Nondairy ‘milk’ is worth trying to fight congestion
Q: In recent articles you have addressed nasal issues causing painful sinuses and facial discomfort. Years ago, I used to wake up every morning with “face aches,” aka sinus pain. I went to different doctors, who prescribed sulfa until I became allergic to it. Then I read an article that said many sinus issues are caused by an allergy to the milk protein casein. I stopped drinking milk and have never had the “face aches” again. I use unsweetened almond “milk” for my morning oatmeal, and all is good. A: There is a popular belief that consuming dairy products can contribute to nasal congestion. We have struggled to find research confirming this connection. We think, however, that people suffering with ongoing sinusitis might want to try switching to nondairy beverages and foods as an experiment. A recent review demonstrates that more than 10 percent of U.S. adults have food allergies, with shellfish and milk most common (JAMA Network Open, Jan. 4, 2019). People who suspect an allergy would do well to see a doctor about allergy testing. Q: I’ve been taking lisinopril for many years. I know one of the side effects is a dry cough, but I never had that problem. Suddenly now I do. Has this drug been reformulated? My cough is intense, and my throat has been very dry for the past several months. I plan to discuss this with my cardiologist. A: Some people develop a troublesome cough within several weeks of starting on an ACE inhibitor blood pressure pill like lisinopril. Others, however, may not start coughing for months or even years (European Journal of Internal Medicine, January 2017). Sometimes this delay leads to misdiagnosis. Q: I recently was in a local emergency department with the flu. The doctor actually diagnosed me with the flu, but he discouraged me from taking oseltamivir (Tamiflu). I asked about it, as I am a retired nurse. Apparently, this medicine has now been identified as a needless drug in an article published in Emergency Medicine News in April 2017. Do you have any further insight? A: Use of oseltamivir is controversial. The author of the article you cited calls it a “dud of a drug.” But a review of this class of medicines (neuraminidase inhibitors) involving data from 78 studies and nearly 30,000 patients concluded otherwise (Lancet Respiratory Medicine, May 2014). The authors advocate early use of drugs like Tamiflu when adults are admitted to the hospital with influenza. Q: Recently I read that nitric oxide might be useful for high blood pressure and other ailments. Does nitric oxide really help lower blood pressure? If so, how much of the supplement should a person with high blood pressure take each day? If it works, a lot of people could benefit from this supplement. The source stated that leafy dark greens and beetroots were natural sources for nitric oxide. A: Green leafy vegetables and beets supply dietary nitrate. In the body, this is converted to nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure (Nutrition Research Reviews, December 2017). A study in healthy older people demonstrated that consuming beet juice rich in nitrates lowered blood pressure, reduced the clotting activity of blood and had anti-inflammatory properties (Nutrients, Nov. 22, 2017). We are not aware of studies utilizing nitric oxide as a dietary supplement.