Top 5 Causes Of A Sinus Infection

Hello everyone. For this article, I decided to talk a bit about sinus infections and the top 5 causes of them. Sinus infections are fairly common, and many people wonder how to go about getting rid of them. However, the best defense is to know the causes so you can prevent them from happening in the first place. With this list, here is my top 5 causes of a sinus infection.

1. A Viral Infection

Have you had a viral infection recently? This can be a cause of a sinus infection. Viral infections can inflame your sinus lining. This halts your body from completely removing bacteria that gets into your nasal packages. If the bacteria isn't removed, it starts to multiply, and you now have a sinus infection! Getting rid of your viral infections as soon as possible is important in preventing an infection of the sinuses.

2. Allergies

Another major cause of an infection can be allergies. This goes back to the viral infections. Allergies cause you nasal passages to become inflamed, which leads to a buildup in bacteria. If you aren't taking any medicine for your allergies, then you should really be doing so! Talk to a doctor about this!

3. Swimming

This is surprising to some people, but a large amount of time spent in swimming pools can lead to infections. This is because there is chlorine in pools, and chlorine can irritate your sinuses. In fact, a search on the web finds many swimmers who have dealt with frequent infections.

4. Frequent Flying

Are you a frequent flyer? Flying can really mess up your head. The air pressure changes with takeoffs and landings. This can lead to increased pressure build up in your head which can block your sinuses. I actually had this happen to me just last year. Needless to say, I'm not excited to get on another flight.

5. Smoking

If you are a smoker, you may also be more at risk for an infection. This is because the smoke can irritate your sinuses. In addition, smoke can clog your nasal passages, which certainly doesn't help things. It's another reason to quit smoking!

I hope you found this list helpful. Like I said before, knowing the causes of a sinus infection is a great way to fight them. Now that you know the causes of them, you can be well on your way to preventing them. Good luck!

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Colds, Flu and Your Immune System - Causes and Solutions

Colds and flu are common problems, but some people suffer more than others. Those with lower immunity can die from complications such as dehydration or pneumonia. Here you will learn about the causes of the infections and about things that weaken immune system function. You will also learn about the solutions.

What Causes Colds?

The common cold is a viral infection of the nasal passages and upper respiratory system. Usual symptoms include sneezing, coughing and a sore throat. There are hundreds of different viruses that can cause the symptoms. The one we know the most about is the rhinovirus.

When someone sneezes or coughs, the viruses fly through the air. They do not function as other life forms do. There is even some question about whether or not they are living organisms. Instead of reproducing, they replicate.

The viruses can remain active on surfaces for many days, possibly weeks. So, when someone in the house is infected, it can be difficult to prevent the condition from spreading to other family members.

What Causes the Flu?

Influenza is caused by a different family of viruses. The viruses are divided into three categories; A, B and C. The viruses infect birds and mammals. The symptoms include those associated with the common cold, along with chills, fever, headache, weakness and muscle pain. Influenza is more likely to progress into pneumonia. The viruses are transmitted in the same way as the cold.

What Causes Weakened Immunity?

Weakened immunity makes people more susceptible to infections of all kinds. Things that have a negative effect on immune system function include:

? Young Age-infants and young children have an immature immune system. We develop immunity to viruses and other kinds of infections after being exposed to them.

? Old Age-older people sometimes have weaker immune systems, although it is not necessarily a natural part of the aging process

? Poor Nutrition

? Disease-an existing disease of any kind can make a person more susceptible to infection

? Immunodeficiency-in immunodeficiency diseases, a person's immune system is dysfunctional. The diseases may be acquired (AIDs) or something one is born with.

? Treatments for disease

Some diseases are referred to as autoimmune diseases. They are characterized by an overactive immune system. In order to treat the autoimmune disease, doctors prescribe drugs that suppress immune system function. The treatments make the person more likely to catch colds and the flu.

Many cancer treatments destroy immune system function, temporarily. While a person is receiving those treatments, they are more susceptible to colds and flu.

Even being around people who are sick increases your risk of becoming infected.

What Are the Solutions?

There are no cures. Anti-viral medications are only somewhat effective. Flu shots are used to prevent people from coming down with influenza, but the shots are only effective against the specific virus believed to be most likely to cause an infection during that year. There are hundreds of viruses in the family. So, the shot does not guarantee you won't get the flu.

The real solution to colds and influenza viruses is to strengthen your immune system. You will learn how to do that in my next article.

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What Are Some of the Common Cold Sore Causes?

Anyone who has ever had a swollen, blistery sore on their lips, and suffered for days with the pain, and the terrible look of the thing wants to know, what are the common cold sore causes?

The cold sore causes are the Herpes Simplex 1 virus. If you suffer with cold sore symptoms then you have this virus, and, there is no cure for it. Almost all of us, at some point in our life (usually before we were 7) had an awful sore throat and some little blisters in our mouth. This condition lasted a couple of days and then went away. Really it did not go away. It left the Herpes Simplex 1 virus living inside you in a dormant state.

Now when you do things like get overexposure from the sun, or become ill, you have an outbreak of the virus. The outbreak consists of those nasty painful little sores that last from 3 to 5 days, and make you miserable while they are there.

Anytime your body is put under extra stress that the stress from an illness, your menstrual cycle, the stress from a lack of sleep, or simply a poor diet, you get sores on your lips, or on the opening of your nostrils.

The symptoms of cold sores are very easy to recognize. You have that distinct tingling one day, then by the next day you have a reddened area, or a blister, then the blister keeps swelling, and ruptures, leading to a crusty, painful sore. It does not help that all the cold sore causes are times when you are least equipped to deal with an outbreak. That is why you are having an outbreak. Your immune system is being compromised by something else, and is unable to fight the virus like it normally does.

There were a few lucky souls that got this nasty virus, but they never suffer from, the painful symptoms related to a cold sore outbreak. The rest of us are left looking for cold sores treatment that will take away the pain.

There are several over the counter ointments, and creams that you can use to help alleviate the pain, and the swelling, associated with an outbreak. If you have severe outbreaks, and have a compromised immune system from another disease, such as diabetes, your doctor can prescribe you some medications to use.

The biggest thing to remember when you are treating an outbreak is to use some type of ointment to keep the area moist. Do not touch the spot anymore than you have to. The sores are contagious, and you can cause them to spread to other areas of your lips. If you do not keep them moist they will become crusty, and often they crack, and make your lips bleed.

Try to eat a proper diet, get plenty of sleep at night, drink plenty of fluids, and as much as possible, avoid extra stress. Learn to recognize the factors in your life that cause your outbreaks, and possibly you can eliminate their occurrence.

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What Causes Flatulence?

You won't find out whats causing your flatulence until you really delve deep into this topic, and once you do, you will discover what really is your problem. But if you are anything like I was, before I found a cure to my own stomach gas problems, then you are completely fed up of the discomfort, abdominal bloating and this embarrassing problem and want to know what causes your flatulence and how to get rid of it.

After much of my own research into what causes stomach gas, a couple of eating experiments with different food types and sources, I finally found out how I could put an end to my stomach discomfort.

I'm not a doctor by the way, just someone who reached his threshold with stomach gas. I became almost obsessed with finding a treatment and once I found it, I felt I had to share what I discovered with anyone who was experiencing the same problems.

Flatulence is the end, and usually smelly product of the mix of excess gases pushed from your large colon and out of your rectum. The noises that you hear are caused because the gas is pushed out between your buttocks.

The expelled gas forces them apart, which forces a vibrating of your 'cheeks' and surrounding area. The process which causes your normal toilet movement, is also responsible for you passing gas.

This gas is a mixture of gases air which you have breathed in through your mouth, and intestinal gases which are created as food passes through your digestive system.

Another more serious cause of flatulence is an underlying health problem, like if you have a lactose intolerance problem. Constipation is also a cause, and I can testament to this because I was suffering a great deal with abdominal cramps and constipation previous to finding a cure.

But for most of us it is the food we eat and the air which we swallow which causes gas. Ways which we swallow gas include smoking, chewing gum, chewing and swallowing food too quickly, and sucking on things like pencils or pens like if you are in work and always have a pen in your hand, where does it usually end up when you're not writing? In your mouth right!)

We are all told to eat vegetables as part of our health nutrition plan, but believe it or not, there is an abundance of vegetables which contain non digestable carbohydrates, which can cause a bunch of problems including the production of intestinal gases.

When you eat these foods, some of it resists the digestion process and are left undigested in your colon. This causes flatulence and is one which we cannot usually avoid, unless you know which foods not to eat, and which foods, including vegetables that you should be eating to combat the formation of intestinal gases.

The undigested food is what causes endogenous gases - gases which are produced in your digestive system. As the digestion process begins to work, any food which is not digested by your stomach, moves along through the colon and forms these gases.

Symptoms of flatulence. Passing of gas is the main symptom, however this is typically accompanied by stomach bloating and discomfort, along with burping.

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The Three Causes of Dis-Ease in Ayurveda

Dis-ease is the manifestation of a disturbance in the body or mind caused by the disconnect with our own true nature. Disturbances form in the mind first, called vrittis. Since our body is connected to the conscious and subconscious thoughts of the mind, the disturbances in the mind will create dis-ease in the body. The three causes of dis-ease as outlined in the Carika Samhita are the foundation of Ayurvedic medicine, as it examines how we are acting out of line with our true nature or spirit.

The first cause of dis-ease is misusage of the senses against their constitution. Each individual has a constitutional spirit or true nature. When people take in the "wrong" things for their constitution, or too much or too little of the "right" things for their constitution, it is misusage of the senses. Our senses can lead us astray. If we are not paying attention to the subtleties of our nature, we can easily be misguided by our senses. It is easy for me to let my sense of taste misguide me. I know in my mind what is healthy and nourishing for me to eat and what is not. Yet, when I do not practice listening to my true Self, I let my sense of taste overpower me and give in to eating unhealthy foods that I know will be upsetting to my digestive system later.

When I work too much and get stressed, my ability to regulate my senses diminishes. I feel stressed and look to food for support and comfort. I take in the wrong things and too much of the right things for my constitution. I end up feeling bloated and experience gastro-intestinal problems. Over time, my body could manifest a dis-ease such as IBS or food allergies.

The second cause of dis-ease is prajnaparadha, not following what we know to be true. Our intellect guides us in making decisions, but our senses may lead us astray. When we follow what our intellect and soul tell us to be true, we are aligned with our spirit. When we follow our senses only, we move away from our true nature and this is called a crime against wisdom.

I have experienced prajnaparadha when I would be in social situations where drugs and alcohol abounded. It is easy to ignore the warnings of the soul when the senses are crying out. Using alcohol against the guidance of my soul, I have been physically sick, intoxicated, groggy, and in a malaise, due to overconsumption. These are crimes against myself and are harmful to my spiritual growth.

The third cause of dis-ease is parinama, aging due to time and motion. This is the most abstract cause of dis-ease in Ayurveda. It tells us that the passing of time is relative to the action of the mind. Biological time increases when the mind is restless. Biological time slows down or stops when the mind is focused or one-pointed.

This past October I attended a 200-hour yoga teacher training. I meditated every day for two periods of thirty minutes. I also practiced yoga twice daily for ninety minutes each time. I noted that during the entire course of the training I felt extremely healthy and at ease with my body. There was no sense of aging, stress, or worry during that month. I felt that I was witnessing my true self and living in accordance with my soul.

In contrast, when my mind is fraught with worry or overcome with stress, I note that I do feel unhealthy. I have trouble sleeping, my skin breaks out, and my digestion is weak.

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