How Do Healthcare Providers Treat Nasal Congestion
Providers treat nasal congestion based on the specific cause. For example, if you have nasal congestion because youre allergic to cats, you have a form of allergic rhinitis. Avoiding cats and taking medication to control your symptoms may ease your condition.
If your congestion is a form of nonallergic rhinitis, you may be able to manage your condition by identifying what triggers congestion and by taking medication to control symptoms. Here are some medications or other treatments providers may recommend:
Treatments for nonallergic rhinitis
- Saline spray or rinse: Saline solution in a spray or rinse moisturizes the inside of your nose and washes out mucus.
- Antihistamines: This medication helps calm your immune systems reaction to intruders like allergens.
- Corticosteroid nasal sprays: This medication helps with inflammation.
- Ipratropium bromide spray: This spray may help with runny noses.
Treatments for allergic rhinitis
People with allergic rhinitis may take antihistamines or corticosteroids to soothe inflamed nasal tissues. Here are other treatments for congestion caused by allergic rhinitis:
- This treatment may relieve your stuffy nose. Dont use decongestant nasal sprays for more than three days. Using them longer than three days can potentially worsen your nasal congestion.
- Anticholinergic nasal sprays: This treatment may reduce mucus in your nose.
Could Your Child Have An Ear Infection
Learn how to spot one and what to do next.
Even newbie parents can spot diaper rash or a runny nose with no problem, but ear infections may come with only a whisper of symptoms. Yet three-quarters of children will get one by age 3.
“An ear infection happens when you get infected fluid or pus behind the eardrum,” says Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP. She is a pediatrician in Atlanta and editor of American Academy of Pediatrics Baby & Child Health. The most common cause? Colds. When secretions get trapped in the middle ear, viruses or bacteria can cause an infection and result in a bulging or reddened eardrum.
Children under 3 are most susceptible to ear infections, Shu says. “They don’t have strong immune systems. They haven’t been exposed to many of these germs before, so it takes them a little longer to fight them off.” Young kids also have more horizontal Eustachian tubes , allowing fluid to collect instead of drain.
Fever may come with an ear infection, but not always, Shu says. Parents might spot other symptoms, such as earaches, ear drainage, trouble hearing or sleeping, ear tugging, poor appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. But “for many children, it’s just fussiness, crying more than usual, being clingy,” Shu says.
“We try not to treat if it’s a very mild infection or if they’re not complaining that much,” Shu says. According to the AAP, parents may choose to wait 48 to 72 hours and then start their child on antibiotics if there’s no improvement.
Shopping Smart For The Heart
The next time youre staring down the long shelves of the cough and cold aisle, look past the list of symptoms in bold letters and make sure you consider the active ingredients in the smaller print.
If you suffer from hypertension, your heart will thank you.
And dont forget, theres more to decongesting than taking medication: drink more liquids, try using a humidifier, consider rinsing your sinuses with a saline solution and get lots of rest.
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Common Factors That Lead To Clogged Ear
Your ear canal is like a door of open opportunities to foreign objects and intangible particles that make their way in and cause problems some of which can be painful, too.
A few factors that commonly cause your ears to become clogged up are:
1. Wax buildup
Generally,earwax is protective in nature. But, when it hardens, the ears become clogged and cause pain, ringing, etc. Too much accumulation of earwax is responsible for the ear clogging. There are various earwax drops & removal kit available in the market which you can use to get rid of it.
2. Dirt Particles
External particles, dirt, and insertion of foreign objects like cotton swab cause the ear to clog. The insertion of these objects damage the inner cells of the ear. And you may suffer from hearing related problems.
3. Air pressure
You may experience ear clogging while scuba diving, climbing mountains or on an airplane. You can also call it Ear Barotrauma or Airplane ear. As sometimes Eustachian tube cant equalize the pressure due to change in altitude or pressure. This causes clogging of ears.
4. Sinus problems
A common cold, flu, allergies and various factors responsible for sinus infections block the nasal passage and it leads to Eustachian tube blockage. As a result, you feel as something is clogged in your ear.
5. Ear Infections
Otitis Media, an ear infection occurs when fluid starts to build up in the middle ear and harmful microbes start to grow. This causes the sensation of ears blockage.
Risk Factors For Ear Infections
Ear infections occur most commonly in young children because they have short and narrow Eustachian tubes. About of children develop an acute ear infection at some point.
Infants who are bottle-fed also have a higher incidence of ear infections than their breastfed counterparts.
Other factors that increase the risk of developing an ear infection are:
- altitude changes
- Take OTC decongestants like pseudoephedrine .
- Avoid sleeping on the affected ear.
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How Is A Middle
Your health care provider will take a medical history and do a physicalexam. He or she will look at the outer ear and eardrum with an otoscope.The otoscope is a lighted tool that lets your provider see inside the ear.A pneumatic otoscope blows a puff of air into the ear to check how wellyour eardrum moves. If you eardrum doesnt move well, it may mean you havefluid behind it.
Your provider may also do a test called tympanometry. This test tells howwell the middle ear is working. It can find any changes in pressure in themiddle ear. Your provider may test your hearing with a tuning fork.
Sinus Infections And Other Health Effects
Aside from ear pain and dizziness, a sinus infection can also cause temporary hearing loss. Sinus-related hearing loss occurs when the infection spreads to the ears, specifically the middle ear. Hearing can become affected if inflammation puts pressure on the ear drum. This inflammation can cause discharge of fluid and the build-up of fluid in the eardrum, which leads to pain and temporary hearing loss.
When the fluid and pressure are relieved the hearing loss will reverse, and you can go back to hearing how you previously did, prior to the infection. If the fluid does not drain commonly seen in children the continuous pressure can cause the eardrum to burst, which contributes to permanent hearing loss.
Its important to prevent sinus infections as well as treating them right away, so that you dont encounter any complications.
Other health complications that can stem from a sinus infection are headaches and throat problems, such as coughing or a sore throat.
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What Causes An Ear Infection
Ear infections are caused by bacteria and viruses. Many times, an ear infection begins after a cold or other respiratory infection. The bacteria or virus travel into the middle ear through the eustachian tube . This tube connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. The bacteria or virus can also cause the eustachian tube to swell. This swelling can cause the tube to become blocked, which keeps normally produced fluids to build up in the middle ear instead of being able to be drained away.
Adding to the problem is that the eustachian tube is shorter and has less of a slope in children than in adults. This physical difference makes these tubes easier to become clogged and more difficult to drain. The trapped fluid can become infected by a virus or bacteria, causing pain.
Medical terminology and related conditions
Because your healthcare provider may use these terms, its important to have a basic understanding of them:
Physical And Structural Injuries In The Face And Ears
Serious complications or permanent physical injuries from ear infections are very uncommon, but may include:
- Structural damage. Certain children with severe or recurrent otitis media may be at risk for structural damage in the ear, including erosion of the ear canal.
- Cholesteatomas. Inflammatory tissues in the ear called cholesteatomas are an uncommon complication of chronic or severe ear infections.
- Calcifications. In rare cases, even after a mild infection, some children develop calcification and hardening in the middle and, occasionally, in the inner ear. This may be due to immune abnormalities.
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Is It An Ear Infection Or Covid
It is not possible to tell whether a person has an ear infection or COVID-19 according to their symptoms alone. An individual may also develop ear pain as their only COVID-19 symptom. Their ear pain also may linger after recovering from the disease. To know whether a person has an ear infection, COVID-19, or both, they should take a COVID-19 test.
How Long Do Sinus Infections Last
During this time of year, it can be difficult to know whether your sniffles are caused by allergies, a cold or something else. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that 31 million Americans are diagnosed with sinus infections each year. Understanding the signs of a sinus infection, including how long it can last, is key for seeking proper treatment.
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How Can Upper Respiratory Infections Affect Tinnitus
Tinnitus is ringing in the ears. It can cause muffled hearing and sometimes pressure in the ear. This can lead to pain and discomfort. This condition has many causes, including upper respiratory infections. Treating the causes of tinnitus will cause the symptoms to go away. This is vital to protect your hearing.
You dont often think of your nasal passages and ears connecting to each other. When you have a cold or respiratory infection, it can feel like your head is swelling. You might even feel like your head is in a fishbowl. This is due to pressure in your sinuses.
How To Lower Your Heart Rate From Anxiety Or A Panic Attack
- You can lower your heart rate from anxiety with regular exercise, deep breathing techniques, and mindfulness meditation.
- Anixety can raise your heart rate over time and is associated with a higher risk of heart disease.
- A panic attack often comes with a very high heart rate, and may even feel similar to a heart attack, so youll want to take these steps to lower your heart rate.
- This article was medically reviewed by John Osborne, MD, PhD, and the Director of Cardiology for Dallas-based State of the Heart Cardiology.
- This story is part of Insiders guide on Anxiety.
We all experience some level of anxiety and stress, but anxiety disorders are so overwhelming that it may affect daily life. An estimated 40 million US adults, or 19.1% of the population deal with a type of anxiety disorder.
From excessive fear and worry to a racing heart, pounding chest, and shortness of breath, the symptoms of anxiety can take a toll on your body especially your heart. With proper interventions, you can learn to regulate your heart rate and reduce the impact that anxiety has on your heart health. Heres how.
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Opt To Sleep On The Side Of Your Healthy Ear As This Can Help Elevate The Infected Ear Further And Increase Drainage
How to sleep with clogged ear infection. This causes blockage of the eustachian tubes, so fluid and pressure build up in the middle part of the ear. Sounds waves vibrate the ear drum, which connects via a sophisticated lever and piston amplifier system that transmits sound waves to the inner ear. Your child is unlikely to have an ear infection if:
Causes of blocked ear while sleeping: Any problem in your nose or throat may be responsible for abnormality in the outside pressure and pressure of middle ear. The resq wedge allows a baby with gerd, sleep.
Sleep on a recliner or with an extra pillow so your head is comfortably propped up. Use a pain reliever throughout the day and before bedtime to ease discomfort. Keep your ear as dry as possible for 7 to 10 days.
A sinus infection is commonly related to clogged ears as swelling and discharge from the sinuses interact with the eustachian tubes at the back of the nose. Otitis externa and otitis media . Care should be taken when using remedies to unclog congested ears.
For those of us who have spent many a sleepless night tossing and turning, the best way to get some sleep with an ear infection is found to be in an upright or elevated position. In this case may not be able to pop your ears, you may hear a crackling noise or feel a fluid sensation in the ears, and changes in altitude (e.g. The ear drum is a thin membrane that separates the middle ear cavity from the outer ear canal.
Pin On Ear Wax
How Is A Cholesteatoma Treated
Generally speaking, the only way to treat a cholesteatoma is to have it surgically removed. The cyst must be removed to prevent the complications that can occur if it grows larger. Cholesteatomas dont go away naturally. They usually continue to grow and cause additional problems.
Once a cholesteatoma has been diagnosed, a regimen of antibiotics, ear drops, and careful cleaning of the ear will most likely be prescribed to treat the infected cyst, reduce inflammation, and drain the ear. Your medical professional will then be able to better analyze the growth traits of the cyst and make a plan for surgical removal.
In most cases, the surgery is an outpatient procedure. This means that you dont have to stay in the hospital after the procedure. A hospital stay is only necessary if the cyst is very large or if you have a serious infection. The surgery is done under general anesthesia. After the initial surgery to remove the cyst, follow-up surgery to reconstruct any damaged portions of the inner ear and make sure that the cyst has been completely removed is often necessary.
Once the cholesteatoma is removed, youll need to attend follow-up appointments to evaluate results and ensure the cyst hasnt come back. If the cyst broke any bones in your ear, youll need a second surgery to repair them.
After surgery, some people experience temporary dizziness or taste abnormalities. These side effects almost always resolve themselves within a few days.
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About Middle Ear Infections
Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation and a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum.
Anyone can develop a middle ear infection but infants between six and 15 months old are most commonly affected.
It’s estimated that around one in every four children experience at least one middle ear infection by the time they’re 10 years old.
Symptoms Of An Ear Infection
When your child has an ear infection, it will typically start with a cold. They will most likely have a cough, congestion and a runny nose. A common indication of an ear infection is when your child gets a fever after the cold symptoms appear. If the fever lasts for more than 48 hours, then its time to get your childs ears looked at, said Shannon Carruthers, M.D., a pediatrician at Sanford Childrens in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
With an ear infection, pain in the ear can be intense. Older children will be able to verbalize this, but obviously babies cannot. Excessive crying might mean that your baby is experiencing pain and it is time to bring them in.
Some other common symptoms your child may display are fussiness and crying, poor feeding and trouble sleeping. The pain is usually worse at night, and lying down can make it worse.
In the meantime, before your doctor visit, you can administer Motrin/Tylenol to relieve the pain, Dr. Carruthers said.
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Can An Ear Infection Be Prevented Or Avoided
Although an ear infection is not contagious, the bacteria or virus that caused it is often contagious. Its important to:
- Vaccinate your child with a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to protect against several types of pneumococcal bacteria. This type of bacteria is the most common cause of ear infections. Get your childs vaccinations on time.
- Practice routine hand washing and avoid sharing food and drinks, especially if your child is exposed to large groups of kids in day care or school settings.
- Avoid second-hand smoke.
- Breastfeed your baby exclusively for the first 6 months and continue breastfeeding for at least 1 year. Place your baby at an angle while feeding.
Common allergy and cold medicines do not protect against ear infections.
How Can I Prevent Sinusitis
Experts dont know a lot about how to prevent sinusitis. But the following tips may help:
- Avoid contact with allergens or irritants that trigger your nasal allergies.
- Keep your nose as free and clear as possible by taking your allergy medicines including topical nasal steroid sprays and using a nasal saline rinse.
- Avoid infections by washing your hands often during common cold season. Also avoid touching your face.
- Talk with your doctor about lifestyle changes that may help you prevent repeated sinus infections. These may include changes to your diet, maintaining good hydration, performing regular exercise, and reducing stress.
Medical Review: April 2021 by Sarah Goff, MD, PhD, and August 2022 by John James, MD
Allergy Symptoms
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