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

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