Tips To Stay Healthy During Cough And Cold Season

In winters, the most common health problem one faces, irrespective of age, is cold and cough. Once contracted, a bad cold can last several days. However there are ways to keep healthy during this season by taking care of some simple points.

• Flu Shots: Getting vaccinated at the onset of the season is a good idea as it will keep your body immune from changing weather. Make sure everyone in the family gets the flu shots. It takes about two weeks after the vaccine for it to start working so time the shot accordingly.
• Practice Hygiene: Washing hands regularly, using a sanitizer and avoiding touching your nose and eyes, specifically if you have been in a public place or have just met someone with cold symptoms, is an effective way in keeping you away from this condition. 
• Disinfect The House: Timely disinfecting your home’s common places like tabletops, door knobs, sofas, chairs and floors will help in keeping the germs away. If there have been guests at home, this exercise becomes even more important.
• Stay Away From Infections: If there is someone in your workplace or school with cold and cough, avoid shaking their hands or sharing bottles/glasses with them as you must stay away from the virus as much as possible. 
• Sneeze Into A Tissue: Never sneeze into your hand as it will make the virus travel from you onto places you touch and thus spread infection. Always sneeze into a cloth or tissue which you can discard/clean so others around you are protected too.
• Eat The Right Food: Intake of fluids and eating fruits and vegetables will build your immune system and prepare you for this weather. Drinking soups and broth also keep the body warm and insulated.
• Rest: Even with a slight hint of having cold and cough symptoms, try to take ample rest. A rested body will wade away the virus faster. Also avoid travelling during this time as getting in contact will more people will help the virus to spread widely. 

If you have followed all the above tips and still struck with a bout of cold and cough, it is advisable to take enough rest and stay indoors. While home treatment can help a great deal, if the condition becomes severe, it is advisable to seek medical help for complete relief.

Sinusitis: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Sinusitis is one of the common health issues that often bring people to urgent care centers. People who have asthma, allergies, blockages in the sinuses or weak immune system are often susceptible to sinusitis. Sinusitis is the swelling or inflammation of the membrane that lines the sinuses. The condition prevents the drainage of mucus from the nose. Conditions that often lead to sinus blockages include the nasal polyps, allergic rhinitis, common cold or a deviated septum. Sinusitis can be acute or chronic. If you get several attacks within a year, you may get recurrent sinusitis.

Causes

• Viral, bacterial or fungal Infection
• Allergies
• cold
• Autoimmune response to any nasal irritation
• Growths of the mucous membranes (nasal polyps)
• Obstructions in the nasal cavity
• Deviated nasal septum
• Cystic fibrosis
• Weak immune system
• Spending time at a place where other people have infection
• Activities such as scuba diving, etc

Symptoms

• Nasal congestion
• Pain
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Headache
• Toothache and earache
• Tenderness behind eyes, cheeks, nose
• Fatigue
• Loss of smell
• Nasal stuffiness
• Bad breath
• Fever
• Green or yellow mucus

Diagnosis

If sinusitis is due to allergy, your physician at the urgent care may ask you to go for allergy tests to determine what triggers the sinus infection. Your physician may examine your nasal passage using rhinoscopy or nasal endoscopy. The physician may also recommend MRI or CT scan to check any sinus abnormalities such as deviated septum, polyps, etc. You should immediately visit an urgent care center if you have high fever, swelling in the eye or face, redness, stiff neck and headache.

Treatment

The symptoms of Sinusitis can often be treated using home remedies such as using warm, moist washcloth over your sinuses or use a humidifier to reduce the congestion. Steam inhalation may help in clearing the nasal blockage. Saline nasal sprays are also effective in clearing the nasal passages. It is often advised that the patients with sinusitis should drink plenty of water and other fluids. Some over-the-counter decongestants and pain relievers are also effective in offering relief from  mucus and pain.

• Medicines: Your physician at the urgent care may prescribe you certain anti-fungal medicines, antibiotics or allergy medicines to treat the severe symptoms of sinusitis. 
• Surgery: Surgery may be required to treat the acute sinusitis. The surgeon may remove nasal polyps or tumors, clean the sinuses and correct the deviated nasal septum.

You can reduce the risk of sinuses by taking precautions such as washing hands frequently, reducing exposure to elements that lead to allergy and avoiding smoking.