What A Sinus Inhaler Does
A sinus inhaler is like a personal, warm-steam humidifier. The ergonomic design of the mask allows the sinus inhaler to deliver soothing steam directly to your nose and throat, where the added moisture helps calm irritation and break up congestion. This means that you get fast, effective relief from your cold and allergy symptoms.
Youre Using Nasal Spray Too Much
Over the counter nasal sprays work great in alleviating sinus infection pressure in the short term, but can have lasting effects if not properly used. The main chemical in nasal spray can cause your sinus infection to get worse! If you have had a sinus infection for over a week and are still using nasal decongestant spray, call our Southfield ENT specialists immediately to make an appointment.
How To Use The Saline Solution For A Nasal Irrigation/sinus Rinse:
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What Are Some Things I Need To Know Or Do While I Take Vicks Sinex
- Tell all of your health care providers that you take Vicks Sinex ). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
- Do not use for more than 3 days. Using Vicks Sinex ) too often or for longer than you have been told may cause nose stuffiness to happen again or get worse.
- This medicine may cause harm if swallowed or if too much is used. The chance is higher in children. If Vicks Sinex ) is swallowed or too much is used, call a doctor or poison control center right away.
- Talk with the doctor before you give Vicks Sinex ) to a child younger than 6 years old.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.
Sinus Infection Vs Covid
Some sinus infection and COVID-19 symptoms may overlap. Both illnesses can cause a fever, headaches, nasal congestion, fatigue or a sore throat. Symptoms unique to COVID-19 include body aches, nausea, shortness of breath and vomiting. Learn the difference between the cold, flu and COVID-19 based on your symptoms.
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How Do I Heat Vicks Vaporub In Water To Relieve Sinus Pressure
Vicks VapoRub contains menthol, eucalyptus and other ingredients in a petrolatum base 1. Fumes from VapoRub temporarily open the airways, allowing relief from chest and sinus pressure and congestion. Warming the ointment in warm water may aid this effect and is a common home remedy for sinus pressure and congestion however, you must be careful. Use warm water only–not hot or boiling water. Directions for the product on the Vicks website do not recommend heating Vicks VapoRub on the stove, in a microwave or placing it in hot water 1. Vicks VapoRub added to hot or boiling water can splatter and cause burns, the company warns 1.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Fill a 1-qt. stainless steel or aluminum sauce pan 1/2 full of clean water. Place the pan on a stove burner.
Turn the burner on high and heat the water until it just starts steaming–do not bring it to a boil.
Turn off the burner beneath the pot. If you are using an electric stove, move the pot off of the burner entirely after turning it off. If you left the pot on too long and it started bubbling, wait now until the water is simply steaming and no longer bubbling.
Carefully place 1 tsp. of Vicks VapoRub into the water and let it start to dissolve 1. The vapors should start immediately releasing now into the steam.
Place a trivet on a table or other sturdy surface and carefully place the pan on this trivet.
Warnings
Humidifier Types & How They Help Your Sinuses
There are various types of humidifiers, so lets go ahead and talk about which one is best for which situation.
- Ultrasonic Ultrasonic humidifiers use ultrasonic vibration at very high speeds to turn water into a cool mist. As ultrasonic means above the limit of hearing, theyre great for relieving sinus pain and pressure without the annoying noise.
- Evaporative Evaporative humidifiers feature a wick that takes water from the tank, where an electric fan will push air over the wick, evaporating water. This moist air is then pushed out, producing cool and moist air.
- Impeller These humidifiers send a cool mist out by means of a disc spinning at very high speeds. The downside to these is that the mist does contain any minerals the water has, which can leave a white residue on furniture, walls, and the floor of the area its placed in.
- Vaporizers These can cover a few different types but typically refers to the models which utilize heat to boil water. This hot water then produces steam, vaporizing into the air around the unit. This warm steam can quickly relieve congestion and soothe dry sinuses and pressure.
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Ways To Survive Your Next Sinus Infection
Beat your next sinus infection with these 5 tricks that will help you feel better, faster!
Id like to think of myself as a pro when it comes to beating a sinus infection. Though Ive been sick for about 1 1/2 weeks now, Im fortunately on the up and up. And, as much as Id like to fight it naturally, sometimes the only way is taking what the doctor orders in this case, just 3 more days of antibiotics away from feeling 100%. But until thenthe runny nose, the headaches, the annoying cough that causes achy musclesits symptoms take a toll on the body. So how does one get through it?? Here are 5 ways to help survive your next sinus infection!
Neti Pot
Now , Ive personally never tried a Neti Pot. But I know a handful of people who have and swear by them. Neti Pots help thin out mucus and flush it from your nasal passages. Its a salt flush for your nose. A salt water solution goes in one nostril, then out the other. Its like pouring a cup of tea for your nose, literally. The mechanism that allows easy passage of water is essentially a teapot. It sounds slightly scary, but enough people have vouched for them that I may just have to try the royal flush next time around. Pick one up at your local drugstore!
Vicks VapoRub
Make This Ultimate Sinus Paste
Steam
Other than a Neti Pot, steam is the fastest way to break up mucus in a stuffed-up nose. Cant breathe? Try this:
You can also try a steam inhaler.
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Nasal Sprays Could Protect You From Serious Covid
Angela Underwoods extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder.
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How Can You Tell If You Have Chronic Sinusitis
Does it feel like your sinus infection just wont quit? If you experience at least two of the following for 12 weeks or more even though youve been treated it may be chronic sinusitis:
- A stuffed nose
- Discharge of mucus or postnasal drip
- Pain or pressure in your face
- Problems with smell
Chronic sinus infections can be triggered by colds but are typically caused by long-term inflammation. Sometimes, when treatments to control that inflammation fail, people with chronic sinusitis need surgery to drain their mucus.
Does Vicks Vaporub Help With Breathing
Vicks VapoRub releases vapors of menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor that can soothe nasal passages. This can trigger receptors in your brain that make you think you are breathing more clearly. But VapoRub isnt a decongestant.
Studies have shown that using Vicks VapoRub according to the instructions on the package may help improve sleep quality.
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Vicks Can Unblock A Clogged Eustachian Tube That May Be Causing Tinnitus
Eustachian Tube Anatomy and Purpose
Your Eustachian tube connects your nasopharynx to your middle ear. Its primary role is to ensure that the pressure inside your ear canal is the same as the atmospheric pressure outside.
How Clogged Sinuses Affect Your Eustachian Tube?
When you have a cold or aggravated sinuses, your Eustachian tube can become clogged. It then becomes unable to balance the pressure in your ear canal. This can in turn lead to various problems such as fullness in the ears, pain in the ears, compromised hearing and the problem we are discussing here today, Tinnitus. You can learn more about Eustachian tube dysfunction here. Eustachian tube dysfunction will also usually respond to antihistamines. Read more about antihistamines and Tinnitus here.
How Vicks Unclogs Your Eustachian Tube?
The menthol, eucalyptus and camphor help relieve sinus pressure by unclogging your sinus cavities. As blocked sinus fluid begins to flow through your nasal cavities, the Eustachian Tubes function begins to normalize. As it normalizes, it can begin to resume controlling the pressure balance in your ear canal. This in turn relieves undue pressure that might have been affecting your ear drums, your middle ear or your inner ear.
Similar to Vicks, Flonase is also often used as a off-label treatment for Tinnitus.
How Your Eustachian Tube Can Stop Tinnitus?
Struggling to SLEEP with Tinnitus?
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Vicks Vaporub For Dry Skin
So, rubbing Vicks Vaporub onto your feet may not ease a cold, but could it have another use?
Many people believe that sleeping with Vaporub on your feet can help to soften the dry skin on your feet, so it can be buffed away with a pumice stone for soft, smooth feet.
The jurys still out on whether this actually works, but as there are so many amazing moisturisers and foot care products out there, were not entirely sure why this one caught on.
Maybe people love that it makes their stinky feet smell like Vaporub? Maybe someone was trying to cure their cold and found that their skin looked softer? Nobody knows where this one came from, but some people swear by it!
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Are Steam Inhalers Safe To Use
While steam inhalers are generally safe to use, has found that those who use steam inhalers are at risk of scalding injuries when the user comes into contact with hot water.
People should read the manufacturers instructions before using their device.
If a person sustains a burn, they should immediately do the following:
Precautions To Be Taken While Using Vicks Vaporub
Following precautions should be taken when you are using this ointment:
- Should not be swallowed
- Should not be applied under or inside mouth and nose
- Should not be applied directly onto the tracheae
- Inform the doctor of any allergies or pre-existing diseases before using this
- Take dosage as prescribed by doctor
- Do not use this drug if you are allergic to it
- Avoid contact with eyes
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How Is Saline Spray Beneficial For Sinus Infections
To be clear, using saline will help soothe irritated sinuses and may help prevent future sinus infections, but it does not treat the infection. Sinus issues are susceptible to changes in the weather, the humidity, and climate. Those who fly frequently should take special care as altitude also affects sinus issues.
Saline will reduce the thick mucus secretions in the sinuses and nose and help wash away particles, allergens, and germs.
Saline sprays are not habit forming and can be used multiple times a day to aid in the healing process and to alleviate symptoms especially if you are prone to chronic sinus infections.
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Over The Counter Medications
For help alleviating sinus pressure and pain, try ibuprofen and a decongestant. Some medications include a combination of pain reliever and decongestant.
Mild antihistamines like Claritin and Allegra are helpful in moderation. Strong antihistamines like Benadryl are often way too drying. Be careful not to take antihistamines too often.
Even though you want your nose to stop running, too many antihistamines can make it more likely that youll get sinus infections in the future.
Drugs like Mucinex and Flonase can also be helpful in thinning the mucus in your nose and sinuses.
If you use Afrin, make sure you stop after three days. Though it can seem like a miracle drug, using it more than three days in a row can lead to something called rebound congestion. In other words, when you stop using the Afrin after continuous use, your nose becomes more congested than it was in the first place!
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Youre Irritating Your Sinuses
Dry air isnt the only thing that can mess with your sinuses. Seasonal allergies, cologne, perfume, smoke, and other airborne particulates can mess with your sinuses, especially when suffering from a sinus infection. Unfortunately, other than staying in a hermetically sealed room, theres not much you can do about some of these. If you wear any scent or are a smoker, stop immediately. You should see an improvement in your symptoms shortly after you stop using perfumes, and especially if you are a smoker. The toxins in smoke can inflame your sinuses and make your sinusitis much worse than it is.
Tips From Other People With Asthma
If your asthma is keeping you awake at night, youre not alone.
In our recent sleep survey, 45% of people told us they have difficulty sleeping because of their asthma at least once a week, and nearly 50% said theyd had an asthma attack at night.
Here are some of the things that people tell us help them get a good nights sleep, which our nurses agree might be helpful:
- Ease a dry throat with a glass of water
- Try a nasal saline rinse or use decongestants to unblock a stuffy nose
- Take regular exercise
- Relax in the evening using mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises or yoga
- Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening.
If you find reading about other peoples experiences useful, or have some advice to share, join the conversations on our HealthUnlocked forum.
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R-value is a simple the higher, the better statistic. On paper, spray foam is the clear winner in this category, as closed cell foam can reach staggering R-value heights of up to 7.0. It also doesnt sag or settle over time, a side effect that fiberglass insulation suffers from when its installed incorrectly.
Choosing The Best Medicine For Nasal And Sinus Congestion For You
Vicks offers a variety of over-the-counter products that can treat your nasal congestion, sinus congestion, sinus pressure, and everyday congestion. The key is to narrow down what symptoms you are feeling so that you can pick the products with ingredients that treat your specific combination of symptoms. Use the Vicks Relief Finder for help on picking the best option for you.
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Neti Pot Or Saline Spray
As the studies suggest, you dont have to use a neti pot to ease sinus congestion. But if you are curious about how to use this Aladdins-lamp-shaped implement, you can read more about it here. This ancient Ayurvedic practice appeals to many people and is not difficult to master.
Some folks prefer a more modern system of nasal irrigation, such as one made by NeilMed. Another reader found that using plain saline nasal spray twice a day was helpful in preventing sinus problems.
Bonnie compared using a neti pot and sinus irrigator:
I have used both. Both offer great relief from the congestion and runny nose of allergies and colds. The preservative-free nasal sprays such as Simply Saline are convenient and a lot less messy than the neti pot. I stress preservative-free. Its also buffered and makes it comfortable as well as effective. If youre using a netti pot, make sure you use sea salt, kosher salt or pickling salt. They have no preservatives or iodine. And use a pinch of baking soda to buffer your solution.
Lucy found she had a chronic sinus infection:
I had chronic nasal congestion and discovered a long-term sinus infection, thanks to a CT scan at the time of a TIA. After the antibiotic treatment my EMT MD told me to use a full bottle of saline every am and again in the pm. I mix up my own and just use tap water because the risk of parasitic infection is minimal in city water. That clears out the congestion nicely and I almost never need a chemical decongestant.