Indiana Sinus Centers

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Sinus Rinsing and Neti Pots – Recommendations from the CDC

This years Indiana Allergy Season if proving to be one of the worst on record.  For those patients who suffer from allergies, the high pollen counts can play havoc on the sinuses.  Under treatment of allergic sinus conditions can then lead to chronic swelling of the nasal mucosa which then can lead to chronic sinusitis symptoms and chronic infections.  In addition to allergy medications, the use of sinus rinses can greatly improve sinus symptoms during these periods of high pollen counts.  Sinus rinsing has several benefits, including directly removing irritating pollen still present on the surface of the nasal mucosa as well as thinning the mucous and helping it to clear the nose more quickly.

With this in mind the CDC has recently release a report with recommendations on the safe use of Sinus Rinse devices and Neti Pots.  The primary recommendations highlight the type of water that can safely be used in the sinus rinse.  The CDC recommends either boiling the water, filtering the water using a bacterial filter smaller than one micron, buying sterile/distilled water or using a disinfectant in the  water.

These recommendations stem from recent reports of Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis contracted from tap water use in sinus rinse devices.  More recently there have also been reports of mycobacterial chronic sinus infections contracted while using tap water in the sinus rinse.

The moral of this story is – sinus rinsing can be of great benefit to you this year if your sinus and allergy complaints are worse than normal. Just be careful how you mix the solution!

more information can be found at this link:

http://homechlamydiastdtest.com/

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/sinus-rinsing.html

 

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BIOFILMS and their role in chronic sinus complaints

The New York Time – May 25, 2011

Have you wondered recently why that additional antibiotic that you just started is not working as well as it used to.  We all have heard about antibiotic resistance, however new research out of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia indicates that those pesky bacteria may have another way to defeat the antibiotic you just started.  It is called BIOFILMS and bacteria have been doing this for eons.  In fact anyone who has left a boat in the lake too long and noted the slimy coating on the haul when you pull it out knows just how hardy these bacteria can be.  What if these are in your sinuses?

From the research…”The investigators speculate that in some individuals, biofilms — particularly those containing the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus — can spur the immune system to mount an overexuberant inflammatory response that leads to sinusitis symptoms. Because the biofilm structure makes it hard for antibiotics to kill the bacteria, surgery to remove inflamed sinus tissue may ultimately be the best way to deal with the problem.”

Indiana Sinus Centers understands how these biofilms impact inflammation and how they keep you from feeling well.  We offer the latest advancements in minimally invasive sinus procedures utilizing a patented irrigation system to remove these films when integrated with balloon sinuplasty.  Your best chance to feel well, to speed your recovery and offer you the greatest chance of success is through the use of this system.

 

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ANTIBIOTICS and your health

If you have lived in Indiana long enough most of us have driven by a pig farm.  As you scrambled, unable to role up the windows quick enough, few of us have ever wondered about how those little piglets grow up to be such fat pigs.  Pig farmers… who get paid by the pound… for years have understood one unique relationship and exploited it to their advantage.

If you give healthy piglets antibiotics, they put on weight and grow into fat adults!  Now there is new research published out of New York that may show a similar result in humans.

November 4th, 2011 “PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A New York University physician, studying the effects of antibiotics on our digestive tract, concluded that the medicine may change the bacterial environment to the extent that it may contribute to obesity.”

Anecdotally we see this in many patients that come into the Sinus Centers.  Many complain of weight gain over the last several years.  Many also have sleep related issues related to chronic nasal congestion that may contribute to Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  The research on the overuse of antibiotics has always warned us about antibiotic resistance, however this new research leads to a whole new rationale for sinus treatment.   Our goal should be the aggressive treatment of sinus inflammation in patients with chronic sinusitis to help prevent the use and abuse of antibiotics in the individual.  We accomplish this at the Indiana Sinus Centers through the diligent use of medical anti-inflammatories, allergy identification, environmental analysis and minimally invasive sinus procedures if needed.

Contact us for treatment… before that next antibiotic!