sinusitis

Having just watched my husband suffer through yet another sinus infection (he has a deviated septum, so he is prone to them), I was excited to see that honey might provide a new cure for his ongoing problem. While the healing properties of this Biblical substance are not new to me, using if for chronic sinusitis, which affects millions of people still seems brilliant.

Canadian researchers found that two types of honey, manuka honey from New Zealand and sidr honey from Yemen, effectively killed antibiotic resistant bacterial strains that cause many sinus infections. Don't be putting honey in your neti pot just yet; the research scientists are hoping to create a medication based on their lab research. I am not sure that it will come cheaply though. Sidr honey is the most expensive honey in the world.

Until a honey remedy hits the market, just make sure to wash your hands regularly. Hand washing is still the most effective way to keep bacteria that lead to these types of infections at bay.

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In an effort to be the healthiest I'd been in my life, I took prenatal vitamins, ate well and exercised while pregnant.

Unfortunately, none of it stopped me from developing a terrible case of sinusitis. To see what happened, read more

Every time I get a cold, I spend the entire duration wondering if it is actually a dreaded sinus infection (aka Sinusitis). No one has actually explained the difference in the symptoms between a sinus infection and a nasty cold, so I always just lived in fear that this one could actually be a sinus infection.

However, when I recently came across a list of common symptoms of a sinus infection, courtesy of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, I had to share:

• Headache, particularly first thing in the morning.
• Pain in the forehead, jaw, teeth and cheeks, or between the eyes.
• Swollen or inflamed tear ducts, eyelids, and other tissues surrounding the eyes.
• Congestion, sore throat, neck pain or cough.
• Fever.
• Weakness and fatigue.

So there you have it. If the cold medicines you've been taking to relieve the symptoms of the common cold are not working and you've got a terrible headache, it looks like it's time to see a doctor.

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Many people suffer from seasonal allergies this time of year, and many people may also suffer from perennial allergies all year round, to pet dander and dust mites.

Allergy symptoms may include itchy, watery eyes, an itchy throat or mouth, or a runny nose. Other people may experience severe sinus congestion. The sinuses are air-filled cavities found in the bones of the head and face. There are 4 pairs of sinuses (8 in all), located on either side of the nose in your cheeks, behind and between the eyes, in the forehead, and at the back of the nasal cavity.

Sinus congestion can be caused by excessive amounts of mucus clogging up your sinuses, or if the mucus is thick and sticky. It can also happen if the lining of your sinuses becomes irritated by allergens. This causes swelling, which narrows down the passages, and make it harder for mucus to get out.

When this happens, mucus gets trapped in your sinuses. Similar to standing water, trapped mucus makes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and fungi to grow. This can cause sinusitis. Acute sinusitis happens if you've had a cold and you have symptoms for more than 2 weeks. Chronic sinusitis will be diagnosed if you're having symptoms that last more than 3 months.

Symptoms of both may include:

• fever
• persistent nasal congestion, and discharge that is often yellow or green
• daytime cough due to post-nasal drip (may be worse at night or when you lie down)
• puffy eyes or tenderness around them
• headache or pain in the face or behind your eyes

What can you do if you have allergy-induced chronic sinusitis? To find out read more