Dr. Wong's Breathe Easy
General
- What is Sinusitis?
- How does it present itself?
- What is the cause?
- What are other terms for sinusitis?
- What are the available treatments?
- What is post traumatic sensitivity (PTS)?
- What is relationship between SINUCLEAR™ and PTS?
- What is the relationship between PTS, influenza, asthma, allergy, recurrent cold symptoms, bronchitis and sinusitis?
- Can steam inhalation replace the SINUCLEAR™?
SINUCLEARTM
- How safe is the machine?
- What about bacterial/viral contamination?
- Has their been any complaints?
- Can the machine overheat?
| General |
Q: What is Sinusitis?
A: Sinusitis refers to inflammation
of the nasal passage, any location, from the front of the nose to the
throat at the back of the nose. It can be acute (less than 3 weeks) or
chronic.
Q: How
does it present itself?
A: Stuffy plugged nose, runny nose,
sneezing, sore throat, phlegm at the back of the nose or throat, cough.
Q:
What is the cause?
A: Acute sinusitis is caused by
bacteria , viruses , the presence of a foreign body ,or seasonal allergy.
In chronic sinusitis the cause is undefined and likely multiple.
This diagnosis is thus syndromal, as it refers to the collection of
symptoms and signs, and not the cause. The symptoms have lasted more
than 3 weeks (more often years) and the nasal discharge is clear. One
associated important cause that has been neglected is Post
traumatic sensitivity (PTS).
PTS is present in all injuries as to a
limb or to the bowels, so why not the nasal passage.
Q: What are
other terms for sinusitis?
A: Sinusitis in the chronic form is
often labeled chronic form is often labelled perennial allergic sinusitis,
perennial allergic rhinnitis, vasomotor sinusitis, vasomotor rhinnitis,
perennial allergic turbinitis, vasomotor turbinitis depending on what/when
or where the doctor feels is the main cause of inflammation.
Q: What are
the available treatments?
A: You can find the standard
treatment on any web page together with their drawbacks-antihistamines,
decongestants, allergy shots, surgery. New drugs are usually stronger
formulations. Do they work? You decide. Currently there are 31 million
sufferers of chronic sinusitis in USA alone and the numbers are increasing
every year. This is a multi billion dollar problem. It is the problem that
most patients visit their doctor for. It is the single greatest factor for
lost work time. Why do current treatments not work? Because all treatments
focus on symptoms or perceived causes but neglects the most important
cause of all-PTS.
Q: What is
post traumatic
sensitivity (PTS)?
A: PTS refers to the hypersensitive state of
all tissues after injury. When a limb is injured, a minor
brush, part of every day activity, causes extreme pain and dysfunction. In
the bowels after a bout of food poisoning, eating normal food brings on diarrhea
and abdominal cramps. After bacterial/viral infection of the
sinuses, exposure to normal temperature/humidity changes brings on sinus
symptoms. In all of these situations the original cause of the
injury is no longer a factor but PTS is present and can prolong the
problem for years. Most health care workers have not acknowledged the
presence of PTS in the sinuses, explaining their jumping on the bandwagon
of non existing causes such as fungal and yeast infection.
Q: What
is relationship between SINUCLEARTM
and
PTS?
A: PTS
in the sinuses refers to
a state of heightened sensitivity
after injury, usually by infection or allergy. Only rest can restore
normal sensitivity. It is easy to rest the limbs and the bowel. How does
one rest the nasal passage? By presenting filtered air, 100% humidified at
close to body temperature. This air as it passes through the nasal passage
does not need to be altered before it enters the lungs. The SINUCLEARTM
does just that .It presents filtered 100% humidified air at 30-34 °C.
which when breathed 8-10 hours every 24 hours for 1-2-3 weeks, rests the
sinuses enough to restore it to normal sensitivity. A room
humidifier can not do the job. It barely raises the humidity, yet it is
enough to promote the growth of house mites, a major allergen.
Q:
What is the relationship between PTS, influenza, asthma, allergy,
recurrent cold symptoms, bronchitis and sinusitis?
A: The presence of PTS will aggravate asthma because the nasal
passages and the bronchial tubes have the same surface lining. Too often,
folks have a diagnosis of recurrent colds, sinusitis, allergies,
influenza, bronchitis, lowered immunity, when the underlying diagnosis is
PTS. Improvement does not take place despite drugs and
antibiotics but do improve dramatically after a vacation to the tropics
(warm temperature, high humidity, change of allergens, removal from
emotional stress.) The SINUCLEARTM
would effectively replace a tropical visit.
Q: Can steam
inhalation replace the SINUCLEARTM?
A: Folks have advocated and used this treatment
for hundreds of years with good effect. The SINUCLEARTM
is really a modification of the steam inhaler
to use in a controlled unobtrusive manner. With the steam inhaler
the temperature is uncontrolled, liable to produce burn injury and
water needs to be replaced at frequent intervals. It is difficult to use
for more than 30 minutes as one is bent over the appliance in a sitting
position unable to do anything except inhale water vapour. Steam
emission is enough to wet everything in sight. The rhinothermtm
machine made in Israel is also a modification of this principle With a 18
inch hose it delivers 100% humidified air at 52 °C.
which one inhales for 30 minutes twice weekly. It also is used in the
upright position and because of the delicate controls, retails at
approximately USD$600. Its purpose is not to rest the sinuses but is an
adaptation of the treatment with steam.
| SINUCLEARTM |
Q: How
safe is the machine?
A: The machine is designed to be used when sleeping as this is the time
that most folks have uninterrupted 8-10 hours. It also allows
uninterrupted use by sedentary workers. In sleep ,sleepers turn. The long
corrugated hose allows this flexibility with comfort and without crimping
airflow. The hose detaches readily from the machine preventing tipping.
Q: What about bacterial/viral
contamination?
A: The machine is self sterilizing. The water in the container is
maintained above 80 °C. Air exits from the machine at 50 °C 28% relative
humidity. These conditions do not allow bacteria or viruses to survive.
During the transmission in the hose, the humidity graduates to 100% as the
temperature falls to 30-34 °C. at the mask. One machine can thus serve
all members of the family, but each member must have their own
connections, hose , mask and filters. Bacterial/viral filters should be
changed weekly.
Q: Has their been any complaints?
A: Some folks have said the machine fan is too noisy. Others have
complimented the machine on inducing sleep. Without exception, using the
machine will interrupt sleep. After several hours use the body temperature
rises, causing the user to throw off the bedclothes. The ideal
temperature at the mask should be 37 °C.The 30-34 °C that the machine
delivers was a compromise. When one does wake up it is important to remove
liquid condensate in the hose. The water in the container will last
11-12 hours The mask is light and fits loosely, so it is never a
source of complaint.
Q: Can the machine overheat?
A: The heater plate heated by a plastic thermal ring on its underside is
light, clean, similar to heaters used in aerospace. There is an
overriding shutoff preventing the plate from rising above 108 °C.
This low operating temperature contributes to its safe use..
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