Last year I wrote an article with tips to keep sinusitis at bay for the holiday season. Here is a part two to that… I have talked with friends and have added more to my arsenal. Last year was not as bad for me as in previous years, but still I was hindered for two weeks with it and my friends… some were hindered for two months.
My friend did some research last week and discovered that acupressure works wonders at relieving sinus pain. She would massage her hand and feet for several minutes: no more sinus pain for a few hours. This process allowed her to remain at work, to complete a project due before her Christmas break. She stated that by applying firm pressure to her hands and feet for five minutes, the pain dissipated because she was stimulating her nerve pathways, which boost blood and oxygen flow, to her sinus cavities.
Take an extra fifteen minutes in the shower. We have become so predisposed to antibiotics as a cure-all, that sometimes the ways that have works for generations have been forgotten. Steam was one of the most widely used treatments remedies for years.
I can remember my mom having me hold my head over a pot of hot water with a towel draped over my head. Do you remember that? Do you also remember it worked? Fifteen minutes in the morning. Sinus pain decreased and we were usually better within seventy-two hours.
Are you like me? (However, not me anymore, remember I am kicking sinusitis in the butt!) When you notice you are suffering from sinus pain, do you immediately reach for antihistamines? That is a big no- no— what antihistamines actually do is thicken mucus, not lessen it. Therefore, mucus remains in our sinus cavities longer, which in turn can prolong symptoms as well as have the potential to worsen them (symptoms).
Tips to alleviate sinus pain- think Psych
Do you watch the show, Psych on the USA network? That show is too funny, at times. Have you noticed that they have a love of pineapples on the show? They have a point. Bromelain, an anti-inflammatory enzyme found in pineapples, can stem the swelling of the nasal cavity.
Tips to alleviate sinus pain- acid wash is not making a comeback
Doctors at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have stated that sinusitis and heartburn can be correlated. Seventy-eight percent of sinusitis suffers had heartburn first. The stomach acid can wash up into our throat and sinus cavities, drying out our sinus tissues (they are delicate), which makes our bodies more susceptible to infection. Be healthy and stay well- advice my mom has been pestering me about for years.
However, none of these simple remedies may be a cure all for everyone. If you notice that you have a high fever, your face is swelling, or your vision changes… immediately see you doctor.
