Winter brings changes in the environment that can mess with your sinus and leave youin pain. Read on to learn what causes your sinus problems and what you can do forrelief during the winter months.

Causes of Sinus Problems During Winter

There are plenty of factors that can trigger your sinus problems during the wintermonths. You should find out what triggers your sinus problems to protect yourself. An examination will determine if you have conditions that harm your sinuses regardless of the season. Narrow sinus passages, nasal polyps, or a deviated septum are all conditions that may cause your sinus problems.If your nasal passages are perfectly healthy, then it’s time to look for external factors.

Here are the most common external factors that can cause your sinus problems:

Dry Air

The air you’ll breathe from outdoors becomes dry during the winter months. When you’re indoors, the air will still be dry because of the heater. Dry air makes it more difficult for the Cilia in your nose to function. Your normal nasal secretions will be unable to wash off the debris and dirt that irritate your nasal cavities.

Fragrances

Your doors and windows will be shut while the heater is running during the winter months. The lack of fresh air in your area may lead others to use candles and air fresheners to remedy the smell. These fragrances will introduce new chemicals and particles to the air you breathe. The foreign material brought by the fragrances can irritate your sinus regardless of your allergies.

Pets

Your pets are going to stay inside during winter. Their pet danders may trigger your allergies, sinusitis, and asthma because of the increase in your exposure. Their pet danders can get stuck at the furniture and rugs, leaving you exposed to many allergens.

Furniture

Your upholstered furniture and rugs can contain a lot of allergens. Molds, dust mites,dust, and other household debris can stick and linger in your furniture. Your home does not get proper circulation during the winter months causing these allergens to pile up. Sitting down on your couch or even walking through your rugs can release allergens up in the air. These particles can trigger your sinus problems or asthma.

Tips to Manage Sinus Problems in Winter

Treat Your Air

The most important measure you can take is to make sure that your air is clean all year round. Your sinus may experience a flare-up because of the air you’re breathing. A High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) air filter should be installed in all of your rooms because they remove allergens from the air. If that is not possible, install the HEPA filter in your bedroom or other rooms you spend extended periods of time. You also need to use a humidifier to add moisture to the dry air.Your sinuses and respiratory system will feel and function better when the air is clean and moist.

Clean Your Home

You must regularly clean your home to keep the allergens away. A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter can remove the debris and dust from your home. Depending on your allergies severity, you may have to clean your home more frequently. You can also wear a face mask, goggles, and gloves while cleaning to prevent the allergens from triggering your allergies while you clean.

Unclog Your Sinus

You can help unclog your sinus by applying a warm and moist towelette on your face several times a day. Moistening the air without a humidifier can be done in your bathroom. Turn on the hot shower in your bathroom and inhale the steam. Drink plenty of water to thin out the mucus in your sinus, making it easier to expel.

Take Medication

There are many medicines that can help you manage sinus problems.

Here is a list of medicines that can help ease sinus problems:

Decongestants

Decongestants reduce the swelling in your nose, ease sinus pressure, and relieve stuffiness. These medicines can come in the form of nasal sprays and pills.

Warning:​ do not use nasal sprays for more than three days and do not use oral decongestants for more than seven days

Anti-inflammatory Medicines and Pain Relievers

These types of medicines can be bought at grocery stores. They can relieve the pain you feel from sinus pressure. You must always read and follow the instructions on the labels. You need to see a doctor if you find yourself using them for more than seven days.

Nasal Steroids

These medicines relieve stuffy noses when your allergies have been triggered. They may also help relieve your nasal polyps. The medicines come in many varieties, some you can buy over the counter and others that require a prescription.

Warning:​ Do not use any medication without consulting your doctor. Doctors will be able to give you the right medication and the correct dosages.

In the end, it is important to understand what triggers your sinus problems during the winter. Dry air, fragrances, pets, and furniture can all be culprits causing your sinus problems. Knowing what measures to take can help you minimize or remove what triggers your sinus problems. Simple measures like cleaning your air and home,clearing your sinus, and taking medications can help bring your sinus relief.

The Fall season invites a whole new host of allergens that can wreak havoc on your body. You should take the right precautions to avoid aggravating your allergies. Read on to find out what are the most common allergens, allergy symptoms, measures to manage your allergies, and what are the common treatments?

What are the common causes of allergies in the fall?

Ragweed

Ragweed pollen is often the culprit of fall allergies. This yellow flowering weed usually comes up in August and induces allergic reactions for many in the fall. It is found en masse in the Midwest and East. You may be thinking that I don’t live in the Midwest or East, but Ragweed pollen travels through hundreds of miles through the wind. It could also be spread to your food. The wind may have spread the pollen through farmlands and affect your fruits and vegetables. You must be wary of where you buy your produce. Thankfully, the pollen tends to disappear in Winter.

Mold and Mildew

The fungi thrive in both indoor and outdoor settings all year round. Homeowners should regularly inspect their homes to prevent health hazards. Indoors they can be found in basements and bathrooms or other damp areas in the house. Outdoors they are usually found in the damp leaves of your yard or compost files. Mold and Mildew are not killed by frost but will go on a dormant phase during Winter.

Dust Mites

These microscopic arthropods sustain themselves primarily on human skin flakes. They appear all year-round and thrive on temperatures in the high 60s to mid-70s, but they will die in extreme temperatures or when the humidity goes down below 70 percent. Be careful when you turn on your heater in the fall. It is important to check your heater because dust mites can be stirred into the air and enter your heater.

Common Allergy Symptoms

• Your eyes will become watery and or itchy.
• Mucous starts running out of your nose, followed by sneezing.
• You may experience wheezing and asthma, as the allergens affect your lungs.
• An itching throat can be one of your oral symptoms.
• You may experience an upset stomach or diarrhea.
• Hives may form in your skin along with itchiness and eczema.

How to Manage Your Allergies

You will spend more time indoors as the temperature drops. Closing your windows will still leave you exposed to indoor allergens such as mold and dust mites. Thankfully, there are plenty of measures you can take to manage your symptoms and get rid of the allergens.

Check the pollen levels before heading out

Checking the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s National Allergy
Bureau will let you know the pollen levels. If your area is currently experiencing highpollen levels, then it is best to cancel your outdoor activities. Pollen counts are often highest in the morning. Switch to indoor activities when the pollen count outside is too high to prevent aggravating your allergies.

Wear Protective Gear

Wear long sleeves, a hat, pants, face mask, and sunglasses when you go outside to keep the pollen out of your system. Certain activities in the yard could release pollen in your vicinity. Activities such as mowing and raking should be handled with care.

Get rid of the Pollen

Change your footwear before entering your home. You should also remove your jacket, sunglasses, hat, and facemask before heading inside. Minimize your pollen exposure by washing the pollen off your body as soon as possible. Take a shower as quickly as you can after getting back inside.

Do Not Dry Your Laundry Outside

Your laundry can end up becoming a pollen magnet that aggravates your allergies. Clothing and bedding infested by pollen can trigger your allergies to go out of control. It is important to find other ways of drying your laundry indoors. The indoor setting will minimize the chances of pollen getting into your home.

HEPA Filters

High-Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA is a special kind of filter installed in air conditioners and heaters to better clean your air. You might think that air pollution is limited to smoke from cars and factories. Spores from mold, dust mites and pollen can travel through the air and into your home. These can aggravate your allergies and asthma. HEPA filters installed in your ventilation system can help prevent pollutants from traveling indoors. HEPA filters will clean your air by forcing air through a filter made of fine mesh. That filter catches allergens such as pollen, dust mites, and tobacco smoke to keep you safe. Most air purifiers you can purchase contain HEPA filters. Air filters are portable units that can filter the air of the room of your choice. When you purchase a HEPA filter, it’s important to know how much air the filter can clean. Buy a filter that is strong enough to handle your room’s size. It is best to put in your bedrooms to keep the allergens away while sleeping. You can find filters in online stores and marketplaces.

Keep Your Home Neat

While purchasing an air filter can help keep allergens outside at bay. You must keep your home clean to remove any allergens present in your home.

• Vacuum your carpets and floors regularly
• Put filters in your furnace
• Cover your mattresses and pillows
• Replace your curtains with roll up shades
• Replace your carpet floors with tile or wood flooring
• Change your bedding regularly and wash your sheets in hot water
• Keep your pets outdoors to prevent pet dander from triggering your allergy

How to Treat Fall Allergies

There are plenty of different ways to tackle your fall allergies. Before attempting any of the methods, it is best to consult a doctor first.

Here are different treatments to help you manage your allergies:

• Steroid nasal sprays reduce inflammation in your nose.
• Antihistamines can mitigate or stop your sniffling, sneezing, and itching.
• Decongestants can offer you relief for stuffy noses and help remove dried mucus from your nose.
• Immunotherapy from oral tablets or allergy shots can help bring you relief.

It is ill-advised to self medicate. You must see a doctor and get the right prescription and dosages. Only take the prescribed amounts to ensure your safety.

In the end, the fall brings allergens to wreak havoc on your body. Taking measures such as learning about the most common allergens, allergy symptoms, measures to manage your allergies, and the common treatments can make your life in the fall a lot easier.

Doctor Kelley is now offering Telehealth services to help you get the healthcare you need. Telehealth is a relatively new concept for many but continue reading on to find out what telehealth is and how to schedule your first appointment.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth is the practice of accessing your healthcare remotely.

Telehealth’s true goal is to improve access to healthcare while lowering costs for everybody.

What Happens During a Telehealth Appointment?

You begin your telehealth appointment by sharing your medical history. Your medical history is very important and will let doctor Kelley assess your current condition. You must share as much information as possible about your previous medical conditions to help doctor Kelley prescribe the most effective treatment.

The next step of the telehealth process is the examination. You must explain what currently ails you to doctor Kelley to help him assess your condition. Be as descriptive as possible while describing your condition to help doctor Kelley accurately diagnose
your health.

The final step of the medical examination is the visual medical exam. Doctor Kelley will examine you using your computer, tablet, or phone’s camera.
Doctor Kelley will be able to diagnose you based on the data gathered. He will instruct you on the next steps of your treatment. Electronic prescriptions are also available to make it easier for you to get your prescriptions.

How Do I Schedule a Telehealth Appointment?

You can schedule your telehealth appointment by calling (925) 254-6710 or send an email through the practice’s contact page. Someone will be in touch with you within 24 hours to help you schedule a time slot that works for you.

How Do I Pay for Telehealth Appointments?

Most insurance plans or cash payments are accepted to pay for your telehealth appointments. You can also call or email to confirm whether your preferred payment method is accepted.

Can I Get My Prescription Electronically?

Yes, you can ask for electronic prescriptions for your treatments. Doctor Kelley can also call in your prescription for an easy pickup. Controlled prescriptions, however, require a paper prescription that you can pick up at the office.

How Do I Begin My Telehealth Appointment?

You must choose a platform for your telehealth appointment. Facetime, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, Vsee, Doximity, and Doxy.me are all accepted for telehealth appointments. You will then receive either a link or call, depending on your chosen platform.

In the end, telehealth’s purpose is to give you easier access to healthcare. You can see your doctor using communication technology and get treatment quickly in the comfort of your own home. Each practice handles telehealth appointments differently. They may use different apps, have different payment, and prescription policies. You must clarify everything with your provider for an easy telehealth process.