Xlear Nasal Spray with Xylitol, All-Natural Saline Nasal Spray for Sinus Rinse & Sinus Relief 1.5 fl oz

Xlear Nasal Spray with Xylitol, All-Natural Saline Nasal Spray for Sinus Rinse & Sinus Relief 1.5 fl oz
 

•     NATURAL SALINE SOLUTION & NASAL RINSE: Our nasal saline spray will gently clean and moisturize the sinus tissues. Unlike other normal saline nasal sprays our spray can also decongest the sinuses by targeting the primary causes of nasal congestion. Our nose spray will help reduce tissue swelling from pollen, pollution, bacteria, and other irritants.
•     SAFE NASAL RINSE & SPRAY: Our all-natural nasal cleaner is safe for kids, non-addictive, Non-GMO Project Verified and is effective without the use of steroids, drugs, or chemicals. It is the ideal daily sinus medicine that will reduce swelling and open your airways. Using our saline nose spray before bed may reduce snoring.
•     IMPROVED FORMULA WITH XYLITOL: Our patented saline nasal spray solution may reduce tissue inflammation and naturally open airways. Xylitol's powerful oral and upper respiratory health benefits come from its unique five-carbon structure. Xylitol may help reduce swelling and allergy symptoms by reducing bacterial adhesion on your nasal tissue.
•     EASY TO USE DIRECTIONS: Clear the nasal passageway by gently blowing your nose before using Xlear. Prime the pump by holding the sinus rinse bottle upright and pumping one or more times until the saline solution is dispensed. Insert nozzle into nostril and depress pump completely while breathing in through your nose. Spray each nostril 2-4 times and use at least twice daily.
•     WASH AWAY POLLUTANTS: Our natural saline nasal spray can wash away pollutants and help to bring sinus relief. Use our sinus spray daily to protect and keep your nasal passages clean. Each 1.5 oz bottle delivers approx. 240 fine mist Sprays so you can find fast and quick relief.

SYNUSITIS - SYMPTOMS, CAUSES AND TREATMENT

WHAT IS SINUSITIS?
Sinusitis, or sinusopathy, is the name given to inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, also known as the sinuses.

Sinusitis can result from viral, bacterial or fungal infections, allergies or immune system problems, including autoimmune diseases .

Sinusitis is usually accompanied by rhinitis , which is inflammation of the nasal cavity, causing a condition called rhinosinusitis. In most cases, rhinosinusitis is caused by respiratory viruses, such as rhinovirus, influenza virus and parainfluenza virus.

WHAT ARE PARANASAL SINUSES?
Paranasal sinuses, also called nasal sinuses or sinuses, are air-filled cavities within the skull and face bones, which communicate with the nasal cavity.

There are four number of paranasal sinuses, namely:

• Frontal sinus.
• Ethmoidal sinus.
• Sphenoid sinus.
• Maxillary sinus

The sinuses are important anatomical structures, as they perform the following functions:

• Humidification and heating of the air breathed through the nose.
• Increased voice resonance.
• Balance of intracranial pressures when there are variations in atmospheric pressure (dives, plane trips or high altitude climbs).
• Mucus secretion for protection of the upper airways.
• Impact absorption in cases of trauma (hollow materials absorb more impact than solid materials).
• The paranasal sinuses are bilateral and symmetrical, connected to the nasal cavity through small holes through which the mucus produced is drained.

Allergies or flu, for example, cause edema of the nasal mucosa and increased secretions, easily obstructing the drainage of the sinuses. The inability to drain the mucus produced leads to sinus congestion and, consequently, sinusitis.

TYPES
Sinusitis can affect any of the 4 paranasal sinuses, and can be bilateral or unilateral.

Sinusopathy can be classified into:

• Acute sinusitis : when symptoms last less than 4 weeks.
• Subacute sinusitis : when symptoms last between 4 and 12 weeks
• Chronic sinusitis : when symptoms last more than 12 weeks.
• Recurrent sinusitis : when there are 4 or more episodes of sinusitis during the year.
• The vast majority of acute sinus infections are of viral or allergic origin, but it is not uncommon for them to turn into bacterial sinusitis.

It turns out that the obstruction and stasis of mucus in the sinuses favor the proliferation of bacteria that live quietly in the airways. The patient, therefore, may have an initial case of allergic or viral sinusitis that after a few days can turn into a bacterial sinusitis.

Bacterial sinusitis that is not completely cured can progress to chronic sinusitis.

SYMPTOMS
The main symptoms of acute sinusitis are:

• Nasal congestion .
• Purulent nasal discharge (yellowish coryza).
• Headache .
• Pain in the face.
• Pain in the upper dental arch.
• Pain around the eyes.
• Feeling of pressure when the head is lowered.
• Clogged ears,
• Cough (mostly nocturnal).
• Decreased taste and smell.
• Pain is common when pressure is placed on the sinuses with the fingers, especially in the frontal and maxillary sinuses, which are the most superficial.

Most cases of viral or allergic sinusitis improve spontaneously within 10 days. Mild bacterial sinusitis can also be self-limiting, but in the most symptomatic cases, with high fever and a purulent runny nose, the cure usually only comes with antibiotic treatment.

Bacterial sinusitis
When there is contamination of sinusitis by bacteria, fever is common. However, as the flu can trigger sinusopathy and also develop a fever, it is not always easy to distinguish between viral sinusitis and bacterial sinusitis. As already pointed out, sinus disease can start as a viral infection or an allergic condition and after a few days it turns into bacterial sinusitis.

In many cases it is not possible to distinguish between viral sinusitis and bacterial sinusitis in the first 10 days of illness.

The existence of an acute bacterial rhinosinusitis should be suspected in patients with any of the following characteristics:

• Signs or symptoms of acute sinusitis lasting 10 days or more with no clinical improvement.
• Onset of the condition already with more severe symptoms, such as fever above 39ºC and purulent nasal discharge, lasting at least three consecutive days.
• Acute sinus disease that improves after a few days, but suddenly worsens again, with fever, pain in the face and a purulent runny nose.

COMPLICATIONS

As the sinuses are closely related to noble organs, such as eyes, ears and brain, bacterial sinusitis can lead to serious complications.

It is important to seek medical attention whenever there are the following signs of complication listed below:

• Fever above 39ºC.
• Edema or redness on the face.
• Edema and redness around the eyes.
• Double vision or any other visual change.
• Mental confusion.
• Very severe headache.
• Neck stiffness.
• Intense prostration.

Bacterial sinusitis, despite having a low mortality rate, is an infection that should not be overlooked, especially when there are the signs described above.

Among its possible complications we can mention the infection of the eyes, meningitis , brain abscess, infection of the bones of the face, otitis and labyrinthitis .

DIAGNOSIS
The diagnosis of sinusitis is almost always clinical, obtained through history and physical examination.

If the doctor you are attending is an otorhinolaryngologist, he can perform a rhinoscopy (nasal endoscopy) to try to directly view the paranasal sinuses and confirm the clinical suspicion.

X-ray of the sinuses
In case of doubt, imaging tests may be used. The radiography of the sinuses, widely used in the past, is no longer considered a good exam, as its sensitivity is low.

When the result is positive, as in the photo below, which shows sinusopathy of the left maxillary sinus, the diagnosis can be confirmed. The problem is that if the radiograph is normal, you cannot rule out the existence of sinusitis, as the test cannot detect up to 40% of cases.

Computed tomography of the sinuses

The most used imaging exam today is computed tomography (CT). Compare the images below with two CT scans of the sinuses and see how the quality of the images is much higher.

Sinusitis
The CT on the right is normal and the paranasal sinuses are filled only with air (black image). On the left, we can see a CT scan of the sinuses showing bilateral sinusopathy, more evident in the right maxillary sinus, which is completely filled with liquid (gray image).

The images provided by TC are much better defined. Contrary to what happens in the simple radiography of the sinuses, a computed tomography scan with normal results is able to exclude the diagnosis of sinusitis.

TREATMENT
Most cases of acute sinusitis improve spontaneously in 7 to 10 days. Treatment, therefore, is basically symptomatic. Even bacterial sinusitis usually has a good prognosis, as complications are uncommon.

For the treatment of acute non-bacterial sinusopathy, it is indicated to wash the nasal cavity with saline solution (saline) and spray nasal corticosteroids . Warm compresses on the face can bring relief, and vigorous fluid intake helps to dilute secretions.

During attacks it is important to avoid contact with cigarette smoke, as this is an important irritation factor in the airways. In addition to smoke, it is important to try to identify other stimuli that may be irritating to the airways, such as cold or strong odor-producing chemicals.

Apart from these guidelines, nothing else is very effective. Contrary to what most people think, it is not necessary to fill up with medicines to treat sinusitis.

Nasal decongestants
Nasal decongestants are often used excessively and unnecessarily. When necessary, its use is indicated for a maximum of 3 days, since these drugs are associated with relapses, caused by rebound nasal congestion. The patient uses the decongestant, has temporary relief of symptoms, but when he suspends it, nasal congestion returns quickly, thus creating a vicious cycle.

Antihistamines
The use of antihistamines (antiallergic), despite being widely prescribed, does not present evidence of benefits in sinusitis. If there is no allergic process behind it, it is unlikely that this class of remedies will bring any benefit.

Antibiotics
Antibiotics should only be used when there is evidence of bacterial sinusitis. The most used are amoxacillin with clavulanic acid , Bactrim® , levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, clarithromycin or azithromycin .

Care must be taken not to use antibiotics indiscriminately so that there is no selection of resistant bacteria. If sinus disease does not have characteristics of bacterial origin, there is no reason to use antibiotics.

CHRONIC SINUSITIS
Chronic sinusitis is one that remains for more than 12 consecutive weeks despite treatment.

The chronic form is very associated with the presence of deviated nasal septum and / or nasal polyps . Both provide chronicity because they cause communication obstruction between the paranasal sinuses and the nasal passages.

Other causes of chronic infection are fungus sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease , recurrent respiratory allergy, HIV , asthma and cystic fibrosis.

While acute sinusitis usually resolves on its own in a few days, chronic sinusitis is an inflammation that is more difficult to control and should always be evaluated by an otolaryngologist. Despite being difficult to cure, it can be controlled with appropriate treatment.