The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healing Your Sinuses

Metson R.B.0071466444

Nobody needs to tell you how painful and annoying sinus problems can be – the pounding headaches and congestion, the perpetually runny nose, and the debilitating fatigue, not to mention sleepless nights, lost work, and ruined vacations. Now you can do something about it by learning what a top expert tells his patients.In The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healing Your Sinuses, Ralph B. Metson, M.D., a third-generation ear, nose, and throat specialist with more than twenty years of experience, tells you everything you need to know about taming your aching sinuses. A leading national authority in the field, Dr. Metson fills you in on: * The ABCs of sinusitis, and how to identify the cause of your symptoms * The entire range of treatments – from saltwater irrigation to laser surgery * The pros and cons of decongestants, antibiotics, and steroids * What to expect from surgery, and whether you’re likely to benefit from it * How to develop a total sinus management plan tailored to your needs

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Table of contents :
EEn……Page 1
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healing Your Sinuses……Page 2
Copyright Info……Page 4
Dedication……Page 5
TOC……Page 6
Preface
……Page 12
Acknowledgments……Page 14
Part I – The Sinuses in Health and Disease……Page 16
1 – Sinusitis and Quality of Life……Page 18
You Are Not Alone……Page 19
Sinusitis Is a Serious Problem……Page 20
Diagnosis and Treatment Have Improved Dramatically……Page 22
You Can—and Should—Play an Active Role in Your Treatment……Page 23
What’s Next……Page 24
Entering the Nasal House: Your Nose as the Foyer……Page 26
The Nasal Cavity: A Hallway with a Climate Control System……Page 27
The OMC: A Critical Passageway……Page 31
A House with Eight Rooms: Your Four Pairs of Sinuses……Page 33
Inside Your Sinuses: Mucus, Cilia, and Glands……Page 34
Why We Have Sinuses: Seven Theories……Page 36
What’s Next……Page 39
3 – When Healthy Sinuses Become Blocked……Page 40
The Direct Cause: It’s the OMC……Page 41
Sinusitis Symptoms: The Big Three……Page 45
Other Sinusitis Symptoms……Page 47
What’s Next……Page 48
4 – Making the Diagnosis: Do You Really Have Sinusitis?……Page 50
Primary Care Visit……Page 52
CT Scan……Page 53
Treatment and Referral……Page 54
Off to the ENT Doctor……Page 55
Other Tests……Page 59
What’s Next……Page 60
5 – Acute Sinusitis: When a Bad Cold Gets Worse……Page 62
How a Common Cold Can Lead to Sinusitis……Page 63
Easing Symptoms……Page 64
Medications for Acute Sinusitis……Page 65
My Choice of Medications for Acute Sinusitis……Page 67
What’s Next……Page 68
Three General Types: Locals, Systemics, and Intermediates……Page 70
A Treatment Plan That’s Right for You……Page 75
What’s Next……Page 77
Part II – Nonsurgical Treatments for Sinusitis……Page 78
7 – Nasal Irrigation: A Key to Healthier Sinuses……Page 80
Keeping It Simple: Using a Bulb Syringe……Page 81
Nasal Irrigation FAQs……Page 83
Alternatives to the Bulb Syringe……Page 85
What’s Next……Page 89
Humidifier……Page 90
Nasal Tape……Page 92
Saline Sprays……Page 93
What’s Next……Page 94
9 – Cold and Allergy Medications: Which Ones Can Help Your Sinusitis?……Page 96
Decongestants……Page 97
Mucus-Thinning Agents……Page 98
Antihistamines……Page 99
Combination Products……Page 101
Other Medications……Page 103
What’s Next……Page 104
10 – Steroids: A Way to Reduce Inflammation Congestion, and Polyps……Page 106
Nasal Steroid Sprays……Page 107
Nasal Steroid FAQs……Page 108
Oral Steroids……Page 110
What’s Next……Page 111
Symptom Relief……Page 112
Choosing an Antibiotic……Page 113
Classes of Antibiotics……Page 115
Minimizing Side Effects……Page 117
Shortand Long-Term Dosing Regimens……Page 119
Topical and Intravenous Antibiotics……Page 120
What’s Next……Page 122
Food Allergies: Milk and Wheat……Page 124
Smoking……Page 127
The Workplace……Page 128
What’s Next……Page 129
13 – Alternative Therapies for Sinusitis……Page 130
Acupuncture……Page 131
Herbal Therapy……Page 132
Nutritional Supplements……Page 134
Stress Reduction Techniques……Page 135
What’s Next……Page 136
Part III – Surgery for Sinusitis……Page 138
Your Doctor’s Recommendation……Page 140
Realistic Expectations……Page 141
Surgery Really Does Help……Page 143
Factoring in Complications……Page 144
What’s Next……Page 145
A Brief History of Sinus Surgery……Page 146
The Modern Way: Minimally Invasive Surgery……Page 147
The Preoperative Visit……Page 149
The Operation……Page 150
Specialized Instruments……Page 151
Advanced Techniques……Page 154
Image-Guided Surgery……Page 155
What’s Next……Page 157
Going Home: The First Few Days……Page 158
Getting Back to Your Normal Self: The First Few Weeks……Page 160
Completion of Healing: The First Few Months……Page 162
Revision Surgery……Page 163
What’s Next……Page 164
Part IV – Special Considerations in Sinusitis……Page 166
17 – Fungal Sinusitis……Page 168
Types of Fungal Sinusitis……Page 169
A Larger Role for Fungi?……Page 171
What’s Next……Page 172
The Deviated Septum……Page 174
Enlarged Turbinates……Page 176
Empty Nose Syndrome……Page 177
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction……Page 178
Triad Asthma……Page 179
Vacuum Sinusitis……Page 180
Sinus Tumors……Page 181
What’s Next……Page 182
Children and Sinusitis……Page 184
Genetic Causes of Sinusitis……Page 186
Sarcoidosis……Page 187
Wegener’s Granulomatosis……Page 188
Immune Deficiency Syndomes……Page 189
What’s Next……Page 190
Glossary……Page 204
Additional Resources……Page 216
Index……Page 218