New Delhi: Diwali time is not the most joyous of occasions for those suffering from breathing difficulties and other allergy-induced respiratory problems. It is so because the festival of lights ushers in a new season (at least in most parts of the country) – bidding farewell to the older one – and welcoming a new one in its place. It is also the season for perennial allergies to peak, making life miserable for those patients who have a history of sinusitis and rhinitis. It can also cause discomfort for those suffering from allergy related migraines.
Indigenous studies have revealed that seasonal allergies account for almost 45 per cent of aggravated situation in such patients, with younger ones even requiring to be nebulized once every week to breathe well. Respiratory tract illness and infections have undergone a sea change post COVID-19, making it impossible for a simple sinus to be treated with usual home remedies. “The hospitals in New Delhi and nearby regions are going to be flooded with patients reporting respiratory illness this November and December. We have already circulated guidelines to various clinics to deal with the situation at hand in a prompt manner,” the Health Ministry had put up a notice on October 24.
While the Ministry and other authorities are doing everything within their means to take stock of an imminent health emergency, there are some things that we need to AVOID doing that will go a long way to ensure that we keep allergies at bay or at best in their manageable variation. But first, it will serve us well to know what exactly is sinusitis and what causes the painful condition. According to medical experts – “Sinusitis is present when the tissue lining the sinuses become swollen or inflamed. It occurs as the result of an inflammatory reaction or an infection from a virus, bacteria, or fungus.”
How do I know if I have sinusitis?
There’s no simple answer to this query, although patients suffering from the condition have reported a few common symptoms that we have listed below. (Note: these symptoms may vary from adults to children. Even the duration for an infection may be different for different individuals)
Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, an infectious disease expert from New Delhi, explains how the symptoms of acute sinusitis, especially in adults, often follows a bout of cold that doesn’t get better or it gets worse after 7 to 10 days. It is followed by other manifestations including…
- Breath issues and a loss of smell for prolonged periods
- A persistent hollow cough that tends to get worse during night time
- A general feeling of fatigue and not wanting to engage with activities
- Low grade fever accompanied by a runny nose
- Headaches particularly starting from the middle of the head and going backwards
- Acute pain behind the eyes
These are some of the common symptoms of acute sinusitis but the condition tends to be mild and may even go away in a few weeks time. However, Chatterjee says a doctor’s intervention is required in cases where breathing is stalled or not normal or if sore throat persists.
“A sinusitis is an infection that needs to be treated. If the inflammation is left unattended, it may become sore and lead to other serious breathing anomalies in no time. Always better to get it checked by a ENT specialist to rule out other related diseases,” he said.
Rhinitis is a similar condition only the symptoms are much milder and prolonged. “This can even be rectified by a small surgery if at a ripe age,” adds Dr Chatterjee.
What to avoid to not make allergy severe
This time of the month calls for deep cleaning in most households, which could also mean a lot of dust particles will be circulated within the confines of your home. Even outside there is a smog situation brewing that makes the AQI unbearable for breathing. There are certain things that patients who are known to suffer from acute sinusitis should avoid at any cost.
- Avoid venturing outside unless it is very important. Inhaling the smog or other pollutants in the air could make the inflammation worse.
- Avoid eating foods that will tease your sinus and not help in reducing inflammation. Fried foods or processed dairy can cause significant issues to the inflammation that is already there. Avoid such foods for the next couple of weeks at least.
- Avoid going to places which could have dust particles hanging in the air. Like new construction sites or even visiting a friend’s house which has been freshly painted. These could act as aggravators for your sinus.
- Avoid direct inhaling of flowers. Pollen is a huge contributor to your sinus/migraine problem. The best way to enjoy the flowers during this Autumn/Winter season is to look and smell them from a distance.
- Avoid dry nose and throat. If possible keep washing your nose (and nearby areas) so as to maintain strict hygiene. This flushes out any dust particle that could be hovering.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes. This should be a no for all times. Most of the infections that we get is via our hands touching surfaces and then coming in close contact with the body. The best way to avoid getting such infections is to wash hands regularly and avoid rubbing your eyes if they seem dry and painful. Instead rinse them with cold water every now and then and apply some eye drop if necessary.
“These are small steps but will go a long way to ensure that you have a Diwali sans any breathing difficulty. Extend these to winter months and it could be bye, bye inflammation,” Dr Chatterjee says as he concludes.
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