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By TIM COLLINS FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED in www.dailymail.co.uk: 08:45 BST, 23 October 2018 | UPDATED: 11:40 BST, 23 October 2018

• Subjects exposed to smells were better at recalling them with mouths taped up
• Experts say inhaling through the nose enhances cognition and memory recall
• Smells trigger the olfactory bulb which is connected to the brain’s hippocampus
• Hippocampal rhythms are implicated in the transfer of sense and memory data

Breathing through your nose boosts your memory, according to new research.

It improves the transfer of the events we experience in our daily lives to our long-term memory bank, say scientists.

In the study, participants exposed to certain odours were better at recalling them if their mouths had been taped over.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence that inhaling through the nose rather than the mouth enhances cognition.

Intriguingly, recent studies have also suggested a fading sense of smell is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Breathing through your nose boosts your memory, according to new research. It improves the transfer of the events we experience in our daily lives to our long-term memory bank, say scientists (stock image)

Professor Artin Arshamian, of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, said: ‘Memories pass through three main stages in their development – encoding, consolidation, and retrieval.

‘Breathing through the nose compared to the mouth during consolidation enhances recognition memory.

‘This demonstrates, first, that nasal respiration is important during the critical period where memories are reactivated and strengthened.

‘Second, it suggests the neural mechanisms responsible may emerge from nasal respiration.’

Published in Malibu Chronicle on December 9, 2015

Q: Have you had recurrent colds or allergy attacks that don’t seem to go away?

A: If so, there’s a good chance you have had sinusitis. Over 37 million people are afflicted with sinusitis each year.

When is a cold actually sinusitis?

The majority of sinus infections are caused by bacteria that become trapped in blocked untitledsinuses. Bacteria flourish in the sinuses creating symptoms of runny nose, congestion, facial pain and pressure. Sinus infections are usually preceded by a cold or allergy attack that contributes to sinus blockage. It can worsen by exposure to environmental pollutants. Unlike colds or allergies, bacterial sinusitis requires a physician’s diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics to cure the infection and prevent future complications.

Normally, mucus collecting in the sinuses drains into the nasal passages. When people have a cold or allergy attack, sinuses become inflamed and unable to drain, leading to congestion and repeated infections. Diagnosis of acute sinusitis usually is based on physical examination and discussion of your symptoms. X-rays of your sinuses or a sample of your nasal discharge is used to test for bacteria.

When Acute becomes Chronic Sinusitis

When you have frequent sinus infections, or the infection lasts three months or more, you most likely suffer from chronic sinusitis. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis may be less severe than those of acute sinusitis; however, untreated chronic sinusitis can cause damage to the sinuses and can require surgery to correct the blockage and relieve the symptoms.

Treatment

Therapy for bacterial sinusitis includes appropriate antibiotics. In addition, oral or nasal white familyspray or drop decongestants may be recommended to relieve congestion. We do not recommend prolonged use of nonprescription nasal sprays or drops. Inhaling steam or using saline nasal spray or irrigation is effective to relieve sinus discomfort.

Diagnosis can be made by looking into the nasal cavity with a small endoscope, and, if necessary, an x-ray scan of the sinuses. If it is determined that your sinus passages are narrowed or blocked leading to symptomatic sinus infections or chronic sinusitis, there are now a number of state-of-the art options to correct this condition. The latest is Balloon Sinuplasty, which is a minimally invasive procedure for patients suffering from sinus blockage. The procedure is performed in the office under local anesthesia and allows patients rapid recovery. The technology for this procedure was adopted from angioplasty in which small balloon catheters are used to dilate either blocked vessels, or in the case of sinuses, blocked drainage pathways. Minimally invasive surgery is also available to correct anatomic deformities that lead to obstruction of the sinuses.

Antibiotic Treatment For Sinusitis

Antibiotics are labeled as narrow-spectrum drugs when they work against only a few types of bacteria. On the other hand, broad-spectrum antibiotics are more effective by attacking a wide range of bacteria, but are more likely to promote antibiotic resistance. For that reason, your ear, nose, and throat specialist will most likely prescribe narrow-spectrum antibiotics, which often cost less. He/she may recommend broad-spectrum antibiotics for infections that do not respond to treatment with narrow-spectrum drugs.

Acute Sinusitis

In most cases, antibiotics are prescribed for patients with specific findings of persistent purulent nasal discharge and facial pain or tenderness who are not improving after seven days or those with severe symptoms of rhinosinusitis, regardless of duration. On the basis of clinical trials, amoxicillin, doxycycline, or trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole are preferred antibiotics.

Chronic Sinusitis

Even with a long regimen of antibiotics, chronic sinusitis symptoms can be difficult to treat. In general, however, treating chronic sinusitis, such as with antibiotics and decongestants, is similar to treating acute sinusitis. When antibiotic treatment fails, allergy testing, desensitization, and/or surgery may be recommended as the most effective means for treating chronic sinusitis. Research studies suggest that the vast majority of people who undergo surgery have fewer symptoms and better quality of life.

Many people will suffer sinus attacks when traveling on planes. The reason for this is that the pressure change can cause a squeeze in the sinuses.   They will suffer pain and pressure in the face and around the eyes. Doctors suggest you not travel when you have an active sinus infection or bad head cold.

If you need to fly, here are some things to do. Before you take off, try an over the counter medications such as decongestants or prescription medication. Start with decongestants several days before the flight. If you have less time to start a medication then use a nasal spray before boarding. In addition use saline sprays to help moisten, cleanse and loosen mucus throughout the sinus cavity.

During the flight because the cabin pressure will change it is a good idea to chew gum during takeoff to relieve pressure as your sinuses equalize to the cabin pressure. Yawning and swallowing is also a good idea. Make sure to drink plenty of water and take large sips to help swallow.

After you land close your mouth, hold your nose and try to exhale slowly. Repeat — always pushing the air towards your blocked nose slowly — until the pressure subsides to a manageable level.

It is important to seek a doctor’s advice immediately if pain persists.

While most of us are aware Vitamin C’s role in the body fro strengthening the immune system and assisting in wound healing, its skin benefits are just as dramatic. Vitamin C is an essential component in the body’s production of collagen and a potent antioxidant that can help rejuvenate aged and photo damaged skin.

Vitamin C, also known as Ascorbic Acid, is central to the production of collagen, the main protein in the body’s connective tissue and the source of the skin’s firmness and definition.  A recent study in the American Journal of Conical Nutrition linked higher intake of Vitamin C to a generally better skin appearance in women 40-74, marked by fewer, less pronounced wrinkles and increased hydration.

In addition to fostering elasticity, Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and an effective tyrosinase inhibitor, working overtime to thwart the assault of UV-induced free radicals which can catalyze melanin production and lead to photo damage and hyper pigmentation.

The Cosmedix skincare line sold in our office has an excellent topical called Pure C missing crystal which is made with 100% Pure L-Ascorbic acid crystals.  This potent powder resists oxidation and is effective from the first day you use it.  Mix it with any skincare products to dramatically boost its wrinkle-frightening, skin brightening performance.

Acid Reflex affects 1 in 3 Americans and is caused by an abnormal esophagus.  The flow of ingested food and fluid between your esophagus and stomach is regulated by a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter. In patients with acid reflux disease the valve does not close properly due to muscle contraction and allows acid from the stomach to escape and rise into the esophagus

Common symptoms of acid reflux are: Heartburn: a burning pain or discomfort that may move from your stomach to your abdomen or chest, or even up into your throat, Regurgitation: a sour or bitter-tasting acid backing up into your throat or mouth

Other symptoms of acid reflux disease include: Bloating, Bloody or black stools or bloody vomiting, Burping, Dysphagia — a narrowing of your esophagus, which creates the sensation of food being stuck in your throat, Hiccups that don’t let up, Nausea, Weight loss for no known reason, Wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness, or chronic sore throat.

To control acid reflux medication can be prescribed and patients must make dietary and lifestyle changes.  Chocolate, Caffeine and spicy foods should be eliminated from your diet.

Here are other steps you can take:

• Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.
• Quit smoking.
• Put blocks under the head of your bed to raise it at least 4 inches to 6 inches.
• Don’t eat at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down.
• Try sleeping in a chair for daytime naps.
• Don’t wear tight clothes or tight belts.
• If you’re overweight or obese, take steps to lose weight with exercise and diet changes.
• Foods that can help are oatmeal, ginger, aloe vera, banana, melon, fennel, fish and seafood, celery, chicken and turkey, parsley and roots and greens.

Many people drink and drive and also get caught by cops. Sleeping while driving is a sort of disorder that occurs in our day to day life.Studies show that many people have made accidents due to one of the sleeping disorder known as Obstructive sleep apnea. It is a disorder which caused most of the near misses and accidents. This disorder occurs while sleeping. The breathing goes slow while sleeping or gradually stops. When a person feels sleepy in the daytime, and finally ends up in a near miss or car accident, this kind of situation is called Sleep Apnea Car Accidents. This disorder is treated with the help of a device known as CPAP device.

According to a study done by a BSc scholar named Kim.L.Ward from University of Western Australia from Genetic Origins of Health and Disease in the Centre surveyed on the facts as how sleep apnea resulted in the car crashes in common. This kind of disorder is hazardous in nature and affects the life of an individual.

At a sleep clinic of a hospital a quiz was held in order to check the persons who had the disorder. 2673 participants were tested and suspected to get the actual percentage that has sleep breathing issues. The general questions which were asked were their gender, their age, and their total number of vehicle crashes they made, the near misses underwent before crashes, the amount of caffeine or alcohol intake and feeling sleepy during the day. In order to get the idea, the participants were asked to undergo a sleep. This was an objective to understand the number of people who actually had Obstructive Sleep Apnea Car Accidentsand whether it was a chronic one or not. It was seen that 6 out of 100 people met with accidents due to a sleeping disorder.

An average calculation said that out of 100, 2 people met with crashes from the general community. The research found people who are “very sleepy” to have “near misses” during their drive in comparison to alertness during normal daytime. The very sleepy people were more likely to have car crashes than the normal people who are not sleeping. Obstructive sleep apnea in women is riskier than that of men. They always have a greater risk of getting more sleep and ending up in a vehicle crash. Their information were not much clear. Researches were made in this field, keeping in mind the disorder and the impact on women, but a pattern could not be formed. According to the researchers this untreated disorder causes high threats of near misses among men and also women and a more increased threat of vehicle accidents in very sleepy men.

Sleep is a certain part of our life that enhances the body to function in the right manner. Less quantity and less quality of sleep results in sleeping disorder. This results in adverse effects on the life of men or women especially while driving. The treatment for Obstructive sleep apnea is known as CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure. It comes with a mask through which air is pumped and inhaled through the mouth. One has to wear it during sleeping. The price starts from $30 dollars and more depending on the requirements.

Most of the Americans are suffering the sleep apnea syndrome, which is robbing their sleep and rest. They are getting devoid from a peaceful life. Over the decades, this disorder is getting common in America and 1520 people who are white are reported to get into an obesity problem due to sleep apnea. It was found in Wisconsin. An author by the name Paul Peppard found out in a survey, a major point of focus which arose among 55% of the people of the United States of America.

According to the survey, obesity might have caused sleep apnea among four to five million people in America. Being an associate professor in population health science in Wisconsin-Madison University, Peppard found obesity as one of the major disorder. A sleep theory was organized to check the levels of sleeping in 30 years aged people till 70 years aged people. This kind of monitoring test was conducted among hundred to seven hundred people in 1988 to 1994, these people and some more even added in the test held between2007 and 2010.

The participants who took part in the tests had breathing problems during sleep, which were moderate and severe in origin. The troubles in breathing fifteen times or more than that crop up, then the person is suffering from sleeping disorder. Having breathing problems accompanied with snoring sensation is caused due to sleep apnea. People suffering from such disorder get trouble while sleeping because their throats choke and their airways get blocked. This results in breathing problems with them and makes them getting sleepy in their day to day activities.

Apart from sleepiness, sleep apnea can contribute to heart problems. Other health related issues also crop up due to the disorder. The risk gets increased due to it leading to mood swings in work and accidents in life. This study was brought by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The researchers generalized the findings and were able to scrutinize that in the United States 30 and above aged men are likely to have sleeping disorder. 10% of these men suffer from this kind of problems and seventeen percent of men fifty and more years old. 9% of Women of thirty years old and more have the signs. The fat people had the signs than the lean and thin ones.

Studies says that there is an increase in the numbers like from fourteen to fifty five percent from the year 1988 to 1994 and from 2007 to 2010. Peppered researched and calculated that eighty to ninety percent rise is because of the cause of people suffering with obesity.

Peppered throw light on the fact that obesity has a major role in causing the sleeping disorder. Various factors like, being male, other hormonal tendencies, obesity, getting older and so on are some of the issues that cause the disorder. But treatments are there like the CPAP treatment or the continuous positive airway pressure treatment.But the fact that sleep apnea can contribute to heart problems is a known fact and also should be treated as soon as possible to lead a healthy life.