Dr. Brian Weeks discusses tips to prevent sinus and allergy problems.
Dr. Weeks:
Ladies, let’s talk about what you can do to help prevent sinus problems. I think there are the three most important things that I would recommend to focus on to prevent sinus and allergy problems. The first one is probably the most important, and that is regular sinus irrigations with nothing more than salt water. You can do that in one of two ways; you can create your own mixture at home using distilled water and salt and baking soda, or you can go to the store and buy a pre-made formulation. Both ways are equally effective.
Essentially what you are doing is you are washing your nose, just like you’d wash your car. The minute you finish washing your car it looks beautifully clean, and within five minutes it’s already getting dirty again. Your nose is the same way, but if you think about how nice your car looks each time you wash it, same way with your nose. It’s great for your nose; it’s healthy and it keeps it in a clean, healthy state.
The second thing is to understand the possibility that you may suffer from underlying allergies that are even in your own home. You want to really allergize your home, as we say, things like dust, like molds, like different environmental allergens that you can really do little things to prevent affecting you. Things like covering your pillow and your mattress with a simple mattress and pillow cover, a small plastic bag that you can buy at any grocery store or bed supply store that will keep those allergens and those environmental stimuli from getting into your upper respiratory tree when you are sleeping.
Things like vacuuming your carpets, like putting tile in your home instead of carpet. All of those things are just holding tremendous allergens and really, your ability to minimize your allergies will be enhanced by doing these things.
And lastly, understand that if you do have problems with drainage, either yellow or green discharge from your nose, that it is critically important to notify your physician because that really can indicate that you are developing a more serious condition.
People get into trouble with sinus problems by allowing them to continue without treatment, and that’s what causes the changes in the sinuses that lead to chronic ongoing problems.
About Dr. Weeks, M.D.:
Dr. Brian Weeks specializes in diseases of the ear, nose, throat, as well as tumors of the head and neck region, including thyroid, parathyroid, and skull base tumors. He has advanced specialty training in endoscopic sinus surgery, and is a national/international leader in balloon sinuplasty surgery. Additionally, Dr. Weeks has expertise in minimally invasive surgeries of the head and neck, as well as head and neck reconstruction. His role in reconstruction of the head and neck includes management of skin cancers, facial defects and blemishes, and cosmetic imperfections. He also provides extensive knowledge in skin care, facial peels, and facial care products.