Allergy Sinus Cures

Archive for July, 2009

Pacemakers have been around for decades, yet there is still a lot of misunderstanding about how they work, what they do, and who needs them. Millions of people around the world wear pacemakers, yet it is something that is rarely talked about.

People get pacemakers to correct a problem with the heart known as a cardiac arrhythmia. In layman’s terms, it means the heart’s natural rhythm is getting out-of-whack.

While just about everyone probably experiences occasional but very short bouts of out-of-rhythm cardiac activity, some people have stubborn arrhythmias that cause symptoms, impair their ability to lead a normal life, and are largely unpredictable. These people need pacemakers. Symptoms that may mean you need a pacemaker include fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, even fainting, as well as inability to exercise without getting overly out of breath.

These are pretty vague symptoms and a person could easily have all of those conditions and not need a pacemaker. But let’s talk about what’s really going on.

The healthy heart beats in a specific rhythm that coordinates the heart’s upper chambers (atria) and lower chambers (ventricles) in such a way that the heart beat is quite efficient at moving a very large quantity of blood throughout the body. This blood is called cardiac output. If cardiac output drops to zero, the person dies in a matter of minutes.

But in many cases, the electrical system of the heart (not the pumping ability) starts to falter. This is an electrical problem of the heartnot the heart’s inability to pump out blood efficiently. Yet many people do not even realize the heart as an electrical system.

Electrical impulses produced by the heart guide the heart’s rhythm. If the heart stops producing electricity in a regular manner or the electricity no longer travels properly through the heart muscle, the result can be an arrhythmia.

There are two main types of arrhythmia that can lead to a person’s getting a pacemaker. The first is called “sinus node dysfunction,” which sounds very complicated. It really means that the heart no longer produces electrical energy at the right rate.

The heart has the amazing ability to produce electricity. This is accomplished by a small area of tissue called the sinoatrial node (nicknamed “sinus node” or just “sinus”) in the upper right hand side of the heart. If the sinus node gets sluggish or produces electricity erratically or produces electricity fine at low rates but can’t keep up when you exercise and need a faster heart rate … that is sinus node dysfunction.

About half of all people with pacemakers have this condition. The resulting arrhythmia for a person with sinus node dysfunction is a heart rate that is too slow to support normal activity. The medical term for this is “sinus bradycardia.” Because you don’t get enough cardiac output to do normal things, you can find yourself getting winded, tired, dizzy, or even passing out doing things you used to do.

The second kind of arrhythmia that can lead to a pacemaker sounds a lot simpler, but the name is a bit of a misnomer. It’s called “heart block.” Heart block isn’t really a blockage at all. Instead, it means that the electrical impulses produced by the heart no longer travel efficiently through the heart muscle. The electrical energy gets delayed or even blocked in some areas.

In the healthy heart, the electrical energy that causes the heart to beat starts in the sinoatrial node (top, right side of the heart). It then travels out over the atria and then downward. As it makes its ways to the ventricles, it passes through a junction called the “atrioventricular node” or AV node.

Once the electrical energy goes through the AV node, it travels to the ventricle and causes the ventricles to contract and pump blood. Heart block occurs when there is a problem at the AV node. Sometimes the electrical energy gets delayed in such a way that the atria and ventricles are no longer working together.

In extreme forms of heart block, the energy from the top half of the heart cannot make its way down to the bottom half at all (this is called “complete heart block”). Because the atria and ventricles do not work in harmony, cardiac output is impaired. This can result in the very same list of symptoms: lightheadedness, dizziness, shortness of breath, feeling tired all of the time, and even fainting.

About half of all people who need pacemakers have some form of heart block (it can be mild to severe).

Arrhythmias can get fairly complicated. For example, one person might have both types of these arrhythmias that require a pacemaker, that is, one person can have sinus node dysfunction and heart block at the same time. Even individuals who might only have one arrhythmia right now can develop another kind of arrhythmia in the future.

Pacemakers accomplish this by “filling in the missing beats.”

Pacemakers are small electrical devices implanted in the chest. They deliver electrical energy to the heart at precisely the right moment to keep it beating in a way that is as “normal” as possible. In many patients, pacemakers restore normal heart rhythm. In some patients, the arrhythmia may be too severe for a normal heart rhythm to be restored, but the pacemaker can at least come close.

Pacemakers “know” when to deliver electrical energy to the heart because they monitor every beat of the heart and respond according to how the physician programs them. This is a useful feature since many pacemaker patients do not require constant pacing. In fact, for many people, arrhythmias are not permanent at all, but come and go, sometimes for brief periods. The pacemaker monitors the heart’s activity and jumps in with stimulating (pacing) energy when an arrhythmia occurs.

There is, at the moment, no cure for arrhythmias in the sense that an erratic heart rhythm cannot be restored with an operation or a pill. True, operations, pills, and other remedies can help manage symptoms or even correct part of the problem.

Pacemakers are actually very safe ways of dealing with specific arrhythmias. Although they’re implanted in the body, they do not deliver drugs or other chemicals into the body. They use electricity, which is the very substance the body would generate itself, if it could.

Doctors have a lot of flexibility in terms of how the pacemaker is programmed, so they are suitable for a wide range of people, from athletes to newborns to bedridden seniors.

And pacemakers have a memory so that they can report back to the doctor what’s been going on in the patient’s heart. Not all arrhythmias can be treated with a pacemaker. But for rhythm disorders like heart block or sinus bradycardias, pacemakers are a safe, effective, and well proven technology that can make a big difference in the lives of those that need them.

Jo Ann LeQuang
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/symptoms-you-should-know-about-cardiac-arrhythmias-590026.html

In the air there are numerous bacteria and when breathing we inhale them. If the cilia filter is malfunctioning, these bacteria can get blocked in the sinus cavities and produce an infection. Therefore we must know how to recognize this type of infection in order to treat it well. Some general symptoms of sinus infection are: headaches, fatigue, facial and upper jaw pains, and tenderness of the sinus area, sore throat, cough, colored nasal drainage, bad breath and swollen eye lids.

There are different types of sinus and the symptoms might differ when each one is affected; the symptoms differ also for acute and chronic sinusitis.

Frontal acute sinusitis brings fever, forehead pain, nasal discharge or postnasal drip. Also the person feels better if it has the head upright.

In acute maxillary sinusitis the pain appears when the head is upright and the patient feels better if the head is in a reclining position. This type of sinusitis affects one or both of the cheekbones, causing pain, redness and swallowing of the cheekbone; nasal discharge is also present; pain occurs also around the eye and the upper teeth.

Acute ethmoid sinusitis causes symptoms like: pain near the base of the nose, between the eyes, one side of the nose or around the inner corner of the eyes; headaches, nasal discharge and congestion. The pain gets worse if the head is upright and when coughing.

Acute sphenoid sinusitis has the following symptoms: fever, terrible pain when lying back and bending forward, on top of the head and in the forehead area. Also nasal discharge is present. If pressure extents to the brain, visual problems might install.

In chronic frontal sinusitis, the forehead pain is generally constant and low-graded, and at a check-up sinus damage is present.

Chronic maxillary sinusitis brings constant pain in the upper teeth, below the eyes the patient can feel pressure, and cough that gets worse during the night.

The chronic ethmoid sinusitis (affects the bridge of the nose and the base of the nose between the eyes). Nasal discharge and congestion are most of the time present, sore throat, bad breath appear in this case too, and the pain occurs when wearing glasses and in the late morning.

In chronic sphenoid sinusitis, the infection of the sinuses gives a general headache.

Even though rarely, untreated, sinusitis can lead to serious complications like the spread of the infection in the body.

You can visit http://www.sinus-infection-guide.com or http://www.sinus-infection-guide.com/antibiotics-for-sinus-infections.htm for more antibiotics for sinus infections information

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/tips-on-recognizing-sinus-infections-100809.html

Sinus problems are the number one cause for people to visit a doctor in the United States. This is quite logical considering the increase of pollution and chemicals in our environment. Our cities are filled with dust, smoke, fuels and chemicals causing us all sorts of nasal congestion and respiratory illnesses. With a neti pot you can clean up your sinuses and improve your ability to breathe freely.

Ironically, the nasal passages that nature has actually created to protect us from illness have become the doorway for most of them. Think of it as your air filter. Well, the neti pot is actually cleaning this filter, allowing it to operate more efficiently, thus helping our bodies remain strong, fit and healthy. The regular use of net pot is very important for your body’s defense system helping you to keep it functioning at its peak efficiency and maintaining a healthy, balanced life energy.

The neti pot looks similar to a small teapot with a long, thin neck. It is created in India and widely used as a technique before practicing yoga, because as you know in yoga, deep breathing is an essential part of the practice.

With neti pot you can full much better as it cleans nasal passages of dust, allergens, pollen, and other irritants and it moisturizes and can help reduce inflammation of the membranes. There is no comparison between sniffing some water from the palm of your hand and neti pot. This is because you are actually inserting the tip of the neti pot inside your nostril to allow water to clean out the nasal passage. But do not use plain water, since it can be too irritating to your membranes. Instead fill the neti pot with a saline solution of approximately ¼ teaspoon of plain salt (not ionized) and a pinch of baking soda added to one cup of warm water. The relief is almost instant. It should be used every morning.

It is recommended that you do this procedure while taking a shower and it only takes about three minutes. Insert the neti pot spout into one side of your nose. Lean your head slightly to one side and forward a bit so that the fluid can enter your nose. Blow slightly, repeat 2-3 times for each side. If needed, refill the neti pot. The technique is not as uncomfortable or difficult as you may think at first. In fact, you will be pleased to find out that it is a very simple and effective way of maintaining your health. Once finished you should place the neti pot in the dishwasher to sterilize.

The use of neti pot has a lot of benefits. It reduced allergy problems, improves breathing, sinus health, sense of taste and smell. And most of all it gives a much deeper and more relaxed breathing. People that have started using neti pot say that it is like brushing their teeth. In fact, they admit that they are addicted to it and can not stand having to go more than a few days without it.

Jerry Cahill
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/sinus-problems-try-a-neti-pot-58278.html

Certain individuals who suffer from allergies, especially certain seasonal allergies, may gain relief at different points in the year. But unfortunately, for people who suffer from an allergy mold, the suffering can continue unabated year round.

Mold spores are released into the environment in cold, dry weather, as well as in humid conditions. Reactions to an allergy mold usually occur during the summer months, but because mold has the ability to grow in various locations, reactions could surface at any time throughout the year.

Although there are many different types of molds, only a small few will cause an allergy mold. Outdoor mold will thrive on damp leaves, rotting bark, or grass. Indoor molds may develop in damp areas of the home such as laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, basements, or attics.

People who suffer from an allergy mold will exhibit the same symptoms as normal allergy sufferers, such as skin irritation, chronic sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and chest and nasal congestion. A doctor will perform a skin test to receive a specific allergy mold diagnosis. Once diagnosed, a treatment plan to attack the ongoing symptoms and prevent future reactions will be developed.

The first step in attacking an allergy mold is to eliminate possible substances within the home that contain mold or could produce mold in the future. A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter attachment should be contained in the central air conditioning unit in order to catch mold spores before they circulate throughout the home. The home should have proper ventilation and contain exhaust fans inside of the bathrooms. Carpet should be removed from any areas that could possibly become wet or damp. Sinks, tubs, and kitchens should be scrubbed and cleaned frequently due to the speed of mold growth.

Humidity levels within the home can be decreased by the installation of a dehumidifier or by increasing the temperature in order to minimize dampness. Any possible leaks within the home should be repaired as soon as possible to eliminate the possibility of mold growth in certain areas. Any water should drain away from the foundation of the home to eliminate wet plants, grasses, or leaves from allowing mold growth. Assuring that damp areas are dry can prevent spores from filtering into the air and producing an allergy mold reaction.

If all of the above measures have been taken to reduce the presence of mold, there are other allergy mold treatments available. Certain medications can eliminate allergy mold reactions. Some over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, or decongestants, can reduce symptoms. For severe allergy mold, a doctor may need to recommend a prescription strength allergy treatment.

Attacking the allergy mold by staying away from possible growth of spores, taking precautionary cleaning measures, making speedy repairs within the home, protecting yourself with medications, and even using a face mask when you are within contact of mold spores can lead to successful allergy mold relief. But, if symptoms still arise, a doctor may need to recommend another form of treatment or medication. Talking to your doctor about the allergy mold and the specific symptoms associated with it can mean success in the battle against mold.

Riley Hendersen
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/attack-against-allergy-mold-105749.html

Sinusitis is the condition of having one’s sinuses inflamed. Sinus inflammation may be a result of but not limited to bacterial or viral infections or allergic reactions.

Symptoms of sinusitis include a sinus headache that may affect several parts of the head including the face, jaws and teeth. During a sinusitis attack, the sinus headache may be localized to one or two pairs of inflamed sinuses but in severe cases, all sinuses are swollen and therefore cause a sinus headache that can be felt in the forehead between the eyebrows, upper jaw and teeth along with tender cheeks and face, the sides of the nose.

In severe rare cases, one may also experience ear aches, neck and top of the head pains as part of the sinusitis headache symptoms. It is important to take note of all the symptoms of sinusitis because a lot of individuals only think that they have sinus headaches when in fact, they are actually suffering from migraines instead.

It is important to note that sinusitis headache is not the only symptom of sinusitis. If it is indeed sinusitis, you will experience inflammation and tenderness of tissues around the eyes resulting in swollen eyelids and red eyes. Aside from this, there can be a loss of smell from a congested nasal passage.

Furthermore, aside from sinus headaches and other symptoms already mentioned here, sinusitis could trigger fever and cough. The cough can sometimes be a result of a post nasal drip from the draining of the sinuses that irritate the upper windpipe which causes it to be sore and encourages us to cough as a result. Sinusitis is also always accompanied by general weakness and tired feeling.

While it is true that up to 97% of individuals who think they suffer from sinusitis headache symptoms are mistaken because they are actually suffering from migraine, it is very important to make the correct distinction between the two.

First, one needs to be properly diagnosed for illness specific medication treatment. It can be quite frustrating to be taking sinus medication to treat sinus headache symptoms when in fact; the headache is cause by a migraine.

With this said, one must never take the sinus headache symptoms for granted and haphazardly assume that it is a migraine. In some rare instances of complications, sinus headache symptoms may be a signal of acute sinusitis, which results in brain infection.It is therefore very important to get the proper diagnosis and treatment whatever the cause of the headache.

Low Jeremy
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/the-real-sinus-headache-106834.html