How Effective Is a Humidifier for Sinusitis?
A humidifier is often recommended to people who suffer from sinusitis.
But how effective is a humidifier for the relief of sinusitis symptoms?
Symptoms include tenderness and pain around the eyes; nasal congestion; ear pain; sore throat; cough; nausea and headache.
“A humidifier alone will not cure a bout of acute bacterial sinusitis,” begins Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology; one of her specialties is sinus surgery.
Acute sinusitis lasts less than 12 weeks.
After that period of time, if symptoms persist, then it becomes chronic sinusitis.
“For some it may relieve the severity of the symptoms,” continues Dr. Silvers in reference to a humidifier.
“For chronic sinus congestion and pressure, some may get relief with a humidifier and others will not.
“When a patient has associated nasal congestion they may then be breathing better through the mouth.
“The humidifier will act to moisten a dry throat and give relief. Nasally inhaled moisture may also loosen the thick congested mucous and help it clear better.”
Dr. Silvers also points out that if the water in a humidifier is left stagnant, and the filter not cleaned, mold can grow and spread, making nasal issues even worse.
So make sure that the filter is cleaned daily and fresh water is always used.
What can cause sinusitis?
Infection (bacterial, viral or fungal) is the culprit.
The risk of developing sinusitis is heightened by the following conditions: gastroesophageal reflux disease, tooth infection, deviated nasal septum (the wall that is between the nostrils), nasal polyps, allergies and cigarette smoke.
Repeated micro-trauma to the nasal passages, such as from cleaning out the nose on a daily basis with an instrument such as a cotton swab, can result in irritated nerve endings or inflammation, leading to some sinusitis symptoms.
Besides using a humidifier to relieve the symptoms of sinusitis, there are other home remedies.
You can start by sleeping with your head elevated, to help drain the sinuses.
Another thing you can do is to rinse out your nasal passages with a neti pot or bulb syringe.
For facial pain, place warm damp towels on your cheeks and around your eyes and nose.
An NYC expert in ear, nose and throat care, Dr. Silvers has been named among America’s Top Physicians and Surgeons in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology numerous times since 2003.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/ natali_ploskaya
Sources:
mayoclinic.com/health/chronic-sinusitis/DS00232/DSECTION=symptoms
mayoclinic.com/health/acute-sinusitis/DS00170
mayoclinic.com/health/acute-sinusitis/DS00170/DSECTION=causes
mayoclinic.com/health/acute-sinusitis/DS00170/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies
sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111006154904.htm
Joint Aches from Microscopic Colitis: Should You Work Out?
If you have an extra-intestinal symptom of microscopic colitis—notably, the joint aches—here is your information about exercise.
Though not a leading symptom of microscopic colitis, joint aches definitely do make the list of symptoms.
My first flare-up was in late April of 2010, and a few weeks later, after a colonoscopy, I was officially diagnosed.
I had joint aches during that first flare-up. I never recorded the duration, though, but I estimate it was a few weeks. The diarrhea and abnormal stools took about two months to completely go away.
Despite the joint aches and diarrhea, I continued doing heavy and intense weightlifting — which I’ve been doing for years. However, I need to be very clear on something.
During this initial flare-up, the joint aches weren’t bad enough to keep me home or inactive.
They were annoying, even very bothersome at times, but didn’t interfere with my productivity.
They felt like PMS, but PMS joint aches usually stop within 24 hours of the first day of flowing.
My joint aches (low back, ankles, wrists, neck) persisted through a menstrual period and beyond. (I’d later get them again after completing menopause—felt like PMS).
When the microscopic colitis joint aches were mild, I’d work out at the gym: heavy, hard, intense. In fact…strength training SUPPRESSES these symptoms!
Cardio is another story.
It may depend on personal preference, but when I had joint aches from microscopic colitis (and PMS for that matter, as they feel exactly the same), I simply could not do cardio.
The “cannot” has to do with will and comfort level, not physiologic interference of the MC.
It’s just that the idea of running, hiking or stepping while experiencing this kind of sensation in my low back, ankles (and often upper legs) is very unappealing — yet at the same time, I psychologically can tolerate the idea of bench pressing, deadlifting, leg pressing and squatting.
Freepik.com/master1305
Again, it may boil down to personal preference. In fact, I embrace heavy, intense weight workouts, but often perceive cardio as a drudgery, no matter HOW I’m feeling.
If you’re a cardio-oriented person who happens to have joint aches with your microscopic colitis, you may find cardio to be a breeze nevertheless, and even a suppressor of your MC symptoms — while at the same time, find the idea of lifting barbells and dumbbells very unwelcome.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik/KamranAydinov
Is a Treadmill Desk for Computer Work Good Cardio Exercise?
How does the consistent use of a treadmill desk stack up against typical cardio or aerobics workouts?
The treadmill desk is gaining momentum as a means of getting healthier and lowering the risk of various ailments, particularly type II diabetes, heart disease and low back pain.
I own a treadmill desk. I now have two treadmills in my home, and the original one (for cardiovascular exercise) still gets used: for cardio sessions.
Treadmill Desk vs. Conventional Cardio Exercise
If you’ve been using (or intend on using) a treadmill workstation for several hours a day, this will not — I repeat — will not replace any structured aerobics routines you’ve already been doing.
Take it from me, a former personal trainer, but also use your common sense when considering this comparison.
In fact, the purpose of a treadmill desk is to prevent the hazards of prolonged sitting, rather than induce a cardiovascular training effect in the body.
This is clear when you consider the speed that people use treadmill desks:
The devices aren’t even designed for jogging, with their fastest speed being 4 mph.
Typically, the user walks very, very slowly. Even a highly fit person will find it difficult to sustain a walk faster than 3 mph while working at a computer.
A sustained 3 mph walk at a 15 percent incline (my treadmill desk goes up to 15 percent) is an excellent aerobics workout.
Problem is, unless you’re not “working” at the computer, and instead watching a long YouTube video so that your hands are freed up, this kind of pace is very unrealistic for someone simultaneously trying to do heavy office work with a keyboard and mouse.
If your office work consists of mostly reading and scrolling with only light typing and mouse movements, you can simultaneously do light cardio work.
But once you’re huffing and puffing, you’ll find that high volume typing just isn’t possible.
You may be walking for two hours nonstop on your treadmill desk while typing up reports, searching the Web, reading and replying to e-mails, etc., but the walk will be way too slow to induce a training effect on your cardiorespiratory system.
But just because there won’t be a cardio effect, doesn’t mean there won’t be other potent effects, namely, keeping you safe from the harm of excessive sitting.
Other benefits await the faithful treadmill desk user: extra calorie burn, alleviation of chronic low back pain, lower blood pressure.
But again, don’t think that five hours a day on a treadmill desk will make you more fit for pickup basketball games, tennis matches, hikes or hilly bike rides.
Using a treadmill desk doesn’t mean give up the step aerobics, brisk walks on the school track, neighborhood jogs or other aerobics sessions, including on cardio equipment.
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained women and men of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
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