Sinusitis

This information covers prevention and treatment of Sinusitis. Sinusitis is an inflammation or infection of the lining of the sinuses.

Sinuses are small air-filled spaces in the bones of your cheeks and forehead. Normally, they drain into your nose through small openings. Sinuses improve the sound of your voice and lighten the weight of your skull. The lining or mucous membrane of you sinuses is similar to the lining of your nose and throat.

Sinusitis frequently starts from simple colds and allergies. Both cause the mucous membrane in your sinuses to swell and secrete more mucus. This natural process can close off the nasal openings to the sinuses. The results–the sinuses become inflamed and irritated. The mucus may become infected with virus or bacteria.

If you have had a sinus infection, you know the miserable symptoms: pressure, headache, facial pain, postnasal drip, fever, thick green drainage, and cough.

Smoking, and second-hand smoke, air pollution, conditions like nasal polyps and diseases like cystic fibrosis may also lead to sinusitis.

Many good health practices are important for a strong immune system. For instance, regular exercise, 8-10 hours of sleep, laughing every day, warm relationships and regular meals with a variety of nutritious foods.

To prevent sinusitis, you will also want to:

• Drink at least eight glasses of fluid every day
• Wash your hands regularly to get rid of viruses that cause colds and flu
• If you smoke, develop a plan for quitting that will work for you.
• If you regularly breathe in second-hand smoke, irritating fumes, or air pollution, can you reduce or eliminate them? Would an air filter help? If not, work even harder at other prevention behaviors.
• Use decongestants and antihistamines when you have a cold or allergy. If you have high blood pressure or a prostate problem, check with your pharmacist or physician before taking a decongestant. And drink even more water then you usually do!

Once you feel that your sinuses are beginning to fill, here are some home treatments that will help:

• Continue with all your good health practices. Find time for extra sleep. If you are starting to feel sick, cut back on your exercise for a few days to give your body a chance to recover.
• Get hot steam into your sinuses. Try warm showers or drinking hot liquids.
• Drink even more fluid. How will you know if you are drinking enough for you? Your mucus should stay thin and your urine should be very light.
• Take medication for headache and congestion.
• Try commercial or homemade saline nose drops twice a day to wash the mucus out of your nose. If you haven’t tried homemade drops before, ask your Advice Nurse to send you the health note called Saline Nose Drops. It’s important to make up the solution correctly. An incorrect solution can increase irritation.

Call your doctor if:

• Your cold lasts longer than 10 days and is not getting better; if you have facial pain and/or numbness especially in the sinus area.
• Your headache is not relieved by aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen
• Or if your headache is especially severe.
• Please call him/her if:
  • You have thick, green mucus
  • You have a fever or persistent cough

If your doctor diagnoses sinusitis, talk about your treatment plan. You will probably continue with the home treatment practices. Discuss your questions about decongestants and antihistamines. Also, you may need to take an antibiotic. If so, remember that you must finish taking every tablet in order to reduce your chance of a relapse.

Tags: facial pain, thick green drainage, Sinusitis, nasal infection, fever, headaches