FitSugar

5 Causes for Coughing at Night

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:02:00 PDT

You feel fine all day, but something happens when you lie down. You end up with this irritating tickle in your throat or a nagging cough that only happens at night. It's been like this for weeks so what gives? According to Shape, here are five reasons you may be coughing:

Asthma: I know when most people think of asthma, they think of someone gasping for air. Although this can definitely be a symptom, most people with asthma more commonly experience a dry cough, so you may want to see your doctor to get tested, just to make sure.
Sinusitis: If it's not asthma, a chronic stuffy nose could be the culprit. When your sinuses are clogged with mucus, it can drip down the back of your throat (post nasal drip), and cause that annoying tickle. Allergies may be causing your sinusitis, so your doc may prescribe allergy meds or a nasal spray to help clear the way.

To see the other causes

Check your drugs: If you're taking certain meds such as ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure, a dry cough could be a side effect. So ask your pharmacist if coughing could be caused by one of the medications you're on.
Acid reflux: If it's not asthma or sinusitis, another medical condition that could cause coughing at night is acid reflux disease. When you lie down, the acid in your stomach that causes indigestion and heartburn can also wash into your lungs. If you think this is the problem, try to eat a smaller dinner earlier in the evening, and elevate your head at least six inches when you sleep. If this doesn't help, there are OTC medications that can do wonders.
Iron Deficiency: Your cough may have something to do with your diet. If your body is low in iron, swelling and irritation in the back of your throat could be a symptom, which would make you cough. If this sounds familiar, an iron supplement may be all you need.

Source

Honey for Your Sinuses?

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:00:00 PDT

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.

Source

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me: Sinusitis

babysugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:00:44 PDT

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. After sniffling and sneezing for a few days, I assumed I had a cold. It quickly turned into a sinus infection leaving me miserable. Since I never had morning sickness, I figured it was my payback. After trying to fight the infection with tea, honey and other homeopathic remedies, I finally resorted to good old antibiotics to rid my life of the gunk. After seven days of meds and worrying about the effect it would have on my unborn child, I felt a bit better. About a week later, the "cold" was back with a vengeance. I slept in a separate room from my spouse, surrounded myself with tissues, nasal spray, cough drops, orange juice, Vick's VapoRub and a humidifier. Then it was on to another round of antibiotics. As a result, I missed one of my best friend's weddings. As an expectant woman, I was more susceptible to the nasal infection as Dr. Sears states:

The mucus membranes in the nasal passages of the sinuses often swell and become congested during pregnancy, probably due to the same hormones that cause vaginal membranes to become congested. Some women feel they have a persistent "cold" or sniffles throughout pregnancy.

Lesson learned: Start using saline spray at the first sign of a cold. It saved me from jumping onto the antibiotic wagon since that last incident. Source

Sinus Infection or Not?

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:30:00 PDT

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.

Source

Allergies and Chronic Sinusitis

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:30:00 PDT

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 Your doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics, sometimes for several months. If those don't work (and they won't if you continue being exposed to the allergen that's causing your nasal congestion), your doctor may then suggest you get a CT scan so they can take a look at your sinuses. You may have a physical problem, such as nasal polyps (non-cancerous growths inside your nose), or a deviated septum causing mucus to get blocked. Your doctor may even recommend sinus surgery to remove all the mucus and widen your sinuses. Many people who have allergies and have had this surgery, complain that their symptoms just come back. Well duh - you've got to get rid of what's causing the symptoms in the first place. Fit's Tips: Talk to an allergist, get tested, and find out exactly what you are allergic to. Sometimes, those tests don't tell you much, so in that case, you can also try taking allergy pills like Zyrtec or Singulair, or nasal sprays like Flonase to alleviate your nasal congestion. Or use a neti pot to flush the allergens out of your nose. If your nose isn't stuffy, it can't clog your sinuses, right? That means you can say goodbye to chronic sinusitis. Source

How to Kick a Nighttime Cough Naturally

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:05:23 PST

Whether it's because of a cold or allergies, coughing at night is not only annoying, it prevents you from getting the sleep you need to stay healthy. Before you down cough medicine (which often just masks the cough), you might want to relieve your nighttime cough with one of these natural remedies.

Steam up: Before hitting the hay, create a steam room in the bathroom. Shut the door, don't turn on the fan, and take a hot shower. Let the water gently run on your face, or if that's too intense, place a warm washcloth on your sinuses, allowing the heat and steam to help relieve sinus congestion. You can even use a neti pot in the shower - just be sure to fill it with warm distilled or sterilized water, not the shower water. Using a neti pot after you've breathed in steam can make it more effective.
Get moist: Since dry air can often cause a dry cough (especially in the Winter months when we crank up the heat), moisten the air you breathe by running a cool-mist humidifier on low throughout the night (I'm a fan of this humidifier from Crane). In the morning, be sure to wipe down your windows and windowsills as condensation tends to form, and you don't want this moisture to encourage mold growth, which can also aggravate a cough. Follow the directions that came with your humidifier when it comes to cleaning it, and disinfect it thoroughly at least once a week to avoid mold growth.

Keep reading for more natural ways to beat your nighttime cough.

8 Ways to Prevent Getting Sick at Work

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:47:24 PST

If you work in an office full of people, your chances of coming in contact with germs are that much higher. Arm yourself against colds, the flu, and stomach bugs with these essential tips.

Wash hands often and keep hand sanitizer on your desk.
Once a week disinfect the things you touch regularly including your keyboard, mouse, phone, pens, stapler, scissors, and even the outside of your reusable water bottle.
Avoid touching doorknobs, handles on bathroom stalls and faucets, the water cooler, coffee maker, and other commonly used work items. If you can't help it, be sure to wash your hands afterward.

Keep reading for five more ways to prevent getting sick at your job.

Flying With a Cold? Survival Tips While in the Air

Heather Dale — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:59:20 PST

I started the New Year with a cold that has knocked me right off my feet. I was fine staying home for the midnight countdown, but what I'm not looking forward to is having to board a plane with this bad bug - traveling when you're sick is the worst! If you need to fly and are suffering from a cold, here are some survival tips to help alleviate the annoying symptoms associated with being sick.

Sore throat: Before you get to the airport, gargle with warm salt water using 1/2 teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Once you get to the airport, sip on hot tea or warm water sweetened with honey, which can help soothe an irritated throat. While on the plane, drink plenty of liquids and come prepared with hard candies or throat lozenges, which can be very soothing since they increase saliva production and help keep the throat moist.

Keep reading for more tips.

Neti Pot Possible Cause of Two Deaths: How to Use One Safely

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:09:31 PST

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 of the manufacturer-recommended distilled or sterilized water.

Louisiana state department health officials believe deadly brain-eating amoebas known as Naegleria fowleri, which can live in tap water, entered into the victims' bodies through their noses, then made their way into their brains. The amoeba then infected each victim with a neurological disease called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which quickly destroys brain tissue, usually killing in a matter of days.

Scary, I know, but don't throw out your neti pot just yet. Keep reading to find out how to safely irrigate your sinuses.

Skip the Benadryl! Natural Ways to Relieve Congestion

Michele Foley — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:07:46 PST

Whether it's allergies or a nasty cold, being congested sucks. It's hard to breathe, the sinus pressure is painful, and it can even affect your hearing. Blowing your nose offers some relief, but in cases where you're really stuffed up, it can be pretty futile. OTC medicines help dry out mucus but leave users feeling loopy, sleepy, and spaced out. What's left to do? The next time you're feeling all stuffed up, try one of these natural remedies - you'll be breathing free and clear!

Steam it out: Whether it's a steam room, hot shower, or a makeshift steam bath over a bowl of hot water, steam helps to loosen mucus and relieve congestion from your nose and chest. Intensify the benefits with the addition of eucalyptus oil, a natural decongestant. Whatever method you use, slowly breathe in the steam for about five minutes and then try blowing your nose and/or coughing. This is usually enough time to break up and loosen the mucus in the body. To aid with sleep, use a humidifier; it helps add moisture to the air, which will thin out mucus in your nasal passages.
Grab a neti pot: It might sound a little uncomfortable, but using a neti pot does wonders for relieving nasal congestion and pain - just ask any ear, nose, or throat doctor. Neti pots (in combination with a DIY saline solution) help end nasal congestion by thinning out mucus and built-up crusting in the nose; think of it as a form of nasal irrigation. Still not convinced? Check out these neti pot tips for beginners.

Keep reading for two more ideas after the break.