Getting Rid Of A Sinus Cold

Home Remedies For Sinus Headaches

If you have suffered from regular sinus headache, you will probably know that your sinuses are the spaces surrounding your nasal passage which help mucus secretion and air humidification. Your sinuses can become inflamed for many reasons including respiratory conditions like the common cold or allergic reactions.

When his occurs, the sinuses are inflamed and not able to effectively drain mucus which leads to increases pressure and sinus headaches. Treatment depends on decreasing inflammation in the sinus passages which leads to improved mucus drainage and reduced pressure. Doctors often prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications but there are a number of more natural and safer home remedies that can be just as effective.

If you suffer from sinus headaches and you would like to give natural treatments a shot, then read on.

Tips For Treating Chronic Sinus Infections

No matter the season, having a cold is never convenient. Its even worse when your cold turns into a sinus infection. A sinus infection will stick around long after symptoms of an upper respiratory infection are gone. You might even know its a sinus infection because you get sinus infections frequently. Perhaps your doctor diagnosed your sinus infection after you just couldnt seem to get better. After all, since almost 30 million Americans suffer from sinusitis, your doctor likely treats them a lot.

The question is, when do you need to see a specialist? If your sinus infection just isnt going away, or if you seem to get recurrent sinus infections, it may be time to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

When Should I See A Doctor

These home remedies for sinus infections are great for acute infections in the upper respiratory system.

But if five days or so pass and youre not seeing any improvement, or if things are getting worse, its probably time to see an ENT doctor.

If you feel a lot more pressure behind your cheekbones and eyes or your nasal drainage has changed to yellow or green-tinged, its likely your sinus cavity has gotten infected from the blockage.

If you have symptoms like a fever, body aches, chills, chest congestion, or a cough, something more serious could be going on. Especially in this era of COVID-19, its a good idea to get checked out just to be safe.

If youve tried these home remedies without luck, contact ENT Associates of Lubbock to see what your next steps should be.

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How To Treat A Sinus Infection At Home

Many sinus infections go away on their own. You can try some of these treatments at home to help you manage your symptoms and feel more comfortable.

• Press a warm, moist towel to your face for 5-10 minutes every day. This can help reduce swelling and pain.
• Drink lots of water and other fluids. This can help thin your mucus and reduce congestion.
• Breathe in warm, humid air. Using a humidifier helps, or you can take a hot shower or bath.
• Try clearing your nasal passages with a saline solution . A saline wash helps clear your nasal packages and reduces congestion. You can buy saline drops at your local pharmacy or make your own saline solution at home.
• Over-the-counter pain medicine like Tylenol and Advil can help reduce pain and manage other symptoms, like a fever or headaches.

When Good Sinuses Go Bad

What about that cold that wonât go away? A cold virus can:

• damage the delicate cilia so that mucus is not swept away
• make the mucous lining of the nose swollen, which narrows and blocks the small opening from the sinuses into the nose
• lead to more mucus, which is often thicker and stickier, making it harder to flow out of the sinuses

When the tiny openings that drain the sinuses get blocked, mucus gets trapped in them. This makes a good home for bacteria, viruses, or fungi to grow.

If a cold lasts for more than 10 to 14 days , you may have sinusitis . This means an infection of the sinuses. Sinusitis is a pretty common infection in fact, millions of people in the United States have sinusitis each year.

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Herbal Remedies For Allergic Rhinitis

We get a lot of questions from patients inquiring about ideas of natural solutions for treating their allergy symptoms. We are devoting this blog to explaining two common types of allergies we most often see at our office in Arizona and share some natural herbal which may help.

Please keep in mind, that we are not giving medical advice in this blog. We cannot properly treat your unique condition or allergy without seeing you or conducting one of our comprehensive allergy tests. We suggest you talk to your doctor.

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Lingering Sinus Infection Or Chronic Runny Nose

A lingering sinus infection is different from a chronic runny nose. Chronic runny nose typically comes from allergies or other irritants in the air. However, this can turn into an infection over time.

When the sinuses become infected, the allergies, irritants, or viral cold have caused swelling in the nose thats blocked the drainage pathways. Consequently, fluid and mucous accumulate in the sinuses, where it has become infected with bacteria.

If youve been sick more than 10 days and begin to experience other symptoms like facial pressure, headache, and fever, youre dealing with more than a chronic runny nose.

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Garlic Honey And Olive Oil

The combination of these three ingredients help to provide relief from the sinus infection and other respiratory problems like cold and flu.

• Crush 3 4 garlic cloves into a paste.
• Let it rest for 15 minutes which activates the allicin enzyme.
• Add some honey and olive oil into it and mix well.
• Spread the mixture on either bread or cracker and consume it.
• Repeat the process regularly to get rid of sinus infection.

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Know The Limits Of Natural Sinus Pain Relief

You should not try to self-treat your sinus pain if you have symptoms such as as yellow or green mucus discharge persistent fever or stiff neck pain for more than 24 hours confusion, weakness, numbness, or tingling and persistent nausea or vomiting. These symptoms could be a sign of a significant infection in your sinuses that might need antibiotics. “Using natural sinus pain relief is fine if you have mild chronic pain or a headache related to a common cold or an allergy, but if you have severe pain that is not responding to these techniques, you need to see your doctor,” advises Das.

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Rare Cases Can Turn Serious

Antibiotics also can help ward off rare but potentially dangerous complications that arise when a sinus infection spreads to the eyes or brain, Dr. Sindwani says.

Complications around the eyes are the more common of the two. These complications can cause redness, swelling around the eyes and reduced vision, and even lead to blindness in a severe form known as cavernous sinus thrombosis. Serious cases are immediately treated with IV antibiotics. Patients are usually admitted to the hospital for a CT scan to see if fluid needs to be drained, Dr. Sindwani says.

Also in rare cases, sinus infections in the rear center of ones head can spread into the brain. This can lead to life-threatening conditions like meningitis or brain abscess, Dr. Sindwani says.

Before antibiotics, people would die from sinusitis, he says. But he emphasizes that such complications are unlikely. In most cases, the bacterial infection goes away, especially if you dont have underlying medical problems.

Its important to monitor your symptoms if you suspect a sinus infection. If the condition lingers or worsens, call your doctor.

Know When Its Time To Head To The Doctors Office

Although nasal congestion will generally subside on its own, congestion that lasts for more than 7 to 10 days calls for a visit to the doctor, says Stringer. A viral infection usually goes away on its own within a week or so, but an infection that lasts longer is often bacterial and may require an antibiotic, he says. If you experience other symptoms, such as a high fever, one-sided nose bleeds, wheezing or shortness of breath, or persistent facial or tooth pain, see a doctor right away.

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Gargle With Salt Water

If youre dealing with a sore and scratchy throat, consider gargling with salt water. Dr. Blank says this old-school home remedy can help to temporarily relieve throat discomfort. Mix a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Take a drink, but do not swallow, and gargle in the back of your throat for 10 to 30 seconds. Spit it out when done.

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Saline Spray And Sinus Rinses

Using a saline solution, rinse your nose and sinuses with a neti pot or other irrigation system.

You can buy saline solution over the counter or make your own at home with distilled water and saline packets. Saline spray also comes in small bottles that you can spray directly into your nose.

Sinus rinses like these work by flushing mucus out of the nose and sinuses to keep things flowing freely.

Saline also has a natural decongesting effect, meaning it shrinks your swollen nasal tissues and makes it easier for you to breathe through your nose!

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When To Seek Medical Care

See a doctor if you have:

• Severe symptoms, such as severe headache or facial pain.
• Symptoms that get worse after improving.
• Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without getting better.
• Fever longer than 3-4 days.

You should also seek medical care if you have had multiple sinus infections in the past year.

This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.

Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to a sinus infection, including:

• Seasonal allergies

How To Heal A Sinus Infection In 2 Days

2020/03/19

I never understood the fuss about sinus infections until Ive experienced it first hand.

Its horrible.

The second round of antibiotics and no relief in sight.

Its not you, its me, I said to my antibiotics and decided to try home remedies for sinus infections, still shocked that I agreed to take antibiotics in the first place. I must have been truly desperate.

Two Days later my sinuses were clear.

No sinus pressure, no sinus headaches, and no congestion. I was thrilled.

In this post, I will share my personal 2-day-sinus-infection protocol with you, along with many more effective home remedies and practical information about causes, cures, and prevention of sinus infections.

Ready? Lets start.

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Tips To Help You Get Relief From Your Head Cold

Oh, your aching head! If youâre suffering from unbearable nasal congestion and headache, you probably have a head cold. The reason youâre so stuffed up? When you have a head cold, the membranes lining your nasal passages become swollen and produce excess mucus to flush out whatever is causing the irritation, whether itâs a virus or an allergen. You might experience pain in your forehead, under your eyes or in your upper teeth.

The key to getting rid of a head cold is to reduce sinus swelling and help mucus drain from your sinuses. Although it might seem counterintuitive, keeping your nasal passages moist is the best way to clear out congestionâdry sinuses will only result in further irritation.

Try these simple tips to clear up a head cold and help relieve headache and sinus pressure.

Use a humidifier.

Since breathing in dry air will dry out your sinuses, itâs best to add moisture back into your environment by using a cool-mist humidifier or steam vaporizer. You can also try breathing in steam from a hot shower. Doing so can help soothe the irritated membranes lining your nasal passages.

Reach for a warm compress.

A great way to ease a headache and sinus pressure is to place a warm compress on your forehead and nose. If you donât have a compress, try moistening a washcloth with warm water and applying it to your face several times a day. This will help relieve nasal congestion and relieve your head cold symptoms.

Irrigate your sinuses.

Try a nasal spray.

Colorful Fruits And Vegetables

Certain compounds in brightly colored fruits and vegetables â like carotenoids and flavonoids â may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that help your body function at its best and may even defend against infection, according to May 2013 research in âAdvances in Nutritionâ.

Per Harvard Health Publishing, these anti-inflammatory foods include:

• Strawberries

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How You Can Treat Sinusitis Yourself

You can often treat mild sinusitis without seeing a GP by:

• getting plenty of rest
• taking painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
• avoiding allergic triggers and not smoking
• cleaning your nose with a salt water solution to ease congestion

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

You do not need to use all of the solution, but make a fresh solution each time you clean your nose.

Can A Sinus Infection Last For Months

Sinusitis wont go away at the drop of a hat. It tends to linger and, if left untreated, it can last for months. Again, its best to take a trip to your doctors office if your symptoms last longer than one week.

Note that there is a chance that long-term sinus issues may be caused by allergens. If this is the case, then your sinus symptoms will likely last until you can escape the allergen or have the allergies treated.

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Whats Happening In My Body

Most sinus infections come from colds that start in the nose.

A lot of sinus infections are caused by coronaviruses.

These viruses replicate in the nose. Your immune system then kicks off an inflammatory response to help kill the virus. This can cause swelling in the sinuses, leading to your symptoms.

Unlike bacterial infections, viral infections dont respond to antibiotics and usually just need to run their course. But you dont have to take it lying down!

How Can I Prevent Sinus Infections

Do everything you can to avoid clogging your sinuses in the first place. That means avoiding known allergy or asthma triggers. And, of course, stay healthy. Regularly wash your hands with soap and water, and get vaccinated for illnesses such as the flu. You may also opt to use a humidifier during the drier months to soothe your sinuses.

The next time your head is pounding or your cheeks ache, know that you have options to find relief.

And to save up to 80% on your prescription medications, simply show this free discount card to your pharmacist. Its that easy.

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Is It A Sinus Infection A Cold Or Allergies

Your nose is stuffed and your head is pounding. Hereâs how to tell if a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection is to blame.

Thinkstock

A stuffy nose and headache are common symptoms of many illnesses. So how can you tell whether the culprit is a sinus infection, a common cold, or allergies when the symptoms of these three conditions are so similar?

âIt can sometimes be difficult even for doctors to differentiate,â says Alan B. Goldsobel, MD, an allergist at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Northern California and an adjunct associate professor at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. But there are some key differences that can give you some clues. Get to know more about the symptoms of these three conditions to help you pinpoint the cause of your sinus congestion:

A Sinus Infection

A Cold

• What it feels like: You can expect a stuffy nose, but also some runny, discolored mucus, Goldsobel explains. You may also experience a sore throat, cough, sneezing, headache, or fatigue. Another sign is a rising temperature: Colds often trigger a fever, he says, but sometimes those fevers are so mild that people think they have allergies instead.
• What triggers it: A virus.
• How long it lasts: People usually fend off the cold virus within seven to 10 days, Baroody says. But if your symptoms have lingered past that window of time, you might have sinusitis. If you suspect you have a sinus infection, you should talk to your doctor.

An Allergic Reaction

Cleaning Inside Your Nose

You can clean the inside of your nose using either a home-made salt water solution or a solution made with sachets of ingredients bought from a pharmacy.

To make the solution at home, mix a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into a pint of boiled water that has been left to cool. To rinse your nose:

• wash and dry your hands
• stand over a sink, cup the palm of one hand and pour a small amount of the solution into it
• sniff the water into one nostril at a time

Repeat these steps until your nose feels more comfortable . You should make a fresh solution each day. Don’t re-use a solution made the day before.

Special devices you can use instead of your hand are also available for pharmacies. If you choose to use one of these, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions about using and cleaning it.

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