Thursday, April 20, 2006

Sinus Infection Medication

Sinus Infection Medication by Eddie Tobey


Sinus infection or sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. Sinuses are the hollow cavities in the bones around the nose. When these sinuses get inflamed because of some viral or fungal infection, it results in blockage of air or mucus inside, which causes lot of pain and discomfort, often known as a sinus attack. Sinus infections are very common and millions of people are attacked each year.

There are three kinds of sinus attacks: acute, chronic, and recurring. Acute sinus attacks are severe and last for around three weeks. Chronic attacks are more severe and last for three to eight weeks or more. Recurring sinus infections, on the other hand, are those that frequently appear over a period of time. Medication is given according to the kind of attack. Chronic sinus infections need prolonged treatment, whereas normal sinus infections can be treated with over-the-counter drugs.

There are many home remedies for treating sinus infections. Though these remedies may not provide any lasting cure, they definitely give some relief. Some common home remedies are: steam inhalation, hot or a cold compress over the inflamed area, a decoction of mustard seed powder and water instilled in the nostrils, consumption of jalapeno peppers, consumption of the juice of ripe grapes, application of a paste of cinnamon and water on the forehead, application of a paste of ginger and water/milk on the forehead, application of a paste of basil leaves, cloves and dried ginger on the forehead, inhalation of steam from eucalyptus oil, warm tea, and so on.

Medication also depends on the actual cause of the sinus infection. Sometimes, sinus infections are a result of some other ailments like asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergies to fungi, primary immune deficiency, HIV infection, cystic fibrosis and others. These infections have to be treated before treating the sinusitis itself. Medication for sinusitis usually involves a decongestant to clear the sinuses, an antibiotic to fight the infection, and a pain killer. Decongestant can be in the form of tablet or nasal spray. Some chronic cases can be treated using steroids like prednisone. However, steroids are not generally preferred because of the possible side effects. Acute or chronic sinus infections may require prolonged therapies like saline nasal rinses, topical/oral decongestants, antihistamines, mucolytic agents, and intranasal corticosteroids. Sinus infections that cannot be cured by medication require surgery. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is a common surgery for enlarging the sinus openings and allowing drainage.

About the Author
Sinus Infections provides detailed information on sinus infections, sinus infection symptoms, sinus infection treatment, home remedy for sinus infection and more.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

about-cystic-mesotheliomacystic

Submitted by: Kent Pinkerton

Cystic fibrosis is a medical condition that starts in early childhood, sometimes as early as from the time of birth. A defective gene causes the problem and there is no known cure, though there are some promising experiments going on towards gene therapy. The medical profession understands the symptomatic treatment well and the average lifespan of persons with cystic fibrosis is increasing.
Nature's mechanism for filtering out the dust and microorganisms people breathe in is to secrete thin mucus in the airways and the lungs, and clear it through the nose or the digestive tract. For the person with cystic fibrosis, this mucus, which normally is thin and slippery, becomes thick and sticky. Other affected and thickened secretions are sweat, digestive juices and the reproductive system.

Since the lungs are congested, the pulmonary capacity drops. The blocked airways cause severe breathing difficulties and asthma-like wheezing. The digestive juices from the pancreas and liver do not reach the intestine, as the ducts get blocked. The fats and proteins are not digested. Though the patient eats normally, maybe even in excess, he is undernourished and is under weight. Fat-soluble vitamins become deficient.

There are approximately ten million symptomless carriers of the defective cystic fibrosis gene in America. A person needs to inherit two defective cystic fibrosis genes to be afflicted with cystic fibrosis. Every time two carriers produce a child, the chances are 25 % that the child may be affected with cystic fibrosis, 50 % that the child may be a carrier and 25% that the child may be a non-carrier.

To diagnose cystic fibrosis, the laboratory carries out a sweat test. The treatment is only symptomatic. We cannot at this stage make the secretions thin, but can neutralize the effects of thickened secretions by regular treatment and management. A high-fat diet with enzyme and vitamin supplements helps the patient with nutrition.

A strict lifestyle regime to prevent complications is very important. Drinking plenty of liquid loosens the mucus. Regular exercise, as much as possible, keeps the respiratory system clear and improves the cardiovascular system.
The cystic fibrosis patient must avoid smoky or dusty places. Hand cleaning is a simple but very effective step to prevent infection.

Few cystic fibrosis patients lived beyond their teens in the past, but thanks to improved management, 40 % of the 30 ,000 Americans with cystic fibrosis are over 18 and many are into their 30 s and 40s.Cystic Fibrosis provides detailed information on Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms, Causes Of Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Treatments and more.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Natural Asbestos Could Cause Cancer

Not only Asbestos causes Mesothelioma Lung Cancer by Vera Cherneva

Mesothelioma lung cancer is usually associated with asbestos exposure. In fact there are many other risk factors that cause mesothelioma cancer. One of them is the erionite. Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that belongs to a group of minerals called zeolites. Zeolites are hydrated aluminosilicates of the alkaline and alkaline-earth metals. Erionite was used in the past as a noble metal-impregnated catalyst in a hydrocarbon-cracking process. It was studied for use in fertilizers and to control odors in livestock production, because of its ability to selectively adsorb molecules from air or liquids. In many countries erionite blocks were used (and may be are still used) as building material or in stucco pastes and whitewash.

Erionite was mentioned for the first time as a mesothelioma lung cancer risk factor in 1975, when Turkish government presented a study that uncovered a high incidence of a rare malignant mesothelioma in lung tissues of people in certain small villages in the Cappadocia area in Turkey's central mountainous region. In two small villages the mesothelioma lung cancer accounted for 43 % of the deaths during 23 years period of study. Erionite fibers were found in biopsies of lungs of the mesothelioma cancer afflicted people. Comparing this to a 9.7% rate of death from this disease among asbestos insulation installers shows how anomalous this condition was.

Further studies showed erionite causes similar diseases in laboratory animals. When researchers at Mt. Sinai Hospital injected rats with the same dosage of erionite that they used for asbestos, rats didn't live long enough to get mesothelioma cancer. At a much- reduced dose, the rats did get cancer. Erionite is probably the most toxic known mineral - a milligram of fibers in the lungs is lethal.

Today erionite is considered so hazardous that the EPA requires any one who intends to manufacture, import or process any article containing erionite to notify the E.P.A. 90 days in advance. This gives the EPA a chance to review, limit or prohibit that activity.

Erionite is no longer mined or marketed for commercial purposes. Although other natural zeolites have many commercial uses (pet litter, soil conditioners, animal feed, waste-water treatment, gas absorbents, etc.) So potential occupational exposure to erionite occurs during the production and mining of other zeolites.

And there are questions: Are there other mineralogical hazards like erionite and asbestos? Should we expected mesothelioma lung cancer increases not only from asbestos exposure after another 20 - 30 years?

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Protect against mesothelioma by

Lewis and Sholnick have announced the publication of some simple precautionary steps can be taken to avoid high risk situations in regards to asbestos and mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It refers specifically to a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs or abdomen. Despite being classified under the rather broad category of cancer, however, Mesothelioma is unique for a number of reasons. First is the immense devastation of the disease, and the inability for modern medical techniques to significantly slow its onset or offer a cure. Approximately 75 % of patients die within 18 months of the first signs of the disease. Second, is the long latency period between exposure to the cause of the disease, asbestos, and its onset.
Latency runs the gamut from 15 to 50 years, meaning that a person may have been exposed to asbestos more than a half century before the first serious signs of the disease manifest themselves. The average reported latency, however, is approximately 35-40 years.

Precautionary Steps
Because of the devastating nature of the disease and because we are able to point to a single root source, asbestos exposure, there is significant reason for all individuals to take necessary precautions to avoid contraction of the disease. While certainly no steps taken can fully eliminate all risk of asbestos exposure, some simple precautionary steps can be taken to avoid high risk situations.

For instance, a responsible parent should contact their childrenís local school district. In 1986 Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which required public and private nonprofit schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-containing materials. Despite this, an untold number of schools either have not taken the necessary steps to eliminate the potential for asbestos exposure or the work has been done shoddily. In fact, just two years ago a New York school district was found to have high levels of asbestos despite having had a contractor "remove" the threat a mere five years before. Upon further investigation, however, the contractor used had already been cited numerous times for doing work not up to code in similar asbestos removal projects.
Consequently, concerned parents should first contact their childrenís school district to receive a copy of documentation stating that indeed, proper steps were taken to remove asbestos from the building. Then, parents should do a bit of their own research via the internet and the Better Business Bureau to ensure that the contractor hired has a stellar record. stellar record.

More information can be found at , a free online resource. for more information on mesothelioma and asbestos litigation.