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Both the flu and COVID-19 are contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. The flu is caused by infection with an influenza virus, while COVID-19 is caused by the novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. Flu symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms are often similar, including: It can be hard to tell the difference between COVID-19 and the flu without a proper diagnosis. Luckily, there are rapid, point-of-care tests to help diagnose conditions like influenza, strep throat and COVID-19. We offer these simple tests at most MinuteClinic® locations, the retail health clinic
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Tips To Prevent Nasal Congestion
Nasal congestion can be prevented by maintaining a hygienic lifestyle.
- Do not come in close contact with infected individuals and avoid sharing food or drinks with them.
- Wash and sanitize your hands properly. This helps in protecting you against pathogenic germs.
- Avoid allergens that may trigger congestion.
- Use humidifiers in dry weather.
Apple Cider Vinegar Works With Regular Vinegar
When I have a sinus attack, I cant do without apple cider. It has a host of amazing medicinal properties and can work miracles for sinus congestion.
How does it work? Apple cider softens the mucus and makes it easier for the sinuses to expel. This also helps reduce the headache resulting from the obstructed sinus pathways.
Required Ingredients:
- One teaspoon of apple cider or regular vinegar
Process:
Its very simple bring the water to a boil, add the apple cider vinegar and inhale the vapor until you start sneezing. The warm vapor makes the dry mucus soften.
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What Is A Sinus Infection
A sinus infection, also called sinusitis, is a common problem that causes your sinuses to swell up. The sinuses become inflamed and cause symptoms that can be similar to the common cold. In fact, many people can contract a sinus infection after having a cold or the flu.
Around 31 million Americans are affected by sinusitis, spending more than $1 billion each year on medications to treat it. However, there are several home remedies for sinus infections that you can try that are cheap and effective.
Sinus infections are usually caused by a bacterial infection, but they can also be caused by viruses or fungi. These infections can either be acute or chronic. Acute infections usually go away in two or three weeks, but chronic sinusitis can last for up to 12 weeks or longer.
Your sinus cavities have a layer of mucus that helps to trap substances like dust and germs. When the lining becomes inflamed from a viral infection, like sinusitis or a cold, it swells. This swelling forces mucus to get stuck in the sinuses, which prevents normal drainage. When this happens, bacteria and fungi can start to grow in the blocked-up fluid, causing a sinus infection.
Common symptoms of sinusitis include:
- Pain, pressure, and tenderness around the eyes, forehead, and cheeks
There are several home remedies and treatments that you can try for sinus infections.
Home remedies
Medications
There are also some over-the-counter medications that you can try to help relieve your symptoms.
Natural Remedies For Congestion
A nose and sinus condition can make you feel your absolute worst, causing painful pressure behind your eyes and making your nose run endlessly. Over 35 million people suffer from chronic sinusitis each year, making it one of the most common health complaints in the United States.
Although sinus problems can be uncomfortable, there are effective remedies that can help alleviate pain and discomfort. Here are five effective home remedies that can help you tackle the problem naturally:
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When To See A Doctor For Sinus Pain
If your sinus symptoms are not getting better with at-home treatments, and if your sinus symptoms last longer than seven to 10 days, you should see a doctor for treatment. Allina Health has many convenient care options for care, from online visits to walk-in care, to help you get better fast.
If you have frequent or reoccurring sinus infections, you may want to see an ear, nose and throat for your treatment options.
Sea Cucumber Drops Yes Thats Right
Sea cucumber is a perennial plant with heart-shaped leaves and a wide stem. The fruit is elongated. When reaching maturity, the seeds drop when in contact under pressure. The plan grows along the Black Sea and in a wide variety of regions in Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania. It blooms from June to September.
Required Ingredients:
Process:
1-2 drops in each nostril, 3-4 times a day. When applying the drops, hold your head to the side. You will have a stinging sensation, which is normal. After applying, let the drops pass through the sinus pathways and flow out to avoid an unpleasant sensation in the throat.
Use the drops until your sinuses clear. If the congestion returns, start using them again until it clears.
The tincture is a strong extract from the plant, but nonetheless natural, so you can use it without any problem if you are pregnant.
Note: Do not apply more than instructed as it can have a host of adverse effects. For instance, sea cucumber tincture is a drastic purgative laxative, used to treat edema, jaundice and hepatitis, rheumatism, sciatica and neuralgia in different amounts.
Consult your doctor before treating children with it.
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Consider Some Alternatives To The Pharmacy
When youre congested, the simple act of breathing can be a challenge. Whatever the cause a sinus infection, allergies, a cold, or the flu dealing with congestion can leave you feeling tired and dreary.
Whats happening inside your head when you have nasal congestion? The nose has a vast network of blood vessels with valves that open and close, says Scott P. Stringer, MD, professor and chairman of otolaryngology and communication sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. When the nose is stimulated by any irritant, the nervous system is also stimulated, causing valves to open, which results in more blood entering the nose. This causes swelling in your nasal passages, which makes it difficult to breathe.”
Since sinus infections, colds, and allergies don’t just leave you congested and often come with a host of other symptoms, you might contemplate taking one or several drugs to end the misery. Yet doubling or tripling up on medication types is dangerous, and you may not find the relief you seek with over-the-counter meds or through a prescription.
Although over-the-counter options, such as , are often used to treat the stuffiness and headache caused by congestion, there’s significant risk of becoming dependent on these drugs, and they can leave you worse off in other ways, too.
What Are The Best Home Remedies For A Cough
While there are many medicines available to help ease your cough, there are also a number of things you can do at home that dont require medication and can be very effective. Cough remedies include:
Most of the time over-the-counter and home remedies will effectively combat an irritating cough but if the cough persists or gets worse you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider. And its always a good idea to consult your healthcare provider when taking any medications, whether they are OTC or prescription, especially before giving them to children.
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Causes Of Sinus Congestion
In the vast majority of cases, sinus congestion is caused by an infection of the sinuses . Thick yellow or greenish mucus is expelled through the throat and nose, and if left untreated the sinuses flare up, closing the hole trajectory to the nose and throat. Then more and more mucus gets stuck in the sinus cavity, resulting in pain in the area.
The different types of sinuses include frontal , maxillary sinuses the Etmoid behind the nose bridge and the Sphenoid behind the Etmoid.
A virus infection, bacteria or foreign substances can cause an allergy, which in turn can result in swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose.
If the allergy is prolonged and left untreated, it may result in chronic sinusitis. Inhaled allergens such as pollen, dust, mold, animal dander and others cause swelling and allergic reactions that can bring about an attack of sinusitis.
If you are suffering from osteo metal complexes, you are more likely to fall victim to sinus congestion.
An upper respiratory tract infection that results in blockage of the passage from the sinuses to the nose and throat causes mucus to build up.
Top 10 Best Over The Counter Sinus And Cough Medicine
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This list is undoubtedly the best over the counter sinus and cough medicine available in the market today. However, if you dont want to spend more time on filtering and finding which one is good over the counter sinus and cough medicine, then you should absolutely go for our Top list of the winner. which comes with all the basic features one could expect in a over the counter sinus and cough medicine.
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Nasal Irrigation With Sodium Bicarbonate
This home remedy for sinus infection involves the use of sodium bicarbonate, which can be an excellent option for relieving nasal congestion, reducing inflammation and eliminating secretion that caused plugged or runny noses. Sodium bicarbonate prevents the growth of bacteria in the sinuses and treats dryness within the nose, allowing for mucus to become looser.
Ingredients
Natural Home Remedies For Sinusitis
Sinusitis is a condition that impacts the daily lives of 1 in 10 of our family, friends, and neighbors in Scottsdale and surrounding areas. If you are one of the thousands in our community that are trying to find out how to cure sinus infections permanently, then you understand how the symptoms of sinusitis make daily life difficult. Dizziness is one of the most common sinus infection symptoms and a sinus headache follows as a close second. Sinus sufferers also struggle with symptoms such as:
- Sleep disruption
- Nasal congestion or post-nasal drip
- Breathing problems
- Facial pain
- Coughing, sneezing, runny nose
These symptoms result in countless hours of missed work/school, a loss of productivity, and impaired ability to fully enjoy all that life has to offer.
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Hot Tea Herbal Or Regular
Hot tea with lemon and honey has been a congestion fighting favorite of mine for years. Momma always stocked Lipton tea bags, but now I use bulk teas or herbal tea blends, such as tulsi .
Lemon provides extra vitamin C, and honey is naturally antibacterial, so do include them in your brew.
The best teas for congestion include herbal teas such as mullein, sage, ginger, peppermint, chamomile, eucalyptus, wild thyme and blackberry.
To make an herbal tea, cover 2 teaspoons dried leaves or 1/4 cup fresh leaves with 1 cup boiling water, steep for five to ten minutes, then strain and enjoy.
For ginger root, use about a 1/2 inch piece of fresh root, or 1/2 tsp-1 tsp of dried root bits.
I like to steep in a tea pot or cover my tea mug to keep the vapors from escaping.
If you have a really stubborn cough or cold, check out the recipes for Cough-Be-Gone and Sore Throat Syrup and Cold and Flu Tea.
Why Is Sinus Pressure In The Ears So Painful
When experiencing pain and pressure in the ears caused by sinus congestion, there are many questions that may cross your mind. How do I make it go away? The cause of the pain in your ears is usually due to sinus pressure. This is because sinus congestion and stuffiness can affect the pressure in your ears. The pressure in your sinuses affects more than just your nose. It can also cause pain in your ears, dizziness, and the feeling that your ears feel stuffed up or clogged. The good news is, there are several remedies to bring you relief.
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How To Relieve Sinus Pressure
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Sinus pressure
Many people experience sinus pressure from seasonal allergies or the common cold. Sinus pressure results from blocked nasal passages. When your sinuses cannot drain, you may experience inflammation and pain in your head, nose, and face.
Your sinuses are paired in two, and are found in four main areas of the face:
While some over-the-counter treatments can help reduce symptoms, there are also many effective natural remedies.
How To Prevent Sinus Congestion
Sinus congestion is a sure thing if the prerequisites are in place a lot of stress, low food quality and exposure to toxic chemicals. Avoid eating sugar or grains, take omega-3 supplements for their amazing anti-inflammatory properties , and sustain your vitamin D levels by getting the right amount of exposure to the sun the whole year.
Avoid eating mycotoxic foods, exercise regularly, and make sure you are getting as much sleep as you need.
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Rinse With A Neti Pot And Saline Solution
Although these teapot-shaped devices may seem like the latest trend in alternative medicine, the neti pot is anything but new. Used for centuries by yoga and Ayurvedic practitioners in India, nasal irrigation is a gentle and effective way to clear the nasal passages of mucus and allergens. Trying any method that delivers salt water to the nose is a good way to start relieving congestion, says Stringer.
To use this natural remedy, fill the neti pot with a saline solution made of warm water and salt, then insert the spout into one nostril while you tilt your head to the other side, allowing the solution to flow up into your nasal passage and then out the other nostril. When making the saline solution, pharmaceutical grade salt is recommended.
Neti pots are generally inexpensive theyre available in health food stores for around $10 to $20 and research shows that they work well to relieve congestion. Researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who studied adults with chronic nasal and sinus problems, found that people treated with nasal irrigation had greater improvement of symptoms over two months than those treated with saline sprays.
In addition, researchers in China found that nasal irrigation with saline reduced the need for steroid sprays in children with allergies. Neti pots are safe to use on a daily basis.
Nasal Wash: Neti Pots Saline Nasal Spray And More
Many people find sinus relief through a saline nasal wash, but it does require some preparation. You can find a lot of these supplies at most drug stores, including
- rinse bottles,
You can buy a pre-filled container or make your own saline solution.
Nasal Saline Solution Recipe
To make your own nasal saline solution, follow this simple recipe:
- 16 ounces of sterile water
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
Simply mix the lukewarm, sterile water with the salt. Some people add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to take the sting out of the salt, but this ingredient is optional.
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Steam Inhalation You Never Thought It Would Be So Simple
Steam inhalation therapy is a commonly applied natural remedy for instant relief from sinus congestion. This remedy works a natural expectorant, increasing the bronchial secretion and facilitating the expulsion of mucus by air passages of the lungs. This will make it less difficult for you to cough up the phlegm.
Required Ingredients:
- One tablespoon of crushed carom seeds
- A cup of water
Process:
Boil the water and add the seeds . Inhale the steam. Make sure to keep your head one meter or so away from the cup where you are inhaling the steam.
You can also run a hot shower until the steam builds up in the bathroom, then breathe it in. it is recommended that you do this twice a day until the sinuses clear.
Another option is to soak a washcloth in warm water and place it over your face. Leave it on for 12 minutes. Do this a few times a day.
You can inhale the steam from boiling water after adding a few drops of peppermint essential oil to it.
Notes: Steam inhalation is generally not recommended for children because they can burn themselves. It may also not be advisable for pregnant women, people with central nervous system disorders, a heart condition or high blood pressure.
If you have a cough along with sinus congestion , you can supplement the nasal irrigation with a lemon or honey cough drop.
Choose Foods That Clear Congestion
Livestrong.com and personal experience suggests the following foods may help fight sinus congestion:
- Pineapple
- Omega 3 Fatty acids
- Garlic
- Spices and Herbs such as horseradish, hot mustard and cayenne pepper
- Vitamin C
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Back in college, a group of us went out to a Chinese restaurant. One of the guys had a bit of a head cold. Another guy dared him to sniff some Chinese Hot mustard.
Being a young and foolish male, he tried it. After yelping in pain, he did find that his congestion was gone. I’d recommend simply adding spices to your food.
It’s also good to drink lots of water or other non-caffeinated beverages to help you stay hydrated and loosen phlegm.
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