Healthy happy you.
DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions. Dear DrSugar, My husband gets a sinus infection every year. This year it came early and he took antibiotics after fighting it for two weeks to no avail. Well, it seems to be back in a low grade way and it is making him snore, which keeps me up at night! What can he do to boost his immune system to win the battle going on in his Read more
If I seem obsessed with seasonal allergies, it is because I am suffering this year more than most. I am continually surprised by the odd pains I experience as side effects of my "hay fever," like pains in my molars. Let's start at the beginning. The human body tries to eliminate those pesky allergens with mucus. Yes, the mucus really wants to be your friend, an ally in this battle; but if the Read more
To kick off cold and flu season, a new British study found that a placebo works just as well as antibiotics (amoxicillin) in treating sinus infections. That conclusion, at least in my book, is not a happy ending. It seems no matter what treatment the 240 study participants tried – antibiotics, steroid nasal spray, or placebo – their sinus infections cleared up after about two weeks. 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, Read more
Flushing your nasal passages with warm salt water can do wonders for congestion and sinus pain caused by colds and allergies, but use a neti pot improperly, and it could result in death. Louisiana's state health department has issued a warning for neti pots in response to two deaths thought to be linked to improper neti pot use. Both victims filled their neti pots with regular tap water instead Read more
DrSugar is in the house! This week she gives us the skinny on OTC pain medications. Dear DrSugar, Do the different types of over-the-counter pain relievers work better for different problems? What should I take for a headache — is aspirin better than ibuprofen? What should I take if I have a fever or the flu? Is there one that's best for dealing with swelling for twists and sprains? What about Read more
A little cold I can handle, even a sinus infection, but the flu? I don't remember ever feeling as bad as I did the week I came down with the flu. I was so delirious from my 103° fever, and combined with the chills, body aches, and pounding headache, it was just unbearable. To prevent feeling that horrible every year, I make sure to head to my doctor's office for a flu shot, but it doesn't always Read more
When I feel a cold coming on, I want nothing more than to complain about my discomfort and lie on the couch watching romantic comedies. Let's face it though, we can't always call in sick for a little case of the sniffles. We also don't want to downplay our symptoms and go to work when a contagious virus is pulsing through our bodies. So call in sick: When you are noticing beginning combinations Read more
I have a slew of home remedies tucked in my noggin that I pull out when needed. Tummy ache? I whip up some fresh ginger tea (it's also good for colds). Honey soothes my sore throat, and when I've had a tough workout and am left with sore muscles, an apple cider vinegar wrap does the trick. Those home remedies are safe and actually work, but some cures and treatments you may have heard about can Read more
Pollen and cat fur are not my friends, and when I become so stuffed up I can't smell a thing, I turn to my neti pot. It looks like a little teapot. You fill it with warm salt water, place the spout in one nostril and as the water passes through your nasal passages and comes out the other nostril; it helps get rid of irritants and mucus so you can breathe easier. I know it sounds medieval, but it Read more
