The Sinus Season
By Jeffrey M. Berg, D.C.

I think of fall as the Sinus season because I hear more complaints about the sinus this time of year than any other. Most of this I believe is attributed to the high level of mold spores in the air, the drying effect of our heating systems, and the increased amount of dust flying around in our houses. Add in a chemical brew left over from our perfumes and cleaning chemicals and chemicals out-gassing from our furniture and rugs and you have a fairly polluted atmosphere. Studies done by the Federal Government in both the 80’s and the 90’s prove that most household air would not meet the clean air standards we set for cities. There are, however, solutions to these problems.

Some Problems

In the fall the leaves coming down gently increase the surfaces on which molds can grow. In addition, the cool nighttime temperatures promote heavy dew that never quite dries out during the day. This creates tremendous numbers of mold spores. People who seem to get colds they can’t shake this time of year often have mold allergies. If you get stuffy in a damp basement, this is probably mold exposure. Similarly, people who get sleepy when they drink wine are usually allergic to molds. (Mold and yeast on the skin of the grapes help ferment the grape juice into wine.)

Carbohydrates

In addition high amounts of carbohydrates in the diet can prompt the internal growth of yeast and mold, such as Candida, which then sensitizes the individual to molds and yeast floating in the air. This topic, however, is a separate issue. People with chronic low-grade sinus pressure often are sensitive to molds and part of that sensitivity can be related to excess carbohydrate in the diet.

Dry Air

The dryness in our houses once we close the windows and turn on our heating systems is the second source of problems. During the winter in most American homes, the air is a dry as it gets in the Sahara desert. Imagine what your poor sinuses go through going from the cool moist of the eastern forest into the desert and then back again out into the cool moisture of the forest. Is it surprising that that these sinuses have to produce mucus to protect themselves from drying out? Putting humidity in the air helps, but the dust generated from the dry air can only be taken care of by air purifying devices.

Chemical Brew

The last source of difficulty is the chemical brew that exists in homes from perfumes, hairsprays, cleaning products, air deodorizers, etc. Many people are allergic to these chemicals. I know several women that get asthma if they breathe the wrong perfume. Many of us take antioxidant vitamins to neutralize chemicals in our bodies. Most cleansers are oxidizers, exactly the chemicals that antioxidants are designed to neutralize. When you go into a candle store rich with fragrances do you instantly get a headache? You may be one of the myriads of people that have chemical sensitivities. It takes a broad spectrum air purifier to deal with all these things.

Air Purification

If you experience frequent sinus pressure, have a persistent cough or sore throat or if you are tired an unusual amount of time and have trouble sleeping, you may be reacting to indoor air pollution. You won’t necessarily feel better by going outside since molds are still a problem in the outdoor air. Pollution from poorly vented heating systems and hot water heaters contribute to the problem. Electrostatic filters remove a certain amount of these irritants, but the world of air purification has taken a real leap forward in the last decade. For further suggestions, contact our office. Dr. Berg has been a frequent speaker at MCNJ’s lectures, and is a well-known local Chiropractor with a strong interest in natural healing and good nutrition. He received his BA from the University of Rochester in 1970 and his Chiropractic degree from Columbia Institute of Chiropractic (now known as New York Chiropractic College) in 1976. He can be reached at Life Support Chiropractic at 9 Kiel Ave., Butler, 973-492-0458.