44 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • JULY 19, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
Do your allergies seem out of control?
Check the signs for chronic rhinosinusitis
Summer is nearly upon us. Th e warm
weather leads to fl owers blooming, luscious
green grass, and verdant trees.
Unfortunately, for those with seasonal
allergies, the picture is not as lovely,
with visions of a spike in pollen, stuff y
noses, congestion, facial pain and tenderness,
decreased smell and taste, and
sinus infections.
For most people suff ering from seasonal
allergies, relief is found with overthe
counter and prescription medications,
allowing them to enjoy the sunshine
and smell the fl owers. However, if
the condition lingers or becomes more
severe, you could be the 1 in 7 people in
the United States battling chronic sinus
infections.
More than 30 million Americans experience
the pain and discomfort of chronic
sinus infections, also known as chronic
rhinosinusitis (CRS).1 Unlike acute
sinus infections, CRS is unresolved, with
severe infl ammation of the sinuses lasting
for more than 12 weeks. Several factors
are associated with the potential
development of CRS, including infection,
growths in the sinuses known as
nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum,
abnormal anatomy of the sinuses, allergies,
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), or regular
exposure to pollutants such as cigarette
smoke.
Signs and symptoms of
CRS include at least two
of the following:
Diffi culty breathing through the nose
due to nasal obstruction or congestionReduced
sense of smell and tasteTh ick, discolored
discharge from the nose or drainage
down the back of the throatPain,
tenderness and swelling around the
eyes, nose, or faceTh e pain from
CRS can be agonizing. It can aff ect
nasal function, impair health and
diminish quality of life - most individuals
with CRS report a lower
quality of life than individuals
with chronic
back pain or
even congestive
heart failure. In
addition to the
u n r e l e n t i n g
pain, CRS also
has a financial
impact -
directly costing
society more
than $4.3 billion
annually.
If you are unable
to fi nd relief from
the pain and congestion
of CRS
with over-thecounter
or prescribed
drug therapies, you should see
your Ear, Nose and Th roat (ENT) specialist
or primary care physician to have further
evaluation.
When drug therapies
fail to provide relief
from CRS, doctors
typically
recommend
that their
patients consider
functional
endoscopic
sinus surgery
(FESS) to remove
the source of the
blockage and
infection. More
than 500,000
sinus surgeries
are performed
every year in
the United States.
As with most
surgeries, there are
risks to consider
such as damage
to the areas
surrounding
the sinuses or
failure of the
p r o c e d u r e .
Approximately
1 in 5 sinus surgeries
fail to provide desirable outcomes
and require subsequent procedures to
provide CRS patients with relief.
However, there are ways to minimize
the risks and improve the chances of a
successful surgery. If sinus surgery is
recommended by your doctor, consider
image-guided, or navigated surgery, with
the StealthStationâ„¢ ENT, which may
enable a more thorough sinus procedure.
Recently granted 510(k) clearance by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), the StealthStationâ„¢ ENT allows
surgeons to “visualize” your sinuses in
three-dimensional (3D) images so they
can maneuver to where they will be operating
and avoid critical anatomical structures,
such as the brain, optic nerve and
vital arteries. Th e surgical navigation system
can provide surgeons with images
of your anatomy during the procedure,
allowing surgeons to see behind delicate
or hard-to-reach areas unique to only
you. StealthStationâ„¢ ENT and other
image-guidance systems are associated
with better patient outcomes and reduce
the risk of complications.
If you believe you may be battling
chronic sinusitis, download and print this
infographic questionnaire, which you can
share with your primary healthcare provider
or ENT specialist during your next
appointment.
Courtesy BPT
Here's how to fi ght allergies in college
For millions of high school seniors, the
summer aft er graduation is a full one.
Th ere is no shortage of parties, summer
cookouts or aft ernoons spent by the pool.
Th ere’s a lot to look forward to - and a lot
to prepare for.
Going to college is the fi rst time many
young adults will be away from their parents
and their home. With this newfound
freedom comes new responsibilities,
especially for those with allergies and
asthma.
“For most teens, going away to college
marks their fi rst time living on their own,”
says allergist Bradley Chipps, MD, president
of the American College of Allergy,
Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “In
addition to moving to a new place, many
teens must learn to manage their own
schedule, diet, exercise and health. Young
people may fi nd their allergies and asthma
neglected due to other, seemingly
more important demands for their time.”
If you or someone in your family has
allergies or asthma and is headed off to
college this fall, here are fi ve tips from
ACAAI on how to prepare for the transition.
1. Make time now to see your allergist
- Schedule an appointment with your
allergist now to discuss plans for the
fall. During this visit you should ask for
a referral to an allergist close to where
you’re going to college, as well as a complete
copy of your records, including
medications, lab work and allergy test
results.
2. Start practicing good self-management
- Th e best line of defense against
allergy and asthma attacks starts with
you! Know your triggers and always be
aware of risk factors when you go into
a new environment. Carry your asthma
medications with you in case of a fl are-up.
3. Set up a network - It’s easy to leave
things to parents, but once you move
out, you’ll need to take an active role in
your health. Whether you’re going 100
or 1,000 miles away, you’ll need to contact
school administrators to discuss necessary
arrangements for your dorm room
and meals. If you’re moving far from
home, along with a new allergist, identify
new primary care and specialty physicians,
as well as a new pharmacy.
4. Talk to the folks who’ll make your
food - If you have a food allergy, plan to
talk to food handlers and ask about ingredients
at every meal or snack. You probably
already carefully read labels, but make
sure your friends, roommate and resident
adviser know about your food allergies.
It’s your job to educate others about
your allergies.
5. Have an emergency plan - Anyone at
risk for a severe, life-threatening allergic
reaction, known as anaphylaxis, needs to
always have immediate access to epinephrine
auto injectors. Almost every fatality
from food allergy involves lack of timely
use of epinephrine. Even when you’re at
the gym or out with friends, fi nd a way to
keep two doses of epinephrine on hand.
Allergists are the best trained professionals
to diagnose and treat allergies and
asthma. To make sure you’re fully prepared
for the fall, contact your allergist
or, if you need help fi nding one, visit the
ACAAI allergist locator.
Courtesy BPT