaati and the Bhaastrika are to be done early in the morning before eating or two hours after you have eaten. According to the yoga instructor, these exercises are very powerful and they get rid of phlegm. They are very successful in helping persons with sinus problems. In order to do these exercises properly, it is advised that persons attend a yoga class to receive proper instruction and not attempt the exercises on their own. In addition to the exercises mentioned by the instructor, the website http://yoga.lovetoknow.com also gives several yoga poses to help with sinus pressure. Such poses include the Standing Forward Bend, Downward-Facing Dog, Plow Pose, Bridge Pose, Seated Forward Bend and the Supported Headstand. Instructions on how to do all poses are given in detail on the site. Of course, there are more remedies out there such as the well known nasal washouts (where a mixture of salt and water is used to rinse clogged sinuses), nasal sprays and facial massages. However, if you have been trying these and you have received no relief then don't lose hope, there are several ways to get relief. Maybe you can try them all!