The Healing Mind: The Art & Science of Mind/Body Healing

Sinus Pain

Pain, along with fatigue, is the most common complaint heard by any physician or primary health care professional. Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond the length expected from an injury, and can become a difficult problem in itself. A good deal of medical research shows that many people can reduce or relieve pain successfully with relaxation and guided imagery. Our Pain Relief CD will teach you three frequently effective methods of reducing pain through the mind/body connection, and the Guided Imagery for Self-Healing book and 4 CD set will teach you all the fundamental skills of using guided imagery to help stimulate healing from within. The book will explain the process, review the science behind it, and coach you through the common questions that people have, while the CD set guides you through the 9 essential guided imagery skills taught in the book. We recommend reading the book no matter what CDs you choose, but if you prefer to just listen rather than read, you may want to start with Self Healing with Guided Imagery, a 2 CD set featuring Dr. Andrew Weil. The first CD explains mind/body healing and guided imagery while the second teaches you three self-healing skills.

GUIDED IMAGERY FOR SINUS PAIN January, 2006 Definition of the Problem

Chronic sinusitis is defined as long-term inflammation of the sinuses. The sinuses are moist air spaces located in the bones of the upper face. The sinuses warm and filter incoming air, thereby protecting the delicate tissues of the airway and lungs. The mucus contained in the sinuses trap pollutants, allergens, and infectious agents. However, infections, swelling, allergic reactions or blockages can block the proper flow of the mucus. Allergic reactions, infections, and swelling block the flow of mucus, causing sinus pressure (Ivker, 1995). Symptoms include pain and pressure, often accompanied by fatigue and difficulty concentrating (Dykewicz, Fineman, 1998; Grossan, Bruce, 2001).

Chronic sinusitis can significantly diminish quality of life, and increase the number of office visits and medication use, and cause work or school absenteeism.

Scope and Cost of the Problem

According to the CDC, approximately 29.7 million people have sinusitis; in 2003, sinusitis occasioned 14.1 million office visits and 1.1 million hospitalizations (CDC, 2005). The direct medical costs of treating sinusitis amounted to $6 billion in 1996 (Ray, Baraniuk et al, 1999). Over 9% of medical claims in the United States include a diagnosis of sinusitis (U.S. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, 2000). Economic costs of sinus-related absenteeism and decreased productivity are high, with restricted or lost work days averaging approximately 36 million per year (U.S.A.H.R.C.). Chronic sinusitis is particularly prevalent in polluted urban centers, with Los Angeles having one of the highest rates of sinusitis in the world (Ivker, 1995).

Medical Treatment

Chronic sinusitis is often associated with allergies, recurring infections, allergies, and obstructions; psychological factors are likely to be present (Addolorato, Ancona, et al., 1999; Weir, 1976). Treating only one component (e.g., antibiotics for infection) rarely resolves the sinusitis (Ivker, 1995; Grossman, Bruce, 2001). Antihistamines are often used for the allergic component, but can dry the mucus and make it harder to drain. Likewise, anti-inflammatories, usually in the form of steroid nasal sprays, only relieve symptoms but do not address the cause of the swelling.

Surgery for an obstruction (especially polyps or a deformity) often greatly reduce symptoms. Endoscopic surgery enables many of these procedures to be done on an outpatient basis. Another promising treatment is the use of antifungal drugs such as fluconazole.

Non-pharmacologic Treatment

As in any chronic condition, patient self-care plays a large role in positively affecting quality of life, disease progression, and in lowering resource utilization. Patients can also promote sinus healing and minimize re-infection and irritation by incorporating environmental modifications, such as removing carpets and drapes, and using humidifiers and air-purifiers. Changes in behavior, such as stopping smoking, adequate hydration, avoiding sinus triggers, and doing daily nasal saline irrigation can help, sooth, and heal (Ivker, 1995; Grossman, Bruce, 2001).

Imagery, Relaxation and Self-Hypnosis

Relaxation, guided imagery, and self-hypnosis can reduce reactivity to allergens and decrease inflammatory response (Klein, Ziering, et al, 1985; Madrid, Rostel, et al, 1005; Zachariae, Kristensen, et al, 1990).

In the Madrid et al. study, among 34 allergic subjects who were taught a two-session course in self-hypnosis, 76% reported improvement, and 86% reduced medication usage; improvement was maintained through two years of follow-up.

Mind-body approaches such as imagery and relaxation can also help reduce or diminish sinusitis symptoms. Head and facial pain are the most intrusive symptoms reported by sinusitis patients. Imagery, relaxation, and suggestion has frequently been shown to reduce various types of headache pain, thereby reducing medication use (Blanchard, Jaccard, et al., 1985; Ilacqua, 1994; Mannix, Chandurkar, et al, 1999).

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References

Addolorato G, Ancona C, Capristo E., Graziosetto R, Di Rienzo L, Maurizi M, Gasbarrini G. State and trait anxiety in women affected by allergic and vasomotor rhinitis. J Psychosom Res, 1999 ;46(3):283-9.

Blanchard EB, Jaccard J, Andrasik F, Guarnieri P, Jurish SE. Reduction in headache patients' medical expenses associated with biofeedback and relaxation treatments. Biofeedback Self Regul, 1985 Mar;10(1):63-8.

CDC. Fastats A-Z, Vital and Health Statistics, Chronic Sinusitus. Dated Nov. 16, 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/sinuses.htm Accessed January, 2006.

Dykewicz MS, Fineman S. Executive Summary of Joint Task Force Practice Parameters on Diagnosis and Management of Rhinitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1998 Nov;81(5 Pt 2):463-8.

Ilacqua GE. Migraine headaches: coping efficacy of guided imagery training. Headache, 1994 Feb;34(2):99-102.

Ivker, Robert DO. Sinus Survival (3rd Edition). New York: Jeremy Tarcher. 1995.

Grossan, Murray MD and Bruce, Debra. The Sinus Cure: 7 Simple Steps to Relieve Sinusitis and Other Ear, Nose, and Throat Conditions Ballantine. New York. 2001.

Klein GL, Ziering RW, Girsh LS, Miller MF. The allergic irritability syndrome: four case reports and a position statement from the Neuroallergy Committee of the American College of Allergy. Ann Allergy, 1985 Jul;55(1):22-4.

Madrid A, Rostel G, Pennington D, Murphy D. Subjective assessment of allergy relief following group hypnosis and self-hypnosis: a preliminary study. Am J Clin Hypn, 1995 Oct;38(2):80-6.

Mannix LK, Chandurkar RS, Rybicki LA, Tusek DL, Solomon GD. Department of General Internal Medicine, Headache Wellness Center, Greensboro, NC, USA. Effect of guided imagery on quality of life for patients with chronic tension-type headache. Headache, 1999 May;39(5):326-34.

Ray NF, Baraniuk JN, Thamer M, Rinehart CS, Gergen PJ, Kaliner M, Josephs S, Pung YH. Healthcare expenditures for sinusitis in 1996: contributions or asthma, rhinitis and other airway disorders. J. of Allergy Clin. Immunology, 1999 103 (3 Pt 1): 408-514.

U.S. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. Industry-Specific Medical Care Utilization and Expenditures. 2000. Qtd on: Sinus Pharmacy. Sinus News. Vol. 2, No. 5, March 2, 2001 http://www.sinuspharmacy.com/newsletter10.html Accessed January, 2006.

Weir NF, Stephens SD. Personality measures in E.N.T. outpatients. J Laryngol Otol, 1976 90(6):553-60.

Zachariae, R., Kristensen, J.S., Hokland, P., Ellegaard, J., Metze, E., Hokland, M. Effect of psychological intervention in the form of relaxation and guided imagery on cellular immune function in normal healthy subjects. An overview. Psychother Psychosom, 1990 54(1):32-9.

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Posted in Health Issues Pain Relief