What home remedies can relieve sinus pressure?

A person can treat sinus pressure with medication, but plenty of home remedies may also help to ease symptoms and speed up recovery.
The sinuses are lined with a type of skin called mucous membrane. This membrane protects the body by producing mucus, which catches dirt and other particles that might otherwise cause illness.

The lining of the sinuses can swell if a person has an allergic reaction or infection. Swelling may lead to a feeling of pressure around the nose, cheeks, and above the eyes. These areas of the face may feel painful or tender.

Infections or allergies can lead to uncomfortable pressure in the sinuses. Clearing the nose can help to ease this symptom.

Below are natural alternatives to over-the-counter medications for sinus pressure.

1. Saline nasal spray

Saline nasal sprays are a popular remedy for sinus pressure and can be made at home.
Inhaling saline solution can help to clear a blocked nose.

A saline solution can easily be made at home using sterile water, salt, and baking soda. Combine the following ingredients:

1/4 pint of clean water
1/4 teaspoon (tsp) of salt
1/4 tsp of baking soda
Sniff this into the nose from cupped palms, one nostril at a time.

Alternately, use a clean, dry spray bottle. Gently insert the nozzle into a nostril and spray in the solution. Repeat two to three times per day.

2. Neti pot
Some people use neti pots to rinse out the nose, which helps to keep the mucous membrane moist and relieve pressure in the sinuses. The device looks like a small pot with a long spout. They can be purchased online.

Here is how to use a neti pot:

wash the hands
fill the pot with sterile water
lean directly over a sink
tilt the head sideways
gently insert the spout into the highest nostril
breathe through the mouth
pour water into the nostril
Water will run from one nostril to the other, which should flush out pollen, bacteria, and other debris. A person should repeat this process on both nostrils.

It is essential to use sterile or distilled water, which can be bought at a drugstore, not tap water. Alternately, boil water and allow it to cool.

3. Steam inhalation
Using steam to open the passages in the nose can help to relieve sinus pressure.

Steam inhalation is easy to do at home. Boil water, pour it into a large bowl and lean over, so the face is directly above the water. Cover the head with a towel, and breathe through the nose.

4. Acupressure

Massaging pressure points at the base of the skull and top of the neck may help.
Acupressure is a key part of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves applying pressure to specific points in the body, to relieve pain or symptoms of illness. Scientists are not clear on whether acupressure works, but it may ease some symptoms.

Acupressure has long been used to treat colds, types of flu, and sinus problems. It can be done at home or by a professional practitioner.

Be careful not to apply too much pressure, causing pain or discomfort.

Here is how to use acupressure for sinus pressure:

link the fingers of both hands together, forming the shape of a cup
use the linked hands to cradle the back of the head, where the neck and skull join
extend the thumbs and find the dips on either side of the spine
use the thumbs to massage the area in small circles
relax, breathing slowly and deeply
do this for 4 to 5 seconds at a time
Using the fingertips to massage the cheeks and the bridge of the nose may also help to relieve pressure. This massage should be firm, but gentle.

5. Hydration
Any time a person is unwell, it is essential to keep the body hydrated.

Keep the mucous membranes in the sinuses moist by drinking plenty of fluids. This helps them to work properly.

Water, fruit juices, and herbal teas are good alternatives to tea and coffee.

6. Warm washcloth compression
Applying heat to the sinus area can also help to relieve pressure. One of the easiest ways to do this is using a warm washcloth.

Run a clean washcloth under reasonably hot water and wring it out. Fold it, and lay it across the bridge of the nose and cheeks for a few minutes.

7. Essential oils

Menthol oil is thought to help open the nasal pasages, although research has not supported this.
Essential oils are natural oils derived from plants. The American Sinus Institute recommend using some essential oils to relieve sinus pressure.

Menthol creates a sensation that the nasal passages are opening.

Add a few drops of the oil to hot water, and gently breathe in the steam through the nose.

There are some anesthetic properties, but no scientific evidence proves that menthol causes the nasal passages to open.

Essential oils, including menthol, are available online. People should be sure to buy these oils from trusted sources, however.

8. Rest and relax
Concentrating on work or studies can be difficult for a person with sinus pressure. Taking a break and getting plenty of rest can help the body to recover.

What is the outlook for sinus pressure?
If caused by an infection, such as sinusitis, the pressure should go away within a few weeks.

If caused by an allergy, sinus pressure may come and go. Taking antihistamines before coming into contact with an allergen, such as grass or pet fur, can prevent sinus pressure.

The natural remedies above can help to relieve sinus pressure and related discomfort. They can also help to speed recovery.

However, home remedies may not always work. If an infection has not gone away within 2 to 3 weeks, people should see a doctor for advice and treatment.

What to do when you can't stop sneezing

Sneezing is a reaction to irritants and a way for the nose to get rid of germs. Nearly any particle can irritate the nose and cause a sneeze.
Common irritants include:

viruses or bacteria
dust
pollen
dander
All of these particles may trigger a sneeze. Sneezing is a partially controllable reaction to irritants. Therefore, it is possible to delay or even stop a sneeze before it occurs.

12 ways to stop sneezing
It may be possible to delay or stop sneezing naturally by:

1. Treating allergies


Irritants, such as pollen and dust, aggravate the nose and cause sneezing.
Treating allergies is a good way to prevent sneezing. Allergy sneezes often occur in clusters of two to three.

However, to treat the allergy, a person must first identify what allergens trigger the reaction. Once identified, a person might be able to avoid the allergen and prevent sneezing as a result of exposure to the allergen.

There may be times when it is impossible to avoid the allergen, however.

In these situations, people can control their reaction to the allergen by using over-the-counter medications that can help allergic reactions.

Popular types include:

antihistamine tablets or pills
glucocorticosteroid nasal sprays
Some people who experience more severe reactions may require prescription drugs or allergy shots to prevent or reduce the effects

2. Learning triggers

Different things may cause someone to sneeze. Some of these triggers may be easy to spot and avoid. Learning what causes sneezing can help people avoid it.

Triggers include:

dander
dust
spices, such as pepper
bright lights
spicy food
mold
pollen
cold virus
perfume
baking flour
3. Treating photic sneezing

Sneezing when looking at a bright light is called photic sneezing. The condition affects about a third of people worldwide, who are triggered to start sneezing by going outside on a bright day.

People with photic sneezing normally have a family history of the condition. They can prevent sneezing by not looking directly at bright lights and wearing sunglasses on sunny days.

4. Avoiding large meals

Some people sneeze following a meal where they feel particularly full. This reaction can be prevented by eating smaller portions and taking smaller bites. This phenomenon is not well understood.

5. Saying something weird

People claim saying a funny or weird word out loud just before sneezing can stop the sneeze from occurring. It is purely anecdotal.

The thought is that the action of verbalizing something interesting or unusual distracts the brain to prevent the sneeze. There is no research to back these claims.

6. Tickling the roof of the mouth

A person may be able to stifle a sneeze by stimulating the roof of the mouth with the tongue. Doing this for several seconds before sneezing may help prevent it from occurring.

7. Avoiding environmental hazards

Some people are in situations where they constantly come into contact with irritants in the air.

This may be due to an occupation, but a person may have hobbies or live in an area where irritants are regularly in the air.

DeepMind explores inner workings of AI.

How algorithms make decisions in AI systems is something of a mystery
As with the human brain, the neural networks that power artificial intelligence systems are not easy to understand.

DeepMind, the Alphabet-owned AI firm famous for teaching an AI system to play Go, is attempting to work out how such systems make decisions.
By knowing how AI works, it hopes to build smarter systems.

But researchers acknowledged that the more complex the system, the harder it might be for humans to understand.

The fact that the programmers who build AI systems do not entirely know why the algorithms that power it make the decisions they do, is one of the biggest issues with the technology.
It makes some wary of it and leads others to conclude that it may result in out-of-control machines.

Complex and counter-intuitive
Just as with a human brain, neural networks rely on layers of thousands or millions of tiny connections between neurons, clusters of mathematical computations that act in the same way as the neurons in the brain.

These individual neurons combine in complex and often counter-intuitive ways to solve a wide range of challenging tasks.

"This complexity grants neural networks their power but also earns them their reputation as confusing and opaque black boxes," wrote the researchers in their paper.

According to the research, a neural network designed to recognise pictures of cats will have two different classifications of neurons working in it - interpretable neurons that respond to images of cats and confusing neurons, where it is unclear what they are responding to.

To evaluate the relative importance of these two types of neurons, the researchers deleted some to see what effect it would have on network performance.

They found that neurons that had no obvious preference for images of cats over pictures of any other animal, play as big a role in the learning process as those clearly responding just to images of cats.

They also discovered that networks built on neurons that generalise, rather than simply remembering images they had been previously shown, are more robust.


"Understanding how networks change... will help us to build new networks which memorise less and generalise more," the researchers said in a blog.

"We hope to better understand the inner workings of neural networks, and critically, to use this understanding to build more intelligent and general systems," they concluded.

However, they acknowledged that humans may still not entirely understand AI.

DeepMind research scientist Ari Morcos told the BBC: "As systems become more advanced we will definitely have to develop new techniques to understand them."

30 treated after exposure to fumes from Ijen crater.

JAKARTA: Around 30 people were treated at health centres and hospitals after being exposed to concentrated sulphuric gas which spewed from the crater of Mount Ijen volcano in East Java province’s Banyuwangi regency.

The National Disaster Management Authority said in a statement that an eruption occurred on Wednesday (Mar 21) night.

Residents of Kalianyar village situated near the crater subsequently experienced shortness of breath and vomiting.

As many as 178 other people were also evacuated from four surrounding areas.

Head of the authority, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said in the statement that the smell of the toxic fumes had begun to subside.

Members of the community, visitors, tourists, climbers and miners have been barred from going near the crater.

They have been advised not to conduct any activity until further notice. Access to the top of the mountain’s crater has been closed.

According to the statement, activity at Mount Ijen is currently classified as "Normal", or "Level 1".

The Southeast Asian archipelago of Indonesia has more than 17,000 islands and islets, and nearly 130 active volcanoes.

It is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a vast zone of geological instability where the collision of tectonic plates causes frequent quakes and major volcanic activity.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/30-treated-after-exposure-to-fumes-from-ijen-crater-10066794

Facebook chief under pressure

Mark Zuckerberg is under pressure in the US, UK and Europe

Pressure is building on Facebook's founder and chief executive over the alleged misuse of user data on the network.

Mark Zuckerberg's social media site is being investigated by the US Federal Trade Commission, a consumer and competition watchdog.

There are also calls from British MPs and the European Commission for urgent investigations.

The pressure comes after allegations that data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by Donald Trump's campaign team, used millions of Facebook profiles without authorisation to predict and influence the US election.

According to Facebook, academic Aleksandr Kogan, separately from his work as a University of Cambridge professor, made a personality app that gathered data which he then sold on to third parties.

Facebook suspended Cambridge Analytica when reports emerged that the data company did not delete information about Facebook users that had been inappropriately shared.

In a statement, it said: "The entire company is outraged we were deceived.

"We are committed to vigorously enforcing our policies to protect people's information and will take whatever steps are required to see that this happens."

MPs, led by Damian Collins, are in Washington DC.
Damian Collins says Mark Zuckerberg needs to speak up about Cambridge Analytica
Damian Collins, the chair of the Commons culture committee said: "Facebook was not deceived by Cambridge Analytica.

"They knew what they had done two years ago and only acted against them when it was reported in the press.

"Mark Zuckerberg needs to speak about this, but he won't even answer questions from his own employees."

Facebook held an open meeting for all employees following the allegations but it was chaired by the company's deputy general counsel, Paul Grewal rather than Mr Zuckerberg.


Mr Zuckerberg has not posted any message to his millions of followers on Facebook regarding the case.

Meanwhile, the co-founder of messaging service WhatsApp, which was bought by Facebook in 2014, has called on people to delete Facebook. Brian Acton tweeted: "It is time. #deletefacebook."


The data privacy crisis facing Facebook has seen its shares and those in the wider US social media sector take a hit.

Facebook's own market value has now dropped by $50bn since the story broke, with a 7% fall in the share price on Monday followed by a 2.6% decline in the following day's trading.

A lawsuit was filed in San Francisco on Tuesday by the first of what could be many shareholders who claim they have suffered losses because they were misled by the company about its ability to protect user data.

There could also be future lawsuits from users who had their personal information exposed.

Alexander Nix, CEO of Cambridge Analytica arrives at the offices of Cambridge Analytica in central London
Alexander Nix has been suspended as chief executive of Cambridge Analytica
Meanwhile, Cambridge Analytica suspended its CEO Alexander Nix.

Comments Mr Nix made to an undercover reporter for Britain's Channel 4 News and other allegations of wrongdoing were cited as reasons for the action by the company's board.

His suspension is effective immediately while his actions are investigated.

The firm said Mr Nix's statements "do not represent the values or operations of the firm and his suspension reflects the seriousness with which we view the violation".

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Israel's military has confirmed it was behind an airstrike that destroyed what it believed to be a nuclear reactor in Syria in 2007.

Newly-declassified material showed the decision was made the strike should not be linked to Israel due to the possibility of war. Instead, it was ordered to be kept secret until further notice. The airstrike saw eight F-15 fighters bomb the reactor in the Deir el-Zour region, about 300 miles northwest of Damascus on 6 September. It had been in development for years and was due to begin operations at the end of that year. In a statement, Israel described the strike as having "successfully removed an emerging existential threat to Israel and to the entire region - Syrian nuclear capabilities". RTS1OJAZ21 Mar. 2018Jerusalem, IsraelAn undated image from material released on March 21, 2018 by the Israeli military relates to an Israeli air strike on a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor site near Deir al-Zor on Sept 6, 2007. IDF/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. IMAGES OF FACES HAVE BEEN OBSCURED AT SOURCE. Israel has said it was behind the bombing of a nuclear reactor in Syria. Syria had denied it was building a nuclear reactor but the UN nuclear watchdog said the site was "very likely" to be a nuclear reactor and the North Koreans could have been helping to build it. Also included in the material was footage of the strike, which caused "irreversible" damage, and pictures of secret army intelligence communiques regarding the target. Israel's role had been widely suspected but it was not confirmed until now. One reason could be the upcoming memoir of former prime minister Ehud Olmert, who ordered the strike. Or it could also be a warning to Iran, Israel's bitter enemy which is increasingly active in Syria, where it is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. An undated image from material released by the Israeli military relates to an Israeli air strike on a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor site near Deir al-Zor on Sept 6, 2007. It was decided to keep Israel's role in the strike secret - until now. Military chief Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot said in a statement: "The message from the 2007 attack on the reactor is that Israel will not tolerate construction that can pose an existential threat." According to Air force commander Major General Amikam Norkin, the strike has been vindicated by the conflict and chaos in Syria, as the reactor was in an area that was later under the control of Islamic State. "Imagine what situation we would be in today if there was a nuclear reactor in Syria," he said. More from World UK and US snub Russian briefing on Salisbury spy poisoning Texas serial bombing suspect dead after blowing himself up inside car - police Boko Haram militants free 91 schoolgirls kidnapped from Nigeria school Pope Francis to make first papal visit to Ireland in almost 40 years LIVE: Submarine builder Peter Madsen tells court Kim Wall's death was 'horrible' Russian diplomats kicked out over spy poisoning leave the UK "In historic hindsight, I think Israel's decision to destroy the reactor is one of the most important decisions taken here in the last 70 years." Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: "The motivation of our enemies has grown in recent years, but so too the might of the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces)." Next>>>

If you have a loan, you cannot miss having a term plan.

Money can buy you many things including a car, a house, and your dream holiday. But if you are someone who takes loans to fulfil your dreams, you need something extra to complete your bucket list. A loan can get you and your loved ones the comfort of a car and security of a home, and many other things. However, your real responsibility begins only after taking the loan. You can repay the loan till you are alive and working. But have you given a thought about what your family would do in case something unfortunate happens to you before you repay the loans? To ensure that the equated monthly instalments (EMIs) are paid on time, you need a backup plan to take care of your liabilities when you are not around – for this, you need an equivalent insurance cover against the loan. A term insurance plan can be the ideal solution in such a situation. A term insurance plan is a type of life cover which provides security to your family in case of an unfortunate event at just a nominal cost. ADVERTISEMENT You can get an extensive cover of Rs 1 crore at an approximate premium of up to Rs 12,000 for a year. However, the premium amount will depend on the policyholder’s age and lifestyle. Smokers have to shell out more for the same amount of insurance cover. A wise man always saves for a rainy day. But a wiser man ensures that the savings reach the desired people and are used in the manner he had planned while he was alive. A term insurance plan can ensure that all your EMIs and other financial needs are taken care even in your absence. ADVERTISEMENT When you buy a term insurance plan, it comes with the option of receiving the sum assured (death benefit) either as a lump sum (one-time) amount or in the form of staggered payouts (regular income). In case of a one-time payout, the nominee gets the entire amount in one-go and the insurance contract is complete. But in case of a staggered payout, the claim amount is paid in parts over the course of many years. It acts as an income replacement for the policyholder's family. The way you decide upon the loan – home, personal, or car - according to your need, you can choose the type of payout that suits you. ADVERTISEMENT Payout options to choose from: - Lump sum (one-time) - Monthly income (fixed amount) - Increasing monthly income - Lump sum + regular income If buying a term plan is the first step to secure your family’s future, choosing the right payout option is the next step. If you have a home loan Securing your home loan with an insurance cover is as important as paying the EMIs on time. If the loan amount is high, you should opt for a lump sum payout. Additionally, you should also opt for a critical illness cover. This is because it will act as a backup if a critical illness like diabetes or cancer strikes unexpectedly. Ideally, an amount of Rs 20-30 lakh can be taken as a critical illness cover. If you have an education loan As the loan and EMI amount are comparatively smaller than a home loan, you can opt for monthly income option which will help your family pay the EMIs regularly without taking in account their monthly budgets. If you use a bike to commute to work, it’s best to opt for an accidental death benefit rider with this. If you have a personal loan Personal loans usually have a smaller repayment tenure. Based on the amount and the duration of the loan you can decide which payout options suits best. An additional critical illness cover should be taken in this case because personal loans come with high interest rates and if a critical illness strikes and one is out of work, the outstanding will keep accruing at a high rate of interest. Ideal amount of critical illness cover to be taken is around Rs 20-30 lakh. If you have a car/bike loan Bike loans are smaller than car loans, so you can choose regular income payouts to cover the EMIs. For car loans, which are slightly higher than two-wheeler loans, you can choose a combination of lump sum + regular income payout. In this case, 30-50 percent of the sum assured as lump sum could be good enough. If you are a travel using a bike, you should definitely choose an accidental death benefit rider. This will pay out an amount over and above the life cover so that your loan is covered and your family will still have money left over after paying off your bike/car loans. Mortgage Insurance Plan Mortgage insurance also called as home loan protection Plan is a dedicated home loan product. This policy covers the loss against non-payment of EMIs in case of borrower’s unfortunate death. There are some policies which come with riders of accidental death, disability, critical illness and job loss (with a maximum of 3 EMIs). Mortgage title insurance plans are usually single premium policies. But some variants for regular and limited premium payment terms are also available. In single premium payment plans, banks allow the borrower to bundle the premium amount with the loan amount. Mortgage insurance versus term plan Mortgage insurance plans are usually clubbed with home loans taken from banks and are not as popular as term plans. Unlike term insurance plans, this is a contract between the bank and the insurance company. At the time of claim, the insurer settles the outstanding loan with the bank on behalf of the policyholder. These plans are more expensive than pure term plans due to huge percentile of surrender value of the remaining premium for single or limited premium payment plans. Also, mortgage insurance plans cannot be ported to other lenders as they are under the master policy between the lender and the insurance company. Mortgage insurance is not compulsory by law though banks normally insist on buying it while applying for a loan. You should use your discretion before purchasing the Home Loan Protection Plan. A basic term policy with equivalent amount of sum assured is a more prudent and cost effective way to secure the loan. Married Women’s Property Act Irrespective of the type of loan, if you are married, you should take a term insurance under MWP Act. It ensures that no unlawful claims are made to the claim amount by creditors. It is easy to do and can be done online on the insurer’s website. The MWP Act was introduced to protect the properties owned by women from relatives, creditors and even from their own husbands, in case of a court or any income tax department attachment. MWP Act ensures that the claim benefit is passed on to the policy beneficiaries and trustees. Banks and creditors cannot attach the life insurance proceeds under the MWP Act. Also, the choice of payout option will determine the future of your loved ones. In your absence, your family will be able to meet their daily expenses and repay the loan and at the same time manage their future expenses with the lump sum amount. Go for it if you have the confidence that the nominee will be able to handle the huge sum of money disbursed, else opt for staggered payouts. Next>>>