Exercising your airways

Its hard to avoid Christmas jingles and Christmas carols as everyone up and down the country gets swept along in the preparation for the festive season. So why try? Even if you have no great Dickensian holiday plans singing and humming are good for your health.

We have been singing Christmas Carols since Roman times and everyone has their favourite. Choirs and singing groups are increasingly popular and research is proving it can be beneficial for those of you struggling with many different medical conditions, and for those of you with respiratory problems it may help you learn to breathe more easily as singing warms the muscles up just as athletes warm up theirs.

A choir for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has been set up by the The Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health in Canterbury with the aim of improving the breathlessness associated with this condition and for the past couple of years Asthma UK has organised The Big Sing Song to raise funds and awareness. Breathe Easy and other groups up and down the country organise singing for breathing workshops and stories from the Cystic Fibrosis community should surely inspire us all.

It would appear from a survey  conducted by Asthma UK that we aren’t easily embarrassed to have a sing-a-long but for those of you who are why not hum a long? Even humming could possibly be beneficial to anyone who suffers from sinus problems and at this time of year when we are surrounded by coughs and colds and the winter blues why not add exercising your airways to your daily routine and join in with the celebrations?

Do you suffer from Sinusitis, Acute or Chronic or Rhinitis?

We no longer stock the RC Cornet N. However it can still be found on the internet here

Sinusitis, Acute or Chronic and Rhinitis can be painful and debilitating. The RC Cornet-N is a non medicinal but effective way to help relieve your symptoms.

RC Cornet-N liquifies sticky mucus, widens narrow sinus passages, improves the passage of mucus and stimulates blood and lymph flow in the nose and throat, all of which help to reduce any swelling.

So how does it work?

Its made up of a nose piece and a rubber valve hose in a curved tube. Blowing into the nose piece causes pressure fluctuations and vibrations which in turn push and pull on the mucus blockages in your sinuses

Using the RC Cornet-N twice a day will massage and stimulate the cilia (tiny hairs) which transport excess mucus away as well as help increase blood supply to the airway lining (mucosa), which in turn will help fight the inflammation. It will also extend the small passages of your sinuses and help to restore them to normal pressure.

Okay, it doesn’t sound or look very pretty but it is effective and results can be felt as quickly as 10 minutes after therapy as the mucosal swelling starts to reduce and blockages slowly begin to dissolve. Luckily its very easy to clean and can be sterilised either in a pan of boiling water, in your dishwasher or by soaking in a antiseptic solution.

So if you’re suffering from nasal congestion, sinus headaches, sneezing, an itchy nose, post nasal drip or a tickley cough, whatever the initial cause, be it an infection, hay fever, or other allergies why not give it some thought. The RC Cornet-N isn’t particularly glamourous but it won’t make you drowsy or carry the side effects that some medications can.

Sinus Relief

Sinusitis is often overlooked by both patient and healthcare providers though symptoms can be painful and persistent. Your sinuses are hollow air pockets in the bones of the face and head which are lined with a thin layer of tissue. Its purpose it to make a layer of mucus which keeps your sinus’s healthy, lubricated and to flush away any germs.

Rhinitis, Acute Sinusitis and Chronic Sinusitis, occur when these linings become swollen  and produce extra mucus which may not drain freely as it should. This can lead to nasal congestion causing pain or pressure in your teeth or face (especially at either side of your nose). Other symptoms may be a raised temperature, nasal discharge, headache, earache, an inability to smell, fatigue or a cough.

Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal passages and is often caused by allergies such as hay fever, colds or a reaction to some medications, and for some people it can be a life long condition with no discernible cause. Symptoms can include nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, a runny nose, and the sensation that mucus is draining down the back of your throat (post nasal drip).

Acute Sinusitis is quite common, often caused by infection, usually viral, such as following a cold. It comes on quickly and lasts less 12 weeks.

Chronic Sinusitis is more persistent and can last for many months or occur multiple times in one year. Causes can vary and include  infection, nasal polyps, allergies and even some medical conditions may mean you’re more at risk, such as Cystic Fibrosis

Possibly the first person to speak to should be your pharmacist as some symptoms can be relived by over the counter medications such as decongestants, nasal sprays and analgesics. He may suggest a visit to your G.P. who could prescribe further  medication such as antibiotics or may even refer you to an E.N.T. specialist

A non medicinal and effective way to relive your symptoms is the RC Cornet-N which can be found here