01 March,2011 06:26 AM IST | | Mandovi Menon
Active! Tells you about the condition that will have Bollywood actress Malaika Arora-Khan go under the knife for her deviated septum: Acute sinusitis
Bollywood actress Malaika Arora Khan has decided to go under the knife for acute sinusitis. The actress, who has a deviated septum, has had the problem since childhood, but the condition worsened to such a degree in the past few weeks that she had to seek medical help.
Doctor's tip: Practice Pranayam to ease your breathing pattern and
open nasal passages with this deep-breathing technique.
ENT specialist Dr Ashwin Desai says that the city's humid climate, dust, pollution, and even consuming too much junk food results in lowered immunity. The question is, when does the problem become so acute that one needs to opt for endoscopic sinus surgery like Malaika?
Sinusitis refers to the inflammation of the sinuses that occurs with a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. It can be broadly divided into three different types:
Acute Sinusitis - symptoms last up to four weeks
Sub-acute Sinusitis - symptoms last from four to 12 weeks
Chronic Sinusitis - symptoms last three months or longer
The symptoms
Classic symptoms of acute sinusitis, in adults, typically include a cold that does not improve, or one in which the following symptoms worsen after five or seven days:
>> Bad breath or loss of smell
>> Cough, typically one that worsens at night
>> Fatigue and general feeling of unease
>> Fever
>> Headache: pressure-like pain, pain behind the eyes, toothache, or facial tenderness
>> Nasal congestion and discharge
>> Sore throat
Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as those of acute sinusitis, but tend to be milder and last longer than 12 weeks.
What to do?
A basic check-up with your doctor is advised. He will ensure whether you have allergic rhinitis, a deviated septum, polyps or are suffering from sinusitis. He might perform an endoscopy of the nose, ask you take X-rays or go for a CT scan, depending on the symptoms.
Surgery, an option?
It is best to seek a medical opinion to determine what type of sinusitis one has. Sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are medical conditions. If it is discovered that you have a symptomatic deviated septum, surgery becomes necessary to straighten this out and clear the passages, giving the patient immediate and lasting relief, provided that it is done well.
4 easy ways to ease sinusitis symptoms
1 Apply a warm, moist washcloth to your face several times a day.
2 Drink plenty of fluids to thin the mucus.
3 Inhale steam two to four times a day
4 Use a humidifier
Best to avoid:
Flying, especially when you are suffering from congestion Extreme temperatures, or sudden changes in temperature. Bending your head forward as you might experience acute pain in your head/facial area. Cigarettes and alcohol
