Did you know functional medicine trained doctors can help you find the root cause of your chronic sinus issues? In our last e-mail we talked about the fact that most chronic sinus issues are caused by a fungal infection and are not usually bacterial. One other overlooked cause of some chronic sinus issues is a food sensitivity or a food allergy. If a person is consuming a food that they are sensitive or allergic to it can trigger chronic inflammation that builds up in the sinuses. Here are the tests to consider if you have chronic sinus issues:
1. MycoTox Profile: This is a urine test that screens for the presence of numerous different strains of fungus in the body. It doesn’t necessarily tell where it is in the body, but does tell if an overgrowth is present and which specific strain it is. This is a very valuable test to see if fungus (mold/yeast) could be the problem.
2. Food and Inhalant Combo: This test is for food allergies and sensitivities as well as inhalant allergies. This will detect if there are any food or foods that could be triggering an immune reaction and potentially causing the sinus symptoms. It also will test for common airborne allergens including mold to see if your body is reacting to anything you might be inhaling.
3. GI 360 Profile: This will test to see if fungal infection is present in the gut. Many times, this is where the infection starts and it spreads systemically throughout the body and gets into the sinuses. Often we find a specific type of yeast called Candida Albicans that has overgrown. This test also gives us good insight into the immune function of the body. Remember 70% or more of the human immune system is housed in the gut. So, it may seem like a stretch, but chronic sinus issues can often originate in the gut.
If you have chronic sinus issues and want to get to the bottom of what is causing it, these tests will likely crack the case and arm you with what you need to knw to treat the problem appropriately. For more information check out the Functional Medicine tab at the top of our website. Be sure to read the handout and watch the video explaining what functional medicine is all about.
