TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Foreword 1
- Acknowledgments 5
- Table of Contents 7
- Part 1 – What’s Making Me Sneeze 13
- Sinusitis, Hay Fever and Allergic Rhinitis 14
- What is Sinusitis? 14
- Hay Fever and Allergic Rhinitis 15
- The Perfect Nasal “Storm” 16
- The Human Nasal System 16
- Structure of the Nose 17
- Nasal Cavity 18
- The Turbinates 18
- Ostiometal Complex 19
- A Closer Look at the Sinuses 20
- Ethmoid Sinuses 20
- Maxillary Sinuses 21
- Frontal Sinuses 21
- Sphenoid Sinuses 22
- Internal Structure of the Sinuses 22
- Why Do We Have Sinuses? 23
- What Causes Sinusitis 24
- Your Body’s Response to Infection 24
- Part 2 – Diagnosing and Treating Sinusitis 27
- Major Sinusitis Symptoms 28
- Pressure and Pain 28
- Congestion and Difficulty Breathing 29
- Postnasal Drip and Sore Throat 29
- Other Potential Symptoms 30
- Difficulties in Diagnosis 31
- The Common Cold and Allergic Rhinitis 31
- Visiting Your Doctor 32
- X-Rays or CT Scan? 33
- First Line Treatment 34
- Referral to an ENT 35
- Endoscopic Examination 35
- Nasal Polyps and Cysts 36
- Nasal Tumors 37
- Discovering Allergic Rhinitis 38
- Additional Testing 38
- Understanding Acute Sinusitis 40
- Treating Acute Sinusitis 40
- Prescription Medications 42
- The Problem with Decongestants 43
- Nasal Sprays and Rebound 43
- Oral Decongestants 45
- Acute Sinusitis and Surgery 45
- Part 3 – The Challenge of Chronic Sinusitis 47
- Diagnosing Chronic Sinusitis 48
- Physical Abnormalities 48
- Chronic Inflammation 49
- Combined Root Causes 50
- Vacuum Sinusitis 51
- Fungus-Related Sinusitis 52
- Treating Chronic Sinusitis 53
- Nasal Irrigation Methods 54
- Home Humidifiers 56
- Nasal Tapes or Strips 57
- Saline, the Safe Nasal Spray 58
- Cold and Allergy Medications 58
- Prescription Corticosteroids 61
- Antibiotics in Detail 63
- Culturing Bacteria 64
- Classes of Antibiotics 65
- The Decision to Have Surgery 67
- Your Doctor’s Recommendation 68
- The Decision is Yours 68
- Consider Personal Risk Tolerance 69
- Minimally Invasive Procedure 69
- Advanced Sinus Surgeries 70
- Recovering from Sinus Surgery 71
- Second or “Revision” Surgeries 73
- Part 4 – Lifestyle and Alternative Therapies 75
- The Link to Food Allergies 75
- Sinusitis and Alcohol 75
- Sinusitis and Tobacco 76
- Alternative Sinusitis Therapies 76
- Acupuncture 77
- Herbs 78
- Vitamins and Minerals 79
- The Role of Stress in Sinusitis 79
- Part 5 – Frequently Asked Questions 81
- The Basics 81
- Acute Sinusitis 83
- Allergic Rhinitis 91
- Chronic Sinusitis 95
- Lifestyle and Alternative Treatments 101
- Afterword 105
- Relevant Websites 109
- Glossary 111
- Index 119
