Making Healthy Life Choices in 2015: Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C.: Board Certified Otolaryngologist

Steps to Healthier Sinuses

Keep your sinuses healthy by incorporating the following practices into your normal routine:

Practice good hygiene, especially when you are sick. Frequently wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Keep your hands away from your eyes and face. Avoid contact with others who are sick with the flu, cold or upper respiratory infection.

Drink plenty of water. Water keeps the mucus in your sinuses flowing smoothly, so try to drink at least six glasses of water each day. Water also keeps your throat moist. Warm tea with honey also soothes a sore throat, as does gargling with warm saltwater.

Use a humidifier to keep your sinuses from becoming dry. Dry sinuses causes mucus buildup and congestion. Keep humidity under 50 percent. Anything over 50 percent will breed dust mites, an allergen that is not kind to sinuses. Standing in a hot shower also helps.

Studies have shown that nasal irrigation effectively reduces sinus infections. Irrigate your sinuses with a sterile saline solution to keep them clean and healthy. You can use an irrigation kit or neti pot, both of which can be found at your local pharmacy and/or health food store.

Avoid air irritants and pollutants such as pet dander, smoke from cigarettes (including secondhand smoke), wood, fumes, smog and dust. All of these cause nasal swelling and congestion. They can trigger allergies if you are allergic.

Sudden changes in air pressure, such as that which occurs on an airplane in flight or when scuba-diving, can affect your sinuses. Check with your doctor to see if you should take a decongestant or nasal spray before doing any of these activities. Sudden air pressure changes also can affect your ears, referred to as barotrauma. Symptoms include ear pain, hearing loss, clogging or ringing of the ear and ear hemorrhage.

If sinus problems persist, see a qualified ENT doctor. There may be an underlying condition causing your sinus problems that require more extensive treatment, such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps. Whatever the cause, the ENT doctor will determine the best treatment option for you.

Avoid Asthma Attacks with Better Indoor Air Quality

Tens of thousands of people suffer from asthma in the United States, with hundreds of those in Georgia. The instances of this disease are on the rise across the nation and the world. People who suffer from this illness have swollen and inflamed airways ...

How Do Chronic Sinus Issues Affect Overall Health

Anyone who has chronic sinusitis is quite familiar with the pressure behind the eyes, headaches, constant dripping nose and coughing that go hand in hand with the condition. Here are some things to look out for if you are affected by chronic sinusitis:

The Link Between Nasal Polyps and Snoring

Nasal polyps number among many causes of obstructions within the nasal passages. Such obstructions can lead to increased strain being required for the simple act of breathing. When asleep, this can often enough result in snoring.

Sleep Apnea May Increase Women’s Risk of Heart Disease

Sleep apnea is a silent affliction that affects millions of people every year. It often goes undiagnosed, and has been associated with many health problems from tiredness and lack of focus to high blood pressure to diabetes to mental and emotional problems

Help for Hives

You might think that you are the only one that has them, but you’re not. If you have hives, you are one of MANY! Hives (technically called “urticaria”) is a very common skin problem with the most common symptom being itchiness.

Cause Behind Cystic Fibrosis’ Progression Found

Cystic Fibrosis affects tens of thousands of people worldwide. It is an illness in which mucus builds up in the lungs and pancreas, among other organs, causing airways to become constricted and blocked.