If you're wondering what causes a sinus infection it may be because you have an acute or chronic sinus infection now or had one recently. Or perhaps you have had them recurring for either a short of long period of time and want to understand them more so you can take the proper steps to prevent them or treat them naturally without drugs or surgery.

There are a variety of causes for sinus infections. The most common cause is exposure to a common mold (fungi). Occasionally a sinus infection can have a bacterial cause but although that was once what was thought it now appears that bacteria are usually not the cause. It was discovered, after many years of doctors prescribing antibiotics for sinus infections, that they just weren't working. And it's believed now that that is because the sinus infections are not caused by bacteria. Additionally the antibiotics cannot reach the sinuses it's believed because of their location.

Exposure to pollutants such as household dust, dust mite droppings, smoke, fumes and particles in the air in your household can irritate the sinuses and inflame them. This leaves them vulnerable to attack by organisms such as fungi that can penetrate the lining and cause inflammation and possibly a full-blown sinus infection.

Once your sinus cavities are weakened by this attack and you experience sinus infections over and over, you may have some scarring which might leave them more open to infections from time to time or chronically.

So you want to take much care and remove the possible causes from your household and working environment.

At home you can check for mold in your bathrooms, kitchens, attic, and crawl spaces to make sure that your household is mostly free of mold. You may not be able to get rid of all of it because there are many different types of mold in our environment and some are bound to be air-borne. You can also remove indoor plants from your bedroom as they often carry some mold spores.

Make sure there is no smoking in your bedroom or household. Keep you house and bedroom well-ventilated. You may want to invest in a HEPA air cleaner to help keep the air clean.

When you understand what causes sinus infections and take the proper precautions you should be finding yourself having them less. And if you're getting them or do have one now you may want to consider natural treatment rather than antibiotics or other medications. You can cure or heal yourself.



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Nasal irrigation is very useful in providing relief for those suffering from allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and general nasal congestion. In its simplest form it involves a solution of salt and frequently baking soda which is "snorted" up into the nose - this is not recommended for someone who is not familiar with the procedure and can be very messy.

Nasal irrigation can be performed safely and effectively by using a neti pot or a syringe to deliver the saline solution. By placing your head over a bowl and with one of your ears facing down into the bowl, you "inject" the saline into the uppermost nostril. This will then flow back into the nasal cavity and run clear out of the other lower nasal passage and into the sink. You then repeat the procedure with the other nostril and afterwards, gently expel the solution which remains in the nasal passages and clean up.

Nasal irrigation is a very safe method for providing relief for sufferers from allergies and sinus issues; not only is the practice therapeutic in itself but it is also very effective at clearing the nasal passages so the mucus membranes are free of obstruction which allows other medication to act with the greatest effect.

You can mix your own solutions or buy them already pre-made and in disposable containers but after your initial one or two uses of nasal irrigation you will experience a drastic improvement in terms of your congestion and the irritation which is associated with sinus problems. The process moisturizes and cleanses the sinuses which revitalize the delicate membranes housed inside your nose and this in turn leads to increased comfort.

Over time you will become accustomed and adept with using nasal irrigation which also carries with it no known side effects. You can perform irrigation whenever you are feeling dry and irritated and the salt and soda will gently ameliorate and cleanse any inflammation of the membranes as well giving you a clean feeling. With modern, disposable neti pots you don't even need to have use of a sink so whenever you feel you are becoming congested and inflamed you are simply and easily able to relieve your symptoms in a convenient and tidy fashion.

You have no worries over using drugs as irrigation doesn't use them; the active ingredients are simply plain old salt, baking soda on occasion and water. Usually you warm the water to increase your comfort and the cleansing action but this is not absolutely necessary either.

Nasal irrigation is also an accepted medical procedure recommended by medical practitioners for the relief of nasal and sinus symptoms. You are not doing anything which is going to harm your body or create problems for you later in life - this is simply assisting your body to cleanse itself with plain salt water. Ordering nasal irrigation products is also very simple and discrete with online ordering through the internet and you will have your necessary kit delivered to your home without the inconvenience of shopping for them in person.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Reaves

Growing up, our mothers had a knack for jumping onto a personal cause as a sign of the end of days. Toenail trimming seems to be a universally "doom and gloom" topic in many households - the moms recounting the many ills that will befall us if we don't trim our toenails often enough, if we trim them too much, or if we trim them improperly.

An ingrown toenail occurs when the sides or corners of the nail embed themselves into the surrounding skin. This causes them to become red, inflamed, and painful when there is pressure applied. The toenail can become infected if left untreated. Treating ingrown toenails is best handled by your podiatrist. The pain relief is dramatic and immediate!

I have assembled the four most common motherly warnings. No offense to mom, but they're not as bad as they seem. Let's see what mom has to say.

1. "If you don't cut your nails, you'll get ingrown toenails." Sorry mom, but long toenails usually don't cause them to become ingrown. Most ingrown nails occur when the nail plate is too wide for the nail bed, so it is not the length, but the width that we're most concerned with. Inflammation is caused by the pressure of tight shoes. I will say that some people's toenails do grow with a downward curve. In those cases, growing nails long can cause them to be embedded into the end of the toe.

2. "If you don't cut your nails correctly, you'll get ingrown toenails." We try to blame nail cutting for causing ingrown toenails. The poor pedicurists who get thrown under the bus! It can be true, however, that cutting nails improperly can exacerbate ingrown nails. Conventional wisdom is to cut the nails straight across. When people slant the sides of the nails back, they can help an ingrown nail form. It is not one size fits all, though. If someone's nail is especially curved, not rounding the corners of the nail can cause them to dig into the toe and cause pain. Chalk one up for mom!

3. "Cutting a 'V' into the nail will prevent ingrown toenails." This is my favorite of mom-isms when it comes to ingrown toenails. I continue to be amazed that kids today are still told this. The theory is that the groove in the nail will let the center compress and relieve the pressure on the toe. Think in terms of a pressure grate on a bridge or road. The grate protects the pavement from cracking when the temperature changes, causing expansion and contraction. It just doesn't translate to a toenail, however.

4. "Picking your toenails can cause ingrown toenails." Well mom has this one right! When it comes time for toenail trimming, a clipper is the way to go. It is easier just to tear at the nails - we've all done it at one time or another - but the toenail will often go too low on the sides which can cause trauma resulting in an ingrown toenail. Keep those clippers handy and do not pick.

So, based on my findings, mom is batting .500...not so shabby! When all else fails, all you need is some simple common sense. And, of course, if you feel any pain or see any redness, bleeding, or pus, be sure to visit your podiatrist right away.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Andrew_Schneider