Sinus on Your Own vs. On To Doctor if Ill

Sinus and congestion are common reasons to go to the doctor,

but there are many things you can do first to decrease the drainage and open your airways.

When should you see a doctor in the first two days of respiratory symptoms? (see below ***)

  

   Simple congestion can range from symptoms of irritated throat, hoarseness and night cough from drainage. Tiny airway openings of the sinuses and ears can get stopped up causing pressure pain. Regardless of whether a virus or allergies started the process, you should act to keep from getting worse. It might just be getting around steam, using a neti pot or spraying afrin type nasal spray to keep airways open. OTC pills that help are de-congestants. The usual sudafed (pseudo-ephedrine) is now kept in back with the pharmacist. Out front is the Phenyl-Ephrine like sudafed PE.

   Antihistamines can have an extra drying effect. In fact if allergies are the cause, then they get to the source of the problem. A good combo to ask the pharmacist for is a 24 hour claritin-D (loratidine with the Decongestant pseudoephedrine) There are meds to thin the mucous and there are meds to suppress a cough (DextroMethorphan). A good combo that can be added to the above combo is mucinex-dm. The brand name in a 12 hour pill form may be more effective.

***See a doctor (health care provider) promptly :

     If there is a fever and body aches that started abruptly then it might be the flu. There are prescription anti-viral meds that are usually prescribed, especially for high risk persons; meds like tamiflu are most effective if started within 48 hours of starting symptoms. Low risk persons might want to just call their doctor about whether they really need to come in.

     If there is a fever with sore throat and tender glands in the neck, it could be strept throat or mono. This might be less likely if you have cough, runny nose or drainage down the throat. Not everyone has white pus pockets in the throat, exposure to someone or even a fever. Streptoccocas bacteria infections need to be treated with anti-bacterial (this means antibiotics). Treatment reduces complications and spread to others.

     If you have concerns about the illness. Symptoms like deep moist cough, shortness of breath, feeling lethargic, etc. should not be ignored.

(The above information is general and in no way should be considered any attempt to diagnose or recommend treatment for your particular situation)

PvilleHealth Quiz

(CORRECTION - ANSWER FOR QUESTION G is different than key published in Pflugerville Pflag***)

Can you identify the one false answer to each health question? Some of the following have 'all of the above' as the answer.

A) The lungs can get permanent damage from 1) smoking and other pollution, 2) asthma that is not treated to optimal control, 3) being born without a certain enzyme, 4) sipping water too fast from a straw.

B) The liver can be damaged from 1) excessive alcohol, including beer and wine, 2) not drinking enough water, 3) being overweight, 4)excessive Tylenol-containing products

C) The kidneys can be damaged from 1) blood pressure not being fully controlled, 2) complications of bladder infections, 3) swimming pools, 4) diabetes not being controlled

D) Pre-diabetes 1) is cured with just a pill, 2) never goes away, 3)usually develops to full diabetes within ten years without specific healthy lifestyle changes, 4) is harmful by developing fatty plaques

E) The lining of the arteries 1) are more than just the lining of simple tubes for carrying blood, 2) react to blood pressure and cholesterol, 3) are associated with most American deaths, 4) that have developed fatty plaque cannot be cleaned off.
F) There are very good reasons to see a doctor the first day or two of developing 1) a simple uti, 2) flu with fever, 3) a cold, 4) a rash without obvious cause.

G) Adults can be protected with vaccines for 1)tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap), 2) Flu 3) pneumonia, 4)
hepatitis A and B,5) shingles 6) all of the above.

H) For allergies the first thing to do is 1) get a steroid shot, since it is totally safe and there is nothing else you can do first, 2) counter the histamine attack with an OTC like Claritin, 3)counter the leukotriene attack with prescription Singulair pills or steroid nose spray, 4) avoid whatever you are allergic to.

I) Bariatric surgery is 1) a surgery of the abdomen, done through  small scopes to make the stomach capacity smaller, 2) comes from same word used in barometric pressure re: the heaviness of the atmosphere,
3) typically results in the loss of 70% of excess weight and a reduction of meds for conditions like hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol, 4) done with a barium swallow xray.

I am looking forward to comments and interest in this quiz on my blog;I will further discuss the answers in my semi-monthly column in the Pflugerville Pflag. My blog is pvillehealth.blogspot.com ; comments or
questions to the blog can be made totally anonymously.Answers A4.B2.C3.D1.E4,F3,G6***, H 1,I 4.