Many of us are suffering from sinus issues including sinusitis. All you want is relief fast when you can’t breath and your sinus areas are plugged. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the membranes that line your sinus cavities, which is why you feel that swelling feeling. The swelling is what causes the plugged feeling because the sinus cannot drain as it normally does when the mucous membranes of the sinus area is all inflamed and swollen. The inflammation actually produces more mucus, which can then lead to bacterial infection.
Individuals can start out with just the common cold and before they know it they have sinusitis. Viral infections, allergies even exposure to cigarette smoke can trigger the inflammation that can lead to sinusitis. If untreated the sinus inflammation can lead to symptoms such as facial pressure, coughing and that dreaded postnasal drip.
Now that you know what sinusitis is, the time has come to find out what to do about it. First of all it is important to know that there are two types of sinusitis: acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis.
Acute sinusitis occurs when the symptoms of sinusitis follow a cold or other viral infection, bacteria, fungal infections or allergies. There are no complications and it clears up in a reasonable time period. In other words acute sinusitis is short-lived.
Sinusitis that lasts longer than eight weeks is known as chronic sinusitis. There may be complications that cause the sinusitis to stick around that long. Chronic sinusitis can also be caused by growths in the sinuses called nasal polyps. Individuals with deviated nasal septum are also prone to chronic sinusitis.
There are many treatments that you can use to help relive the symptoms of sinusitis including saline nasal sprays, nasal corticosteroids (also sprays), oral and injected corticosteroids; you can also take decongestant tablets. To relieve the pain that often accompanies sinusitis you can take over-the-counter pain relievers.
If your doctor decides that your sinusitis is caused by a bacterial infection you will be prescribed antibiotics to help your body fight the infection. If it is decided that your sinusitis is caused by allergies allergy shots may be your ticket to relief.
If your sinusitis is chronic your doctor may have you evaluated for possible surgery. Individuals with nasal polyps often find relief when the polyps are removed surgically.
There are things you can do at home to help relieve and even prevent future sinusitis infections such as getting plenty of rest each night, drinking lots of fluids especially water, using steam to help your sinus cavities. Use the steam from a hot shower, or the steam from a bowl of water (put a towel over your head and lean over the bowl). Elevate your head with pillows while sleeping to help your sinuses drain and also to reduce the sinus congestion.
Sources:
WebMD sinus infection http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/sinus-infection
U.S. News Sinusitis Channel http://usnews.healthline.com/usnewschannel/sinusitis
