What Are Risk Factors For Acute Sinusitis
Some people are more likely than others to get acute sinusitis. These include:
- People who have allergies.
- People who have structural problems with their noses or polyps, which are growths that can hang inside noses or sinus cavities.
- People who spend a great deal of time in places where infections happen, like preschools or day cares.
Can A Sinus Infection Make You Cough
Can a sinus infection make you cough? Yes a sinus infection can definitely lead to coughing. This particular situation has everything to do with excess mucus and how your sinuses attempt to drain that mucus.
When youre dealing with cold symptoms, youre suffering from allergies, or you have a sinus infection, your body is likely to create more mucus than normal, which can end up draining into the throat. While this sounds rather disgusting, mucus in the throat is pretty common, and it can happen whether youre sick or not.
However, when this drainage happens persistently for an extended period of time, you can find yourself with a nagging cough. A cough from a sinus infection isnt necessarily cause for alarm, and it doesnt mean you automatically need to book an appointment with your doctor.
Lets break down coughing during a sinus infection and what a doctor might recommend as treatment.
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Cough And Itching In The Throat
Honestly, when you have sinusitis it would become difficult for you to lie down on the bed. That is because the mucus released from the sinus follows the way located at the backside of your throat. Certainly, it creates a lot of irritation in the throat area as it takes place for a long time. And that gradually develops into a continual cough. But in that case, you have to change your sleeping position. That means you should try to sleep by keeping your head elevated from the normal position. Therefore, this is also one of the vital symptoms of sinus.
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How To Cure Chronic Sinus Infections
So many of us suffer from chronic sinus infections and it has become a common affliction especially in the winter season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 30.8 million people in America suffer from chronic sinus problems.
It may seem that you have tried everything to get rid of your sinus infections however, there are still many solutions that havent been tried yet and which can potentially permanently treat your chronic sinusitis. In this article, we will discuss about medical treatment, surgery and natural remedies for chronic sinus infections.
What Is Chronic Sinusitis What Causes It
Chronic sinusitis is defined as inflammation in the sinus area that lasts longer than 12 weeks. The inflammation does not need to be severe to indicate a problem for many, its a constant mild to moderate irritation that gets a little worse or a little better depending on changes in the weather, the persons stress, and their diet. Patients also tend to suffer from worsening congestion when they get a cold, which may lead to an acute sinus infection. Most individuals do not realize that their chronic nasal congestion originates from their gut.
The Mayo Clinic published an article stating that 93% of all cases of CS were mold or fungal related. The researchers studied 210 patients with chronic sinusitis. Using new methods of collecting and testing mucus from the nose, they discovered fungus in 96% of the patients mucus. They identified a total of 40 different kinds of fungi in these patients, with an average of 2.7 kinds per patient.1 The clinic test results echo what I see in practice: chronic sinusitis is a result of yeast in both the sinus cavities and the digestive mucosal membrane. Most individuals have little to no background knowledge of mucosal membranes, so Im going to take a moment to explain the importance of these membranes and outline how they function within the body.
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What Is A Sinus Infection
The sinuses, or sinus cavities, are hollow spaces that air flows through within the bones surrounding the nose. A sinus infection or sinusitis occurs when your nasal cavities become swollen and inflamed. Normally, your sinuses are filled with air. When sinuses become blocked and filled with fluid, germs can grow and cause an infection.
How long do sinus infections last? Well, that depends on what type of sinus infection you have. Acute sinusitis can last over two weeks even with appropriate treatment. If your sinus infection lasts longer than 10 to 14 days, then youre more likely to have bacterial sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis lasts much longer at least 12 weeks! Chronic sinusitis with polyps is an inflammation of the sinuses that lasts 12 weeks or longer and is associated with having nasal polyps. Other forms of chronic sinusitis are associated with allergies or a deviated septum and also last 12 weeks or longer.
How can you tell what type of sinus infection you have? Your doctor wont be able to tell you if your sinus infection is bacterial or viral based on symptoms or an exam alone. The best way to tell the root of a sinus infection is symptom duration. If its a viral sinus infection, it should start to improve after five to seven days. On the other hand, a bacterial infection often lasts seven to 10 days or even longer and the infection can get worse after seven days.
When Should I Worry About Nasal Congestion
Call your physician or an ear, nose, and throat doctor about your own congestion if: Your forehead, eyes, sides of your nose, or cheeks are swollen, or your vision is blurry. Your nasal mucus or coughing discharge is green, yellow, or gray, you also have sinus pain, or there is blood in your mucus or discharge.
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How To Get Rid Of A Sinus Infection: Try These Methods Today
Sinus infections can really lower your quality of life, especially if they occur often. So if you’re looking for how to get rid of a sinus infection, try these methods to see if they work for you.
While surgery can be effective, it’s also quite invasive. If you live or work in the Scottsdale/Phoenix Metro area, please give the Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center a call today for an appointment to learn more. The Phoenix area specialty sinus clinic offers an alternate method that’s both quicker, in-office, less expensive, and more effective. Call 480-567-7098 to learn more about this method of treating sinusitis and see if you are a candidate!
How Can I Prevent Sinusitis
Some of the home remedies used to treat sinus infections symptoms may help prevent sinusitis. These include rinsing your nose out with salt water and using medications that your provider might suggest, such as allergy medications or steroid nasal sprays.
You should avoid things you are allergic to, like dust, pollen or smoke, and try to avoid sick people. Wash your hands to reduce your chance of getting a cold or flu.
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Causes & Risk Factors
Any health situation that blocks off the vital drainage channels of your sinuses can cause a sinus infection including:
- Respiratory infections like the common cold
- Hay fever or exposure to allergens such as cigarette smoke, dry air and pollutants
- Obstructions in the nasal or sinus cavities including nasal polyps, deviated septum, or nasal bone spur
- Non-allergic rhinitis
- Changes in air pressure
- Infections resulting from dental problems
- Physical injury to the sinuses
- Bacteria, viruses, and fungi
The five most common bacteria that can cause sinus infections are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes.
Risk factors for sinus infections include:
- Being in the hospital, especially if the reason you are in the hospital is related to a head injury or you needed a tube inserted into your nose
Do I Need Antibiotics For Every Sinus Infection
Many sinus infections are caused by viruses, the ones that cause the common cold. These types of infections are not cured by antibiotics. Taking an antibiotic for a viral infection unnecessarily puts you at risk for side effects related to the antibiotic. In addition, the overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, which may make future infections more difficult to treat.
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Treatment Options For Sinus Drainage And Coughing
When the main symptom is coughing, most people turn to over-the-counter treatments to manage the cough, such as cough syrup or throat lozenges. Alternatively, one can use a cool-mist humidifier in the bedroom at night. For adults and children over one year of age, a teaspoon of honey at bedtime can be beneficial. While these treatments might provide immediate relief, they dont treat the root problem: excess drainage from the sinuses, triggering medications or other throat irritants.
An ENT can perform a thorough history and physical to ascertain both sinus and non-sinus contributors to cough. CT scanning of the sinuses, available in the office, can be invaluable in diagnosing the source. Appropriate treatment can then be prescribed. You might need to take medication to thin the mucus, or antibiotics if you have a bacterial sinus infection. Certain exacerbating conditions may need to be addressed, or medication changes made. If these noninvasive treatments dont work, then your ENT might recommend surgery or in-office procedures to open the sinuses.
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Runny Nose And Postnasal Drip
When you have a sinus infection, you may need to blow your nose often because of nasal discharge, which can be cloudy, green, or yellow. This discharge comes from your infected sinuses and drains into your nasal passages.
The discharge may also bypass your nose and drain down the back of your throat. You may feel a tickle, an itch, or even a sore throat.
This is called postnasal drip, and it may cause you to cough at night when youre lying down to sleep, and in the morning after getting up. It may also cause your voice to sound hoarse.
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Turmeric Or Ginger Root To Cure Sinus Infection
Turmeric root is a wonderful, Indian spice and some middle eastern dishes. It has anti-septic, anit-viral and anti-oxidant properties. Not only this, turmeric also contain the anti-inflammatory curcumin, this spice is a rich source of an anti-oxidant. When combined with ginger root and brewed as a hot tea, this combination help to loosen mucus from clogged nasal path. This ultimately alleviate sinus pressure, and make you feel better.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Sinus Infection
If youve ever suffered from a sinus infection , you know that the symptoms, such as the constant dripping from your nose or the sore irritated throat, are just shy of unbearable. Heres a list of symptoms you might experience if youre suffering from sinusitis:
- In some cases, people may experience anosmia due to the smell receptors being blocked and irritated. It typically resolves itself after the symptoms have cleared, although there are treatments to help speed up the recovery process.
- People also report a feeling of swelling, tenderness, and pain around the eyes and in the forehead.
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Natural Remedies For Sinusitis
The following list contains the best natural remedies that may effectively and naturally treat sinusitis:
- Eucalyptus: is perfect for reducing inflammation in the paranasal temples, while simultaneously evacuating excess mucous. Boil one handful of eucalyptus leaves and breathe in the steam, placing your head over the pot and covering with a towel or cloth.
- Hollyhock: has bactericide properties and is used to eliminate microorganisms that cause sinusitis. Prepare an infusion with one tablespoon of hollyhock flowers in one cup of water. Boil for 10 minutes. Consume up to four cups a day.
- Chamomile: has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. This makes it great for two things: it reduces inflammation in the paranasal sinuses, and it eliminates the germs that cause inflammation. Dilute a few drops of chamomile essential oil in a few liters of water, and then breathe it in a few times.
- Echinacea: helps strengthen the immune system. You can buy it as a dietary supplement and consume 1000 mg a day, in 5 different doses.
- Cats claw: this herb is also good for promoting immunity so that bacteria and viruses cant enter the body. Drink a few cups of this infusion, which can be prepared by boiling one tablespoon of this plant, dried, in one cup of water. Boil for 10 minutes. You could also take it as a supplement.
What Causes Chronic Sinus Infection
Multiple factors acting together usually contribute to chronic sinusitis.
People with allergies are more prone to develop chronic sinusitis. About one in five people with chronic sinusitis also have asthma. This is because the linings of your nose and sinuses are in continuation with the linings of your lungs. These people are also likely to have nasal polyps .
A bacterial or viral infection can also trigger the condition. The infection is often low grade. The bacteria confine themselves in stubborn biofilms, making it difficult for your immune system or antibiotics to find and attack them.
An overlap of additional factors such as smoking, environmental pollutants, and deviated septum, further complicate the picture of chronic sinusitis.
It would be more appropriate to say that if youre already prone to allergies and nasal polyps, it becomes easier for harmful bugs, especially fungi to penetrate your sinuses. Likewise, a weak immune system makes you more susceptible to catch bacterial, viral, or fungal sinus infection.
A sinus that is inflamed and swollen can no longer sweep away the excess mucus and harmful agents due to the blockage of tiny hairs that facilitate this function.
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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.
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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Natural Remedies For Sinus Infections
1. Top Foods & Beverages for Sinus Infections
2. Foods & Beverages to Avoid
3. Oil of Oregano
4. Grapefruit seed extract
5. Vitamin C
6. Garlic
7. Echinacea
8. Neti Pot
9. Add Moisture
10. Essential Oils