Sinus can happen to anyone. Millions of people experience symptoms like sinus pain, flu, allergies, nasal congestion, and thick nasal discharge. The pressure builds up in your forehead, causing a headache. Sinus pain ranges from a mild headache to face pain, toothaches, and earaches. The pain usually develops as the result of inflammation in the sinus cavities and congestion. It is a significant contributor to sinus pain. Sinusitis is an infection that refers to the inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. Sinuses are air-filled cavities surrounding the nose. They are located near the eyes, cheeks, and forehead.
How does it affect the Sinuses?
The nose that helps in breathing also inhales millions of bacteria which may cause problems. The Bacteria gets collected in your nose, and if it doesn’t expel from your body with the mucus, it will cause you headache and pain around your cheeks. The blockage of sinuses results in a sinus infection, allowing viruses, bacteria, or fungi to grow more quickly in the moist when the mucus is trapped.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Sinus infection can be detected by:
- A runny nose
- Postnasal drip
- Earache
- Pain or pressure around the eyes, cheekbones or teeth
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Sore Throat
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Hearing loss
- Loss of sense of smell
- Ringing in the ears ( tinnitus)
The inflammatory reaction will cause Swelling, Building up of mucus that can cause congestion and increase of white blood cells to help fight the bacteria, causing the mucus to thicken.
How to cure?
Drink plenty of water
Keeping yourself hydrated will help in loosening the mucus, clearing congestion. Drink hot water with lemon, ginger or honey. Herbal tea like green tea would help in clearing out your throat and nose.
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Steam Inhalation
Inhaling the hot steam can help in relieving the symptoms. Essential oil such as tea tree, lavender or eucalyptus oil can be added to the hot water as these oils have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help in fighting the infection.
Nasal sprays
OTC nasal sprays are one of the most effective sprays that reduce swelling and congestion in the nasal passages. It is essential to know when to use it, and with how much amount as it may cause side effects. It is always preferred to take with prescriptions. Corticosteroid nasal sprays, like triamcinolone ( Nasacort ), helps in reducing inflammation and swelling as advised by the doctor to avoid nose bleeds or other adverse side effects.
Nasal Irrigation
These may help in curing headaches and swelling. You could use a neti pot which is a small container with a spout. It is advisable not to use tap water in a neti pot as this can aggravate an infection. The tap water is safe to drink as the stomach acid kills the bacteria, which cannot kill the germs present in the nose.
- Use boiled water and keep it for a few minutes.
- Mix ½ teaspoon of non-iodized salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda
- Stir it adding 2 cups of sterile water
- Use a small syringe to apply the solution on both nostrils
- Clean the neti pot or syringe after use
- Warm compresses
To reduce the swelling, you could ask a warm compress to the face that can help ease pain and pressure in the blocked sinuses. Soak the face cloth in lukewarm water, wring it and place it on the affected areas of the face.
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