Viral Damage And Nasal Sinus Disease
In adults, the two most common causes of smell problems that we see at our Clinic are: Smell loss due to an ongoing process in the nose and/or sinuses such as nasal allergies and smell loss due to injury of the specialized nerve tissue at the top of the nose from a previous viral upper respiratory infection. Individuals who lose their sense of smell as a result of a respiratory virus generally give us a very clear history of dating their smell loss from a time when they were experiencing cold or flu symptoms. These patients are typically in the older age groups. The smell loss is partial rather than total for many, and can be associated with taste loss, parosmias and/or dysgeusias. There is no known effective therapy for taste and/or smell problems due to presumed viral damage. Specifically, treatment with zinc is not recommended because it was not demonstrated to be any more effective than placebo. Some patients will recover function with time. We have followed some individuals with this disorder long-term. Of these, only 18 percent significantly improved their smell function on retesting. Improvement was gradual. Although this low improvement rate is discouraging, it should be remembered that we typically see the worst cases here at the Taste and Smell Clinic. There are probably many individuals out in the community who lost their sense of smell as a result of a virus and recovered it within short periods of time.
Zinc May Help Shorten A Cold But Won’t Help With Symptoms
There is some evidence that sucking on zinc lozenges within 24 hours of first feeling cold symptoms may shorten its duration by a day or two, but theres little to indicate that it eases cold symptoms, such as congestion, cough, or muscle aches.
A 2017 analysis published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases of three previous studies found that people who took 80 to 92 mg per day of zinc got better faster. By the fifth day, 70 percent of those taking zinc had recovered, compared with just 27 percent of those given a placebo.
A 2020 analysis published in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene reported similar reductions in duration but found conflicting evidence on whether zinc supplements had an effect on the severity of cold symptoms. In other words, you may be stuffed up and sniffling for fewer days, but on the days youre sick youre likely to feel just as lousy.
Zinc Might Help Shorten Your Cold Or Flu
HealthDay Reporters
TUESDAY, Nov. 2, 2021 — Many people pop a zinc supplement at the first sign of a cold, and there’s new evidence supporting the habit.
Australian researchers found that the supplements appear to help shorten respiratory tract infections, such as colds, flu, sinusitis and pneumonia.
Many over-the-counter cold and cough remedies offer only “marginal benefits,” the researchers noted, making “zinc a viable ‘natural’ alternative for the self-management of non-specific .”
The study was led by Jennifer Hunter, associate professor at the NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University in Penrith, New South Wales. Her team published the findings Nov. 2 in the BMJ Open.
According to Hunter’s team, zinc as a nutrient has gained attention from researchers because it’s known to play an important role in immunity, inflammation, tissue injury, blood pressure and in tissue responses to any lack of oxygen.
To learn more about zinc’s potential, the investigators reviewed more than two dozen clinical trials that included more than 5,400 adults. All were published in 17 English and Chinese research databases up to August 2020. None of them specifically examined the use of zinc for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
Lozenges were the most common form of zinc intake, followed by nasal sprays and gels, the research team said. Doses varied substantially, depending on the formulation and whether zinc was used for prevention or treatment.
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What Happens When We Don’t Get Enough Zinc
Zinc deficiency symptoms can be severe. In children who are zinc-deficient, the most debilitating deficiency symptom is diarrhea. Gastrointestinal disturbances caused by zinc deficiency can cause dehydration and death. In adults and in children who get viral infections, the most serious consequence of zinc deficiency is pneumonia. Pneumonia continues to be a leading cause of death all over the world, even in North America and Europe.
The 4 Best Supplements And Vitamins For Sinusitis According To A Doctor
If you struggle with sinusitis, more often called sinus infections, then you know how miserable they can make your life. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology notes that acute sinus infections last anywhere from three to eight weeks â no one has time for that.
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Sinusitis is usually caused by an infection, which causes inflammation in the sinus cavities of your face, according to Yale Medicine. Symptoms include headache, fever, runny nose, fatigue, bad breath, coughing and congestion. Three weeks of that and you’re sure to be looking for some relief.
While there’s no cure , there are several natural remedies for sinus infections you can try, such as nasal irrigation and drinking ginger tea to help ease symptoms, and you can also talk to your doctor about adding supplements that support your immune system.
Terrell Smith, MD, founding physician at Spora Health, recommends a food-first approach when it comes to increasing the immune-supportive nutrients in your diet, but he also says the following supplements may help, as long as your doctor gives the OK.
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When To Seek Medical Care
See a doctor if you have:
- Severe symptoms, such as severe headache or facial pain.
- Symptoms that get worse after improving.
- Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without getting better.
- Fever longer than 3-4 days.
You should also seek medical care if you have had multiple sinus infections in the past year.
This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.
Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to a sinus infection, including:
- Seasonal allergies
Zinc Supplements May Help To Stave Off Respiratory Infections Such As Colds Flu And Covid
But quality of evidence variable, and no clarity on optimal formulation or dose.
A zinc supplement might help stave off the symptoms of respiratory tract infections, such as coughing, congestion, and sore throat, and cut illness duration, suggests a pooled analysis of the available evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Open.
But the quality of the evidence on which these findings are based is variable, and its not clear what an optimal formulation or dose of this nutrient might be, caution the researchers.
Respiratory tract infections include colds, flu, sinusitis, pneumonia, and COVID-19. Most infections clear up by themselves, but not all. And they often prove costly in terms of their impact on health services and time taken in sick leave.
Zinc has a key role in immunity, inflammation, tissue injury, blood pressure, and in tissue responses to lack of oxygen.
As a result, it has generated considerable interest during the current pandemic for the possible prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection.
In response to calls for rapid evidence appraisals to inform self-care and clinical practice, the researchers evaluated zinc for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, and other viral respiratory tract infections.
When that review was published, the results of several relevant clinical trials werent yet available, so this current review brings the available evidence up to date.
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Is Zinc Effective Against Colds
It depends what you mean by effective. Theres not enough data to say that zinc can prevent or cure the common cold, but it still might be able to help you feel better sooner. One systematic review, conducted in 2013, found that zinc may help to shorten the duration of your cold by 12-24 hours if you take it within 24 hours of the onset of your symptoms.
This might mean that if you start taking zinc as soon as you start feeling stuffy, your cold might last 6 days instead of the average seven. Whether thats worth it is up to you.
Some researchers believe that zincs ability to help at all is due to the way it interacts with the rhinovirusthe pesky pathogen that usually causes the infection, says Kristina Lundberg, M.D., an internist and physician editor at MCG Health.
The rhinovirus tends to thrive and multiply in your nasal passages and your throat , and there is some evidence that zinc may help to prevent human rhinoviruses from attaching to the mucous membranes of the nose passages, thereby slowing the virus ability to replicate and hopefully leading to less cold symptoms, says Dr. Lundberg. Although the mechanism by which zinc may help in viral illnesses is not well understood.
Goldenseal The Cure All Information And Medicinal Properties
Common names: Yellow paint root, orange root, yellow puccoon, ground raspberry, eye root, yellow Indian plant, tumeric root, Ohio curcuma, eye balm, yellow eye, jaundice root.
Part used: Root
Medicinal Properties: Laxative, tonic, alterative, detergent, opthalmicum, antiperiodic, aperient, diuretic, antiseptic, deobstruent.
Goldenseal is known as a cure all because of all the ailments and sicknesses it helps with. Other than sinus infection, it can help with all stomach disorders, acute inflammation, diseases of the digestive system, open sores, eczema, ringworm, liver problems, colds and so much more.
It can be taken in several different ways including extract, capsules, tincture and infusion. To help treat the sinus infection youll need to make a tea. As you will see its really easy and fast to do.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Sinus Headache Naturally
Finding A Healthy Zinc Balance
To best benefit from zinc without going overboard, focus on food sources. If youre an omnivore, aim for a variety of plant and animal foods. If youre plant-based, zero in on top plant sources and be sure to incorporate them often. If youre concerned about not getting enough zinc from your regular diet due to dislikes or dietary restrictions, talk to your doctor or dietitian for guidance and whether zinc supplements might be appropriate for you. Zinc is one of the most important nutrients for optimal wellness, but striking the right balance is vital for reaping its benefits.
Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, is Health‘s contributing nutrition editor, a New York Times best-selling author, and a private practice performance nutritionist who has consulted for five professional sports teams.
To get more nutrition and diet tips delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Balanced Bites newsletter
Treatment For Sinusitis And Bronchitis
You can treat a sinus infection at home with a combination of medications such as antihistamines, nasal decongestant sprays, topical nasal corticosteroid sprays, and nasal saline washes. All of these methods can help address the inflammation and swelling that occur in the nasal passages and sinus openings due to a sinus infection.
However, topical nasal decongestants should only be used for three or four days, as overuse can result in dependency. Likewise, over-the-counter nasal decongestants and antihistamines may contain drying agents that can thicken mucus and should be used sparingly and with caution so as to not cause additional congestion.
Home remedies for bronchitis include increasing the amount of fluid you consume and using a cool-mist humidifier. Drinking more fluids can help to thin the mucus in the lungs. Using a humidifier can soothe irritated airways.
The most common medications that can assist with bronchitis are bronchodilators and decongestants.
Bronchodilators can provide relief by opening tight air passages in the lungs. If you experience any wheezing, a doctor may prescribe one for you. Decongestants may relieve some of the symptoms associated with bronchitis. Because bronchitis is generally caused by a virus, antibiotics are not helpful in its treatment.
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Keep Your Sinuses Healthy
DISCLAIMER
This blog has not been approved by your local health department and is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Read More
Millions of people worldwide visit their doctors each year with complaints related to their sinuses. “Sinus” is the term commonly used to describe anatomy that doctors refer to as paranasal sinuses. Sinuses are hollow caves in the human skull, which are essentially absent in newborns but develop fully by around age 8 and reach their full adult size by puberty.
What Are The Benefits Of Taking Zinc Lozenges
Zinc plays an important role in our bodies’ biological functions, including our immune system, inflammation, tissue injury, blood pressure, and our tissue responses to a lack of oxygen . As such, zinc is essential for taste, smell, vision, growth, cell-building, the healing of wounds, and our immunity from infections.
As zinc is known to modulate immunity, the COVID-19 pandemic has generated considerable interest in zinc for the possible prevention and treatment of COVID-19, as well as other upper respiratory tract infections . URTIs are usually caused by viruses and they include coughs, colds, flu, throat infections and sinus infection.
Most URTIs will clear up by themselves, but some – like COVID-19 – may require treatment and can lead to mortality. While there have been studies that suggest zinc may be effective in preventing and fighting URTIs, good-quality evidence had been limited.
Despite the lack of data, many healthcare experts consider zinc lozenges and supplements to be a promising treatment for COVID-19. According to one 2020 study, a good indication of this is that most of the high-risk groups for zinc deficiency and for severe COVID-19 are the same. These groups include:
- The elderly.
- People with atherosclerosis .
Also Check: Can A Sinus Infection Cause Diarrhea In Adults
Start Treating Your Symptoms Right Away
Since viruses cant be cured, treating colds is primarily aimed at improving symptoms.
Its important to remember that with colds and other viruses, taking an antibiotic wont help you feel better any faster, says Dr. Woodard. In fact, taking an antibiotic unnecessarily can do more harm than good.
The overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, which can make subsequent infections more difficult to treat.
Get plenty of rest, stay hydrated and rinse out your sinuses with saline irrigation, which can help thin mucous and flush it from your nasal cavity, he says.
Also Check: Whats The Best Antibiotic For Kidney Infection
A New Expert Review Suggests That Taking Zinc Supplements May Help Ease Cold Symptomsand May Even Prevent The Viral Infections Altogether
The editors at Health are a dedicated team of experienced health editors, writers, and other media professionals who strive to bring trustworthy and responsible health and medical content to their readers. As a team, we have decades of experience in health journalism and have worked at legacy publishers and some of the biggest news and media companies in the U.S.
TUESDAY, February 15 As everyone knows, there’s no cure for the common cold. So most people simply suffer through two or more colds a year, often missing days of work or school in the process.
Scientists still haven’t found a cure, but a new expert review suggests that taking zinc supplements may help ease cold symptomsand may even prevent the viral infections altogether.
Nearly 30 years of research on zinc and colds has had mixed results and has been marred by iffy studies. To get a sound big-picture assessment of zinc’s benefits, researchers in India sifted through the evidence and analyzed 15 randomized controlled trialsthe “gold standard” in medical researchthat compared zinc with placebo for the prevention or treatment of the common cold.
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Zinc supplements do carry some potential risks. Some of the study participants experienced nausea and a bad taste in their mouths while taking zinc, for instance. And zinc supplements can interfere with the body’s uptake of other key minerals such as copper and calcium, Dr. Rakel says.
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How Much Vitamin C For A Sinus Infection
**Vitamin C is beneficial to the bodys ability to grow and repair itself 2. The absorption of iron the growth and repair of gums, teeth, blood vessels and bones and a well-functioning immune system all rely on the dietary intake of vitamin C. Although vitamin C is a proven antioxidant, some respected health authorities do not deem it a safe and reliable method of relieving viral or bacterial infections, such as a sinus infection. Check with a health care professional before replacing medications with vitamin C.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Zinc Is Great To Help Fight Infection
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Zinc in a nutshell:Zinc is an essential part of the structure of hundreds of different enzymes and has been implicated in male fertility. It is a vital nutrient in our diets. However, in high doses, zinc is toxic , so do consult your doctor if you are taking zinc supplements .
Best source of zinc for JuicersZinc can be found in ginger, turnips, parsley, garlic, carrots, grapes, spinach, cabbage, cucumbers and tangerines.
Nearly everyone knows we need calcium, and entire books have been written about magnesium supplements, but most of us forget to take care of our body’s needs for zinc. This trace mineral is an essential component of hundreds of enzymes.
Alternative names: Zinc. Zinc oxide is used in sunblock. Zinc sulfate and zinc gluconate are commonly used in nutritional supplements.
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