Cooler Weather & Upper Respiratory Conditions

By Dr. Farquharson, a Family Medicine Specialist at Holistic Family Medicine Center, Tonique Williams-Darling Hwy (West) , Nassau, N.P. Bahamas. P.O. Box S.P. 60568, Tel: 242-325-1665/6. Office Hours 9a.m. to 5p.m. Call For more Information

The weather has been changing recently with cooler and some wet days.  It's a welcome change from the hot, sticky summer days and brings a sense of nostalgia for the approaching festive season.  Unfortunately a lot of persons do not look forward to this change because it also means an increase in suffering caused by increase in the number and severity of upper respiratory tract disorders.  The upper respiratory tract includes the throat, nose and sinuses.  The conditions that can develop because of this change to cooler temperatures include the cold, the flu and sinusitis.  These have varying degrees of severity and can leave many persons feeling tired and miserable at a time when they would much rather be celebrating.

The common cold and flu are both caused by viruses and share many similar symptoms but are two different conditions.  Symptoms of the cold include fever 1020 or less, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, fatigue and headache.  The flu will typically present with more severe symptoms such as fever over 102 oF , stuffy nose, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, chills and sweats, fatigue and muscle aches, loss of appetite and cough.  Some persons may describe the flu as the worst cold they have ever had and symptoms can last up to 1 or 2 weeks longer than a typical cold. 

The sinuses are air chambers in the bone behind your cheeks, eyebrows and jaw.  They are lined with cells that make mucus and have tiny hairs (called cilia) that clean bacteria and other particles out of the air we breathe and sweep it out to drain through the nose.  When this lining becomes inflamed, called sinusitis, these cells do not function properly, causing mucus, bacteria and particles to build up in the sinuses.  Symptoms of sinusitis include pain or pressure in the forehead, cheeks, nose or between the eyes, headache, fever, stuffy nose, decreased sense of smell, toothache earache and sometimes nausea.  Sinusitis can sometimes happen after having a cold, but unlike the cold and flu sinusitis can be caused by things other than viruses.  These include allergies, bacterial infection, smoking (or being exposed to secondhand smoke); swimming or diving and using decongestant nasal sprays too much.  Remember that children and infants can also experience sinus inflammation, but may not be able to describe the symptoms well.  If you think your child may be having sinus inflammation, its best to speak with your doctor and get advice on how to appropriately treat your child.

Treatment of these disorders depends on the underlying cause and severity of the symptoms.  Viral illnesses typically last about 5-7 days, but depending on severity can last up to 2 weeks in the case of the flu.  Most often they usually resolve on their own without complications in otherwise healthy people.  Antibiotics do not work against viruses therefore treatment of the cold and flu involves improving the symptoms which typically includes rest, increase in fluids, pain medications, decongestants and sometimes cough medicine.  Sinusitis caused by bacteria will get better with 10 or 14 days of antibiotics.  If the sinusitis is caused by allergies then you would need an allergy medicine like anti-histamine or nasal steroid spray.  Once the allergy is treated then the sinusitis will usually clear up on its own.  Other things that can be done to specifically help sinusitis include:

1. Get plenty of rest.  Lying down can make your sinuses feel more stopped-up, so try lying on the side that lets you breathe best.  You can also try propping yourself up with a pillow
2. Sip hot liquids
3. Apply moist heat by holding a warm, wet towel against your face or breathing in steam through a cloth or towel.  This will relieve sinus pressure and help open your sinus passages
4. Don't use a nose spray with a decongestant in it for more than 3 days, as this can cause the swelling in your sinuses to get worse when you stop the medicine
5. Avoid alcohol, which can worsen sinus swelling
6. As much as possible avoid smoke and other things that you know cause your sinuses to become inflamed
7. Rinse your sinus passages with a saline solution that can be purchased over the counter

As we all know, however, the best medicine is prevention and the most effective way to make sure you and your family can keep healthy this winter season is as follows:

1. Frequently wash hands which will kill germs that can lead to the cold and the flu
2. Cough and sneeze into the inside of the elbow (crook of the arm) instead of into your hands.  Clean common surfaces like tables and counter tops, children's toys, door handles and bathrooms with anti-bacterial disinfectant.  This can help stop the spread of germs
3. Taking the flu vaccine every year (usually available by October) for persons at high risk, including children between ages 6 months to 18 years.