What is Sinusitis?

In our skull bones, there are some hollows that open to the nasal cavity. These are called sinuses.  The inflammation of these sinuses are called sinusitis.

Types:

There are 4 types of sinusitis viz.,

• Ethmoid
• Maxillary
• Sphenoid
• Frontal

All of them producing  mucus, helping to moist the inhaled air. Now, when these sinuses get inflamed, causing sinusitis which lead to pain and headache. 

Causes:

1.Infection due to bacteria, fungi and harmful viruses.

2.Anatomical deformities in which the sinus opening is too small.

3.Smoking and dust causes allergy. 

Bases on the time period, the sinusitis are classified into 

• Acute sinusitis - 4 weeks
• Sub acute sinusitis - 4 to 12 weeks
• Chronic sinusitis - more than 12 weeks
  
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Is it possible to kill all mosquitoes?

The answer is NO.

 But, what will happen if we kill all mosquitoes? 

Mosquitoes are responsible for transferring deadly diseases to human beings and also in plants.

There are more than 3000 species of mosquitoes in the world. But, only 100 of them bite humans. Mosquitoes have been exist in the earth for long time. Many play important ecological roles. For example, the mosquitoes in the Artic region pollinate the plants and it is the major food source for migratory birds. We probably do not able to kill all the mosquitoes. 

As we know, mosquitoes are the vectors or carriers of the deadly diseases and cannot produce the diseases. Aedes aegypti mosquito acts as a vector for the yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya and zika virus. In 2015, a British company called Oxitec  created a male A.aegypti mosquitoes with a self limiting gene that can stop their cells from functioning normally. When this mosquito mates with female, the self limiting gene will pass on to the offspring. This offspring will eventually die before becoming an adult because of the self limiting gene.

Likewise, a group of scientists in California inserted modified gene into an Anopheles mosquitoes which are vectors for Malaria. This modified gene kills the Malaria producing parasites inside the mosquitoes before they can transmit them to the human beings. And also they observed that these genes would pass to 99% of their offsprings. Thus we can eradicate entire malaria disease by using this gene. And scientists think that this same technology is used to kill other diseases.

So, basically it is very difficult and possibly harmful to kill all mosquitoes. But we may focus on these things and take away their ability to infect us and thus making the world more safer.

Why can't we smell and eat if we have cold?

We can't able to smell when we got cold. Normally, our nose has specialized olfactory receptors covered in a thin layer of mucus. In normal conditions, the odorants diffuse through the mucus and reach the receptors and activate them and allows us to smell. However, when we get cold, our nose produces excess mucus and hence the odorants are unable to reach the receptors and hence we feel difficult to smell during cold.

                          When we eat, the specialized gustatory receptor present in the tongue tell us whether the food is sweet or salty. The odorants present in the food travel to the olfactory receptor from mouth to nose. The combination of information from the gustatory and olfactory receptors give us the sense of overall flavor. As we have cold, the olfactory receptors cannot detect the complete smell. And hence, we do not get a overall flavor of the food.

Why can we see our breath in the cold?

Normally, our lungs helps to exchange gases. Hence, it is warm and moist in nature. Now, when we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon di oxide into air, the carbon dioxide gas contains moisture in it. These moisture condensed in the cold air and form tiny water droplets and it appears to be tiny clouds or fog to us.

Why are some people always cold?

Human beings generate heat while doing muscular movements such as exercise, metabolism etc., Most of the heat is used to maintain our body temperature and make us warm. However, some people are always cold, this may be due to hyperthyroidism. 

                                                In hyperthyroidism, our thyroid gland which regulates metabolism does not function properly. As a result, our metabolism slow down and less heat is generated. 

Another reason for coldness is may be due to a disorder called Raynaud's disease. When a person is having this disorder is stressed or exposed to cold, his arteries in his hands and legs become narrow. Hence, warm blood is not transported efficiently throughout his body. And also Iron deficiency and smoking are said to be some of the reasons.