Thursday, April 25, 2024

Chest Congestion With Sinus Infection

Tylenol Sinus Congestion And Pain Caplets Daytime 24 Caps

HOME REMEDY FOR CONGESTION – SINUS, NASAL AND CHEST
  • The non-drowsy formula of this sinus medicine provides effective daytime symptom relief by promoting sinus drainage and helping to decongest sinus openings and passages
  • Pain reliever and nasal decongestant formulated to temporarily relieve symptoms of nasal congestion, sinus headache and pressure
  • From the #1 doctor-recommended pain relief brand, these daytime headache and sinus relief caplets are suitable for adults and children ages 12 years and older
  • Each sinus relief caplet contains 325 mg of acetaminophen to temporarily relieve pain and reduce fever as well as 5 mg of phenylephrine HCl, a nasal decongestant to help clear nasal passages
  • Pack of 4, 24-count box of Tylenol Sinus + Headache Daytime Caplets for non-drowsy sinus symptom and headache pain relief due to the common cold, hay fever or other respiratory allergies

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How Coughing And Sinus Infections Are Related To Each Other

When you experience excess mucus draining into your throat, this is actually known as post nasal drip, and it is just one of the many cold symptoms also associated with chronic sinus infections. Post nasal drip doesnt just cause coughing, though. It can also bring about a sore throat, a hoarse voice, nausea, and even bad breath.

But why exactly does post nasal drip during a sinus infection lead to coughing? Well, imagine mucus running down your throat. Is your throat irritated? Probably. Do you feel a tickling sensation? Most likely. All of these sensations can trigger a reaction that reaction is coughing.

Unfortunately, all the nose blowing and coughing that youll continue to do as a result of the mucus drainage will only lead to more mucus and more irritation. This is why its important to understand the best way to stop a sinus infection and relieve post nasal drip.

How Severe Are The Symptoms

Most sinus infections go away on their own without severe symptoms or complications. If a sinus infection is caused by bacteria, you may need antibiotics.

Many cases of COVID-19 may be mild or moderate. The World Health Organization estimates that

Heres what to do next whether you think that you have a sinus infection or COVID-19.

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The Link Between Sinus Infections And Bronchitis

Reviewed by Theresa H. Care Delivery Manager & Family Nurse Practitioner

When a cold strikes, it can make you feel miserable. Whats more, a stuffed up head and nose can quickly progress leading to other uncomfortable symptoms including facial pain, sinus pressure, post-nasal drip and chest congestion. In fact its not uncommon for a cold to develop into a sinus infection or bronchitis.

But what exactly is a sinus infection? Are sinus infections and bronchitis linked? Why are some people more prone to developing sinus and bronchial infections? And, most importantly, if you have a sinus infection or bronchitis, what can you do to feel better?

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What Is Nasal Congestion

how to break up chest congestion

Nasal congestion is similar to sinus congestion as it is associated with obstructed breathing through your nose.5The primary cause of nasal congestion is the inflammation of the blood vessels in the tissues lining the nose.5Increased mucus secretion is another way nasal congestion occurs and causes stuffiness.5

The main difference between nasal congestion and sinus congestion is that nasal congestion can be caused by a lot of different medical conditions, whereas sinus congestion specifically occurs when your sinuses are blocked. Some conditions that lead to nasal congestion include allergies/exposure to allergens, irritants like smoke and perfume, changes in temperature, infections like the common cold and medications.5 Infected sinuses also count as a condition that leads to nasal congestion.5

Nasal congestion usually doesnt cause anything more serious than discomfort or frustration, but a trip to the doctors office may help if you suspect your congestion is caused by a bacterial infection.5,6 Some signs of bacterial infection include nasal discharge that is yellow or bloody and fever.5 Sleep problems can occur in adults and children with nasal congestion, and babies may have feeding problems.5 If you have a newborn who is having trouble with nursing or taking a bottle because of nasal congestion, contact your pediatrician immediately.5

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Signs You Have An Upper Respiratory Infection

  • The common cold causes so many upper respiratory infections that most doctors simply refer to a URI as a cold. However, other types of infections can cause a URI too. Influenza, sinus infections, tonsillitis, and strep throat are just a few other types of upper respiratory tract infections. On the other hand, nasal allergies can look and feel like an infection, even though they are not. Learn how to tell if you have a URI based on your symptoms.

The Following 10 Tips Can Help Keep Your Nose Sinuses And Lungs Healthy This Fall And Winter

1. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to keep the mucous produced by your nasal, sinus and respiratory passages thin and flowing. This will prevent stagnant mucous from building up in your sinuses and lungs. When thick mucous is retained for long periods of time in the sinuses and lungs bacteria may flourish in that environment leading to sinus infection, bronchitis or pneumonia. Adequate hydration by drinking water helps to prevent thick mucous.

2. Rinse the nasal passages with saline solution. Washing the nasal mucous membranes with saline solution eliminates irritating particles, allergens and thick mucous from the nose and sinus drainage passage ways. Saline solution also stimulates the lining of the nose and sinuses to clean themselves better. Little microscopic hairs called cilia move more frequently when exposed to saline resulting in egress of mucous from the nose and sinuses. Many products are available over-the-counter to rinse the nose with saline including Neil Med® Sinus Rinse, Simply Saline® and Neti Pot. Remember to use distilled water to mix the saline rather than tap water or bottled drinking water. 1, 2

3. Keep doors and windows closed on poor air quality days. As the temperatures drop in the Valley it is tempting to open our homes to the more temperate desert air. This can allow dust, air pollution and allergens to enter the home and our nose and lungs causing inflammation, swelling and increased mucous production.

Ryan M. Rehl, M.D.

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Medicines That Help Relieve Sinus Congestion

  • Decongestants help reduce swelling in the nasal passages and ease sinus congestion and pain. Do not take decongestants for more than 3-5 days. Avoid giving them to children without consulting a pediatrician. Examples of decongestants are include:
  • Afrin, Dristan, Nostrilla, and Vicks Sinus Nasal Spray
  • Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, and Rhinall
  • Antihistamines: Antihistamines are allergy medications that can help relieve nasal congestion and pressure caused by allergies.
  • Steroid nasal sprays: Steroid nasal sprays can help with allergy stuffiness and relieve inflammation in your nasal passages.
  • Pain relievers:Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen can ease the pain and pressure caused by sinus congestion.
  • Medicated ointments: These contain menthol, which can help you breathe better by opening up your airways.
  • Brand names of some of the best OTC medications for sinus congestion include:

    How A Sinus Infection Happens

    Congestion, Allergy, and Sinus Pressure Relief using Sinus Lymphatic Drainage Massage at Home

    Colds can progress to become sinus infections, but not all sinus infections are viral. Bacteria and even allergies also can cause sinus infections.

    A sinus infection occurs when the sinus lining becomes inflamed, preventing the sinuses from draining, he says. The trapped mucous becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to a sinus infection.

    Conditions that may make you more likely to get a sinus infection include:

    • Immunodeficiencies .

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    Sinusitis : When Should I Call The Doctor

    • a cold that lasts for more than 710 days without improvement
    • a cold that seems to be getting worse after 7 days of symptoms
    • symptoms of allergies that don’t clear with the usual allergy medicine

    Also call if your child shows any other signs of worsening sinusitis, such as:

    • pain or pressure in the cheeks or around the eyes
    • swelling around the eye

    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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    Sudafed Vs Mucinex: The Winner

    Overall, Sudafed is the winner between Sudafed Vs Mucinex.

    Sudafed is a decongestant medication that thins the blood and relieves congestion by fighting inflammation in your nose, sinuses, throat, or lungs. Sudafed is well-known for its fast-acting relief of symptoms often found with seasonal allergies. Sudafed can be used as needed to provide temporary relief of the symptoms, including nasal stuffiness, sneezing, runny nose, and scratchy throat due to these seasonally related allergies. Think you need Sudafed? Please get it here!

    Mucinex contains the expectorant Guaifenesin, which thins mucus for easier removal from the lungs and airways so effective you see results within 12 hours* of taking the first.

    Yet, in some cases, Mucinex is a better product than Sudafed because Sudafed only gives you temporary relief, while Mucinex can help cure your problem. Mucinex, which has been around for almost 20 years and has $700 million in sales, probably would have won if not for Sudafeds recent price cut.

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    How To Treat A Cold

    Sinusitis

    Symptoms of a head cold include nasal and sinus congestion, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, headache, and minor pains. These can be uncomfortable and get in the way of your day. Since most people will recover on their own, medicine for a cold usually consists of over the counter remedies to help you cope with the discomfort. CVS offers a wide selection of the best cold and cough medicine to temporarily relieve your symptoms. Cough medicine is formulated with ingredients that act as a cough suppressant. These are usually available in a non-drowsy formula for daytime use, and in a drowsy formula to help control your symptoms at night. You may also wish to take an expectorant, which loosens mucus and makes it easier to cough up. For a severe cough, we recommend selecting a product specially formulated for intense symptoms, such as Mucinex. If your throat is sore from coughing, a soothing tea may bring relief. CVS carries a selection of the best cough remedies, so you can choose what works best for you.

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    Sinus Vs Nasal Congestion

    Experiencing any form of congestion while youre feeling sick is no fun. The constant sensation of stuffiness and pressure can really get to your headespecially when the pain is in your head. Both sinus congestion and nasal congestion cause you to feel stuffiness in your head when you are sick, giving you another painful thing to deal with while you recover. Because these two forms of congestion affect similar parts of the body, they are often thought to be the same thing. However, sinus congestion is a separate condition from nasal congestion and can affect your head in different ways. Learn more about what sinus congestion is and how it differs from nasal congestion.

    When Sinusitis Or Bronchitis Strike After A Cold

    Sinus infections and bronchitis both frequently accompany or follow a viral cold and involve inflammation of tissues and a high production of mucus. And all of that extra mucus has to go somewhere.

    In the case of sinusitis, mucus often drains down the back of the throat leading to the dreaded symptom of post-nasal drip which can also make your throat sore and cause a persistent cough.

    If you develop bronchitis, mucus collects in swollen bronchial tubes which makes you cough — a lot.

    Symptoms commonly associated with bronchitis

    • Cough that lasts 1-3 weeks
    • Recent cold symptoms such as headache, nasal congestion or sore throat
    • Mild shortness of breath or wheezing

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    Sinus Infection Signs And Symptoms You Need To Know

    Sinus infection symptoms overlap so much with allergy, cold, and flu symptoms that it can be hard to differentiate between them all. A runny and itchy nose, congestion, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, fever, and phlegm are pretty standard across the board. But there are some unique symptoms that can help you determine if youve got a sinus infectiona bacterial infection that usually needs to be treated with antibiotics.

    A sinus infection usually starts as a virus, like the cold or flu. The virus then makes your mucous so thick that it doesnt cycle through your system like it normally would. Bacteria then overgrows in that mucous. Thats how a virus turns into a bacterial infection, Erich Voigt, M.D., director of the division of general otolaryngology at NYU Langone Medical Center, tells SELF.

    Since the initial virus wont respond to antibiotics, doctors want to make sure youre actually experiencing a bacterial infection before they give you meds. Theyll usually want to confirm your symptoms have lasted long enough and may also take a culture of your sinus mucous to check for bacteria.

    So how can you tell when youve got a sinus infection? Here are the sinus infection symptoms to look out for.

    Your symptoms will also become more sinus-focused when a sinus infection develops. The congestion and stuffiness may get worse, and mucous coming out of the nose may be more productive and discolored, Voigt says.

    Those symptoms include these, from the Mayo Clinic:

    Side Effects And Risks

    Unclog Your Sinus Mucus & Congestion Within 60 Seconds | Dr. Mandell

    One of the risks of taking an expectorant is that people sometimes use them for persistent or chronic coughs.

    People should not use expectorants to mask the symptoms of a chronic cough that is due to smoking, asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema.

    People with excessive mucus should consult a doctor before taking OTC remedies.

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    Signs That Indicate You Have A Sinus Infection

    A sinus infection occurs when the tissues lining your sinuses become inflamed, swollen, and infected. Also known as sinusitis, a sinus infection shares many of the same symptoms as the common cold and COVID-19, making it difficult for you to determine whether you should treat your condition at home or see your doctor.

    Lauren Dethlefs, PA-C, a physician assistant with Healthcare Associates located in McKinney, explains, Acute sinusitis is typically triggered by a cold or allergies and is self-limiting. The sinuses can also become infected with a bacteria leading to a bacterial sinusitis which requires medical treatment. Fungal infections can also lead to sinusitis.

    What does a sinus infection feel like, and what are the symptoms of a sinus infection? Continue reading to learn more about determining if you have a sinus infection and about effective treatments.

    Pseudoephedrine May Cause Side Effects Tell Your Doctor If Any Of These Symptoms Are Severe Or Do Not Go Away:

    • difficulty breathing
    • fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat

    Pseudoephedrine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.

    If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administrations MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .

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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 dont 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, theres significant risk of becoming dependent on these drugs, and they can leave you worse off in other ways, too.

    Whats The Best Medicine For Nasal Congestion

    Chest Congestion: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

    Nasal congestion can happen from time to time. This may be due to some virus that you have acquired at home, outdoors, or even at the office. When there is congestion in your nasal passageways, youll probably experience nose drips, and the sound of your voice will change too. Your friends may make fun of you because of this but the good news is that you can take steps to clear up your clogged sinuses. There are home remedies to try such as inhaling peppermint or eucalyptus or you can try to find the best medicine for nasal congestion.

    The best medicine for nasal congestion should be able to decongest your nasal passageways so that you will be able to breathe easier. There are many factors that can trigger clogged nose such as allergies, flu, virus, or sinusitis even. Medicines for decongesting your nose may be in liquid or pill form and you can purchase them over-the-counter too. There are nose drops as well as sprays that can help remove inflammation in your nose so that you will be able to breathe easier. They can also eliminate any excess mucus building up, so you wont have to deal with nose drips. However, you need to follow instructions in the use of decongestants or medicines for sinus congestion, so you wont aggravate the problem.

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