With our current weather pattern, I have been seeing a lot of Chiropractic patients with sinus pain, problems and sinus headaches. That throbbing, pulsing, pressure, pain which is located in the front of the forehead, behind the eyes and nose. You might also suffer from earache, toothache, loss of sense of smell and occasionally high fever. Many people who suffer from this condition will have dark circles under their eyes with puffiness which can also signal a sinus infection. If drainage is clear, you probably don’t have an infection but if discharge is green or yellowish then antibiotics are in order. Though very common, sinus infections can be serious especially if you consider how close the sinuses are to the brain. If left untreated, sinusitis can lead to asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia or other respiratory disorders.
Sinus problems have many causes and while Chiropractic can help a lot of the causes a team approach is important. Most often allergies are the culprit so keeping them under control is important. If environmental allergens are affecting you, avoidance is important. Allergies to mold are very common so keeping a dehumidifier in the basement is helpful as is wearing a mask when mowing the lawn. It is critically important to keep your immune system working properly which we discussed in previous column. Vitamins C with bioflavonoid, B complex, Vitamin A, E and Zinc are also important.
Another very common cause of sinus problems that I see in my Chiropractic office are food allergies. It is difficult to determine whether you have a food allergy because the body’s response to the wrong food is slow. This is different than acute responses to a severe allergen like nuts. Many people have a slow allergic response that takes about three days to show up. In other words, you eat something you are “allergic” to and you get a “reaction” three days later. Common foods that many people are “sensitive” to are milk, eggs, wheat, and yeast. This is unfortunate because these are common foods in the American diet.
An easy way to determine presence of food allergies is to eliminate to most common food allergies from your diet for two weeks. See how you feel and then add the food back into your diet and again see how you feel. I give my patients a food sensitivity test form to fill out for a few days. Frequently, foods a person craves or has daily are allergic for them.
Chiropractic care is especially effective for sinus problems. The nerves that exit the upper spine go to the face and sinuses. If those nerves are pinched or irritated then the sinuses won’t function right and could clog up. If they don’t drain, bacteria will breed and you know the rest. Being examined by a chiropractor is a great way to start the New Year as well.
Other ideas to help sinus problems are to maintain a diet of 75% raw foods. Reduce salt intake and drink plenty of water (distilled preferably) and juices. Drink hot liquids as they help the mucus to flow which may help to relieve congestion and sinus pressure. Steam some diluted white vinegar and breathe the fumes. It acts as an irritant and increases sinus drainage. Avoid the use of decongestants for long periods and not at all if you have high blood pressure. As painful as sinus problems are, they can be controlled naturally!
With our current weather pattern, I have been seeing a lot of Chiropractic patients with sinus pain, problems and sinus headaches. That throbbing, pulsing, pressure, pain which is located in the front of the forehead, behind the eyes and nose. You might also suffer from earache, toothache, loss of sense of smell and occasionally high fever. Many people who suffer from this condition will have dark circles under their eyes with puffiness which can also signal a sinus infection. If drainage is clear, you probably don’t have an infection but if discharge is green or yellowish then antibiotics are in order. Though very common, sinus infections can be serious especially if you consider how close the sinuses are to the brain. If left untreated, sinusitis can lead to asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia or other respiratory disorders.
Sinus problems have many causes and while Chiropractic can help a lot of the causes a team approach is important. Most often allergies are the culprit so keeping them under control is important. If environmental allergens are affecting you, avoidance is important. Allergies to mold are very common so keeping a dehumidifier in the basement is helpful as is wearing a mask when mowing the lawn. It is critically important to keep your immune system working properly which we discussed in previous column. Vitamins C with bioflavonoid, B complex, Vitamin A, E and Zinc are also important.
Another very common cause of sinus problems that I see in my Chiropractic office are food allergies. It is difficult to determine whether you have a food allergy because the body’s response to the wrong food is slow. This is different than acute responses to a severe allergen like nuts. Many people have a slow allergic response that takes about three days to show up. In other words, you eat something you are “allergic” to and you get a “reaction” three days later. Common foods that many people are “sensitive” to are milk, eggs, wheat, and yeast. This is unfortunate because these are common foods in the American diet.
An easy way to determine presence of food allergies is to eliminate to most common food allergies from your diet for two weeks. See how you feel and then add the food back into your diet and again see how you feel. I give my patients a food sensitivity test form to fill out for a few days. Frequently, foods a person craves or has daily are allergic for them.
Chiropractic care is especially effective for sinus problems. The nerves that exit the upper spine go to the face and sinuses. If those nerves are pinched or irritated then the sinuses won’t function right and could clog up. If they don’t drain, bacteria will breed and you know the rest. Being examined by a chiropractor is a great way to start the New Year as well.
Other ideas to help sinus problems are to maintain a diet of 75% raw foods. Reduce salt intake and drink plenty of water (distilled preferably) and juices. Drink hot liquids as they help the mucus to flow which may help to relieve congestion and sinus pressure. Steam some diluted white vinegar and breathe the fumes. It acts as an irritant and increases sinus drainage. Avoid the use of decongestants for long periods and not at all if you have high blood pressure. As painful as sinus problems are, they can be controlled naturally!