Evaluating Cures of Sinusitis: Matching them to the cause

As one of the most common chronic diseases encountered by a primary care physician, it is surprising to find that there are only a few approved conventional treatments. Due to this, there have been a multitude of people claiming their product cures sinusitis. So how do you know which one will help you? The simplest answer revolves around matching the cause of your sinusitis to the treatment.

So the first thing you’ve got to do is determine why you have sinusitis.
Allergies are one of the most common causes of sinusitis. The sinus passages act as filters, helping to remove foreign objects from the air and preventing them from getting into your lungs. As they filter out substances your immune system can negatively react to them, releasing substances that increase mucus production. This excessive mucus production causes the congestion and also becomes a great environment for bacteria to grow; thus leading to a bacterial infection. Signs that your sinusitis is called by allergies include: dark circles under the eyes, history of eczema, history of hay fever or other environmental allergies, dry itchy skin, constant watery eyes and many others.

Cures for this type of sinusitis revolve around controlling your allergies. Sinus irrigation is a must if this is the cause for you. Netti Pots and other sinus drainage techniques will be vital at preventing sinusitis from occur. Other options include using a HEPA filter and removing stuffed animals or feather products from your bedroom (these have a tendency to trap allergies). Cleaning out your HVAC is another fabulous way of helping to control your allergy induced sinusitis. I have had patients that their sinusitis cleared up almost immediately after doing this.

Dietary modifications are also important for those suffering from sinusitis caused by allergies. This step is often overlooked. The top five foods that can cause sinusitis include: tomatoes, dairy (excluding eggs), wheat, corn, and soy. I suggest starting with dairy. Do it for one month, you’ll be surprised how frequently sinusitis resolves during this avoidance of dairy.
Colonization of the sinus passages also commonly occurs with fungus or Candida species.. This has received a lot of attention over the last few years. The American Academy of

Otolaryngology has suggested that fungal infections are predominant in chronic sinusitis. Many “fad” treatments for sinusitis revolve around focusing on getting rid of fungus or Candida species. Some signs that you’re dealing with this cause include; history of eczema, onychomycosis, frequent abdominal bloating or constipation, horizontal toe nail ridging, diagnosis of chronic sinusitis, and fatigue.

Treatment of Fungus or Candida species revolves around irrigating the sinuses with antifungal herbs or medications.
Other causes include structural abnormalities such as nasal polyps, a deviated septum or trauma. These require a referral to an appropriate ENT. I have yet to see any good cures of sinusitis outside of possible surgical intervention for these.

Viral infections can also frequently cause sinusitis. The initial symptoms of a simple runny nose, slight congestion and cough before the more severe symptoms of sinusitis indicate that it was viral induced. Washing hands is of course the most important thing to do when your sinusitis continues to be caused by an initial viral infection. Taking immune boosting vitamin and herbs can dramatically reduce this. Vitamin C and Elderberry are the two I recommend to take on a consistent basis to avoid viral infections.

There are many sinusitis cures out there today, and in my experience most of them work when you match the cause of sinusitis to the treatment. When evaluating the treatment, remember to ask yourself “is this treating the cause of my sinusitis,” if not the move on.

Dr Walter Johnson is a sinusitis expert. For more information on cures for sinusitis please visit http://www.curesinsuproblems.com