Sinusitis is a pain in a variety of ways

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 13 March 2012 15:18

Q A friend told me that sinusitis could be causing a mild toothache I had, so I waited a while. Well, when my sinuses cleared, the tooth pain disappeared. Was my friend right?

A I can write from personal experience on this one. I had a bad toothache that sent me to my dentist. He did some x-rays and could find nothing wrong. He asked me about my sinuses and I told him I was fighting an infection. Bingo.

Yes, infection in the sinuses located in your cheekbones can cause your upper jaw and teeth to ache, and your cheeks to become tender to the touch. Sinusitis is a nasty malady that can do much more than give you a toothache.

Sinusitis, which is infection or inflammation of the sinuses, creates suffering for about 37 million Americans...

Read more: Sinusitis is a pain in a variety of ways

Will shots help battle those allergies?

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 14 February 2012 16:07

Q I’ve had allergies my whole life and I’m thinking of going in for the shots. What do you think?

AImmunotherapy, also known as allergy shots or vaccinations, can alleviate allergy symptoms. However, shots don’t work on all allergies or all people.

Doctors advise against allergy shots if you take a beta blocker for high blood pressure or heart problems. If you’re considering immunotherapy, seek the advice of a good allergist.

Allergy shots are a series of scheduled injections meant to desensitize you to specific allergens—the substances that trigger an allergic response. The usual schedule is a shot once or twice a week for about three to six months. After that, you’ll need a shot about once a month for three to five...

Read more: Will shots help battle those allergies?

Alcoholism a serious problem among seniors

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 10 January 2012 15:11

Q My wife and I moved into a retirement community recently. I’ve noticed a lot of people I’d call alcoholics in this community. Do seniors drink more in these places?

A I could find no information that demonstrated residents of retirement communities drink more. However, these developments are, by nature, more social. So, perhaps you’re just seeing more drinking. With more drinking, you’ll find more people who don’t handle it well.

Alcoholism is a serious problem among seniors. Here are just a few statistics that tell the story:

• About 70 percent of hospital admissions for older adults are for illness and accidents related to alcohol.

• About half of older adults in nursing homes have an alcohol problem.

• Older...

Read more: Alcoholism a serious problem among seniors

Simple strategies can help ease motion sickness for most people

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 13 December 2011 16:42

Q My wife can ride in the car and read a book. It makes me jealous because I’d be sick to my stomach if I did that. How can she do that without feeling queasy?

ALittle is known about individual susceptibility to motion sickness. Your wife caught a biological break. You didn’t. Many people suffer nausea when traveling by boat, car or airplane. It also happens on rides in amusement parks and playgrounds. The symptoms of motion sickness are caused by conflicting messages arriving at the central nervous system.

Different parts of your body let your brain know where you are and what you’re doing.

The inner ears let you know if you’re turning, or moving forward-backward, side-to-side and up-and-down. The eyes also monitor the...

Read more: Simple strategies can help ease motion sickness for most people

Will acupuncture help ease arthritis pain?

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 08 November 2011 16:04

Q I have arthritis in my knee. I’m thinking about trying acupuncture, but my friends think I’m nuts. What do you think?

ASeveral recent studies show osteoarthritis symptoms can be relieved with acupuncture. One Scandinavian study reported that 25 percent of patients canceled their plans for knee surgery after acupuncture.

About 15 million Americans have tried this needle therapy. The World Health Organization recommends it for more than 40 conditions as diverse as asthma and nausea from chemotherapy. The Food and Drug Administration regulates acupuncture needles.

So, no, I don’t think you’re nuts.

By the third century B.C., the Chinese had documented a medical system that is based on qi (pronounced “chee”), a concept of...

Read more: Will acupuncture help ease arthritis pain?