6 Tips for Preventing Recurrence of Sinusitis Infections and Polyps

The following is a list of things that can cause you to be exposed to fungus and make you sick. Keep in mind that these suggestions are primarily for diagnosed sufferers of chronic sinusitis. The way to know you have had an exposure is by the symptoms you experience. The first noticeable symptoms is nasal congestion (either mild or severe), chest tightness, headaches, or you noticeably do not feel good then you leave and immediately wash your nose out.

The key is to be able to identify what triggers your attacks and address the  individual problem. Below are some of the most common culprits:

1. Getting out/putting up holiday decorations. Decorations are usually stored in an attic, which commonly has blown-in (fiberglass) or exposed insulation. This exposure will make you sick every time. Also if the decorations are stored in cardboard boxes, the boxes are often another source of mold. Mold spores are microscopic so you don’t see them, just like you don’t see viruses but they are there and the exposure, even if for a few minutes, can and will make you sick. 
   
   
2. “Pack-rat” syndrome. All of us like to keep things that are sentimental, usually tucked away in a box. Those cardboard boxes and newspaper wrapping are a common source of mold, dust and sometimes even bacteria. Instead, choose airtight plastic bins for your mementos.
   
   
3. Books and Paper:  Things like books or old papers, newspapers, gift-wrapping paper, etc., need to be thrown away or donated. You cannot decontaminate paper products and the fungus gets into the paper and continues to multiply. Dust mites are fond of paper as well. There is even a type of mite called a paper mite that will infect books and papers.  For books you want to keep, store them in airtight plastic containers and preferably not in your home but in a storage facility. With a lot of books or old paper, you will never get your mold counts down to 0-2, which is the desired number for wellness. We have tried controlled study methods to decontaminate these items and from freezing to fogging.
   
   
4. “Antiquing”:  This is a bad idea for more than one reason. First is the fact that most of the stores which are full of old furniture, books, collectibles and other desirable junk/treasure are also full of old mold, old dust and who knows what else. You have no way of knowing where that stuff has been. Maybe it was in a house that was contaminated with mold or a flooded basement or wherever. You do not need someone else’s mold to bring into your home environment and contaminate it. You would have to remediate again because mold is a live organism and once you bring it to your house on the antiques, your house is contaminated again. Also your car will be contaminated from transporting it and you will be sick from going in the store as well as being in the car with the piece. 
   
   
5. Yard work: Yes, this could be a blessing in disguise for those of you who don't love working in the yard to begin with! Leaf blowing, digging, spreading mulch and straw are sources of mold exposure.  If you are going to do any type of yard work, you need to wear a respirator type mask with HEPA filters, available at Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc. and when you finish the work, you must take off the clothes you are wearing and put them in washing machine and immediately shower to get all of the pollens and antigens off of you. Irrigate your nose thoroughly and use your nose spray. Do not come inside and sit on your furniture with the contaminated clothes on or your furniture will then be contaminated. 
   
   
6. DO NOT USE MULCH OR PINESTRAW RIGHT UP NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE. THEY PROMOTE FUNGUS GROWTH plus YOU'LL BE EXPOSED EACH TIME YOU GO IN AND OUT OF YOUR HOME. Use pea gravel instead.