Friday, March 22, 2024

Natural Ways To Deal With Sinus Infection

Ginger For Stomach Flu

Ask Dr. Mike: What is a sinus infection and how do I treat it?

Having stomach flu is a very unpleasant experience, as it causes a range of symptoms that include upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, headaches, body aches, stomach cramping, mild fever, fatigue and vomiting.

One suffers from stomach flu as a result of contracting a viral infection. The four common viruses that usually cause this problem are adenovirus, astrovirus, calicivirus and rotavirus.

To treat stomach flu, ginger is very effective. Due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties, ginger reduces inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Also, being a natural antiviral, ginger helps fight off the virus causing the flu.

  • Drink ginger tea 2 or 3 times a day. To make the tea, grate 1 inch of fresh ginger and boil it in about 1½ cups of water, then simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain, add honey and lemon juice for taste, then drink it.
  • You can also chew a small piece of fresh ginger root several times a day or take ginger capsules, after consulting your doctor.

Invest In A Humidifier

Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which may help reduce inflammation and open up your nasal passages. For a humidifier to be the most effective, Abi Hachem says it should be placed as close as possible to you in the same room so it can deliver the humidity into your nasal cavity.

It’s also important to keep your humidifier clean to prevent bacteria and fungi from building up in the tank and being released into the air, potentially causing lung problems. To clean your humidifier, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The EPA recommends that you empty the tank and dry all surfaces of the humidifier every day.

How To Treat A Sinus Infection At Home

One of the toughest symptoms of a sinus infection is the pressure build-up behind the nose. This is because the tiny openings of the sinuses become blocked. Opening up the passages in a natural way can help the nose drain better and the pressure to be released.

A common at-home treatment is a simple nasal spray. However, they dont tend to be all-natural products and their effectiveness also depends on how you use them. So, what natural ingredients can help to open up the passages and let the nose drain better?

We narrow down some of the best natural ways to relieve sinus infections and the symptoms of cold and flu.

Olive Leaf

If you want to hit the root cause of the sinus infection, olive leaf extract is a powerful ingredient to start. As a natural antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory, olive leaf extract has been used for centuries in medical use as a way to eliminate infections. Be sure to choose an all-natural olive leaf extract for cold and flu.

Neem Leaf

Another tree with potent medicinal leaves is the neem tree. Neem leaves contain antibacterial properties that work well for chronic sinus infections. Also rich in anti-inflammatory properties, neem leaf extract is excellent for reducing the pressure and facial pain from the infection. When neem leaf is combined with olive leaf extract, it provides rapid and proactive symptom relief.

Echinacea

Turmeric

Ginger

Garlic

Apple cider vinegar

When to call a doctor?

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Easy Ways To Prevent A Sinus Infection

Theres nothing worse than an aching sinus infection. The stuffy nose, watery eyes, and congestion are enough to make you want to stay in bed all day. When the pollen and ragweed are high, its not uncommon to have sinus issues.

When that sinus pressure goes from an irritation to an infection, you will notice things like green mucus, a nagging cough, and a headache that wont stop. Thankfully, there are ten things you can do to prevent sinus infection.

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What Are Some Home Remedies For Sinus Infections

Lavage Sinus Methode Proetz

Sinusitis is a condition that affects millions of people each year. If you have suffered from sinus infections then you know how much they can impact daily life. Painful sinusitis symptoms can cause loss of productivity at work or school, loss of interest in hobbies, or even cause a lack of motivation to do anything. People suffering from sinusitis may experience:

  • Sleep disruption
  • Headache/Facial pain
  • Coughing, sneezing, runny nose

The best treatment will vary from person to person but home remedies for sinus infections may work to relieve some pain while you are waiting to go to the doctor. At MidState ENT we can work with you to create a unique treatment plan that will rid you of your sinus pain.

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No 3 Take Natural Anti

Whilst there is a time and place for antibiotics, we cant ignore the fact that they are often overprescribed and unnecessary. Not only are antibiotics ineffective against viral infections, but they also have potential negative side effects, including destroying your gut flora. Check out my blog Help Your Body Recover from Antibiotics Naturally for more info.Taking even just one course of antibiotics will significantly weaken your gut flora. And as we just covered, an unhealthy gut flora leaves your immune system compromised and much more susceptible to infection. Furthermore, because so many of us are used to taking antibiotics, the bacteria itself is becoming more and more resistant to the antibiotics. As a result, our immune systems are being weakened over time.For those of you who suffer regularly from sinus infections, a weakened immune system means youre not only more susceptible to bacterial infections but to the viral sinus infections.What to do about it: introduce natural antiviral foods and herbs into your diet:

Natural Cures For Sinus Infection In Children

Theres nothing more disturbing, especially to a parent, than to watch your little one sick, unable to breathe properly. Weve all had that overwhelming desire to find and do something that would help our child to feel better from a sinus infection. Our readers have sent us many suggestions and reports on what worked or didnt for them.

What are Sinus Infections?

Sinus infections, or sinusitis, occur when the moist air spaces around the nose become irritated and swollen. Usually sinusitis follows on the heels of colds or bouts with allergies and is a very common ailment. There are four sets of sinuses, or hollow spaces. They are lined with mucous membranes that are the same as those lining the nose and mouth. When nasal passages become swollen and produce more mucus, the sinuses do as well. When mucus cannot drain from the sinuses because the drainage system is blocked, the mucus becomes trapped in the sinuses. This becomes a breeding ground for viruses, bacteria and fungi. The initial cold has now become a sinus infection.

Symptoms

The symptoms for sinusitis vary according to the age of the child. Young children often have colds and a slight fever. However, if a fever develops 5-7 days after the onset of the cold symptoms, this indicates an infection has set in. The infection might be sinusitis, but could also signal the development of pneumonia or another infection, so get a diagnosis from your doctor.

Saline Rinse

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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:

  • Having asthma
  • 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

How To Get Rid Of Sinus Infections In 24 Hours

How to Get Rid of Sinus Infections, Chronic Sinusitis and Upper Respiratory Infections Naturally

If you are one of the millions of Americans that battle frequent or long-term sinus infections and are seeking a sinusitis treatment that does not involve risky surgery, there is good news sinusitis treatment is available. Balloon Sinuplasty is a safe and minimally invasive solution for long-lasting relief from sinus infection causes.

This safe and simple sinus infection treatment can be done in the comfort of the office with our Board Certified Otolaryngologist, Dr. Brian Lee. The procedure gently inflates the sinus cavity to clear the blockage and restore the natural flow from the body. If you would like to know more about balloon sinuplasty and how to cure sinus infections permanently, schedule your appointment today and start your journey toward real and lasting sinus infection relief.

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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

  • 1 nasal irrigator or a 20 ml syringe without the needle
  • 1 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate
  • 1 cup of warm water

How to prepare

Mix the water with the sodium bicarbonate until fully dissolved and place in the irrigator or syringe. Lean your body forward, with your head tilted slightly to the side. Place the irrigator or syringe in the nostril and press until the solution comes out of the other nostril. It is important to open and breathe through your mouth while performing a nasal rinse.

You can repeat this 2 to 3 times per day in each nostril.

Another way to rinse your sinuses is to use 0.9% saline, which can be prepared at home with warm water and salt.

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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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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!

Coconut Oil For Oral Thrush

Sinus can lead to snoring, and cause headaches and breathing problems ...

Oral thrush, a type of yeast infection that develops inside your mouth, causes slightly raised, creamy-white lesions that appear on the tongue or inner cheeks.

Oral thrush can cause redness, soreness, a cottony feeling, difficulty swallowing and loss of taste.

Coconut oil can help fight an oral infection. It contains a medium-chain fatty acid called lauric acid that lends coconut oil its antifungal and antibacterial properties. The medium-chain fatty acids can inactivate the yeast responsible for oral thrush.

It also helps eliminate the yeast and reduce the discomforts associated with thrush.

  • Apply extra-virgin coconut oil on the inner mouth area and tongue using a cotton swab, 2 or 3 times a day.
  • Try oil pulling every morning on an empty stomach. Put 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for 10 minutes, then spit it out. Rinse your mouth with warm water and brush your teeth as usual.

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Natural Remedies For Chronic Sinus Infections

Natural remedies for sinus infections may not fully cure your symptoms, but they can work to reduce them. Examples of these approaches include:

  • Drinking plenty of fluids.Fluids help to thin out mucus, which makes it easier to pass through your sinus passages. You know youre drinking enough when your urine is pale yellow.
  • Applying warm compresses. Create a warm compress using a soft washcloth and warm water. These compresses help to open your sinus passages and soothe swollen facial tissues to make breathing easier.
  • Using a neti pot. A neti pot is an alternative to saline nose sprays. You can buy these at most drugstores and online. They look like a small tea pot with an elongated spout. You fill the pot with sterile water, insert it into one nostril, and pour in the water so it comes out the other nostril. Here are step-by-step instructions.

In addition to these measures, its important to get plenty of rest. Getting enough sleep at night enables your body time to heal and maintain a healthy immune system.

Taking steps to keep your nasal passages draining well can help you avoid sinus infections. Examples of healthy habits to practice include:

You can also ask your doctor for additional prevention recommendations that target the cause of your sinus infection.

Apply A Warm Compress

If you have sinus tenderness as a result of your sinus infection, using a warm compress placed directly on the sinuses can help, Dr. Elsing-Stevens says.

A warm compress can be as simple as heating a rag or dish towel with warm water and placing it over your sinuses. Alternatively, you can purchase a hot compress product that can be heated.

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How To Get Rid Of A Sinus Infection Naturally

Sinus sufferers who want real relief without pharmaceutical side effects have discovered that natural home remedies for sinus infections are safe and highly effective. These solutions target the underlying inflammation, promote natural sinus drainage, and help prevent additional infections.

The safest and most effective natural solutions involve the use of water in the form of liquid, vapor, or mist. Water penetrates the blockage allowing mucus to drain naturally so that the sinuses can begin the healing process. These solutions have the added benefit of helping to reduce the intensity and duration of sinus symptoms and improving quality of life.

Drink Lots Of Water And Get Adequate Rest

How to Prevent and Treat An Upper Respiratory Infection Naturally

I recommend drinking a lot of water because it thins the mucus, Abi Hachem says. While theres no evidence about the most effective quantity, he recommends drinking at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day.

You can also try drinking hot liquids like tea or soup to temporarily help relieve your symptoms. But you should avoid drinking alcohol, as its dehydrating and can worsen your congestion. If youre taking an antibiotic for your sinus infection, drinking alcohol could increase side effects like upset stomach and drowsiness.

Its also important to get about seven to nine hours of sleep each night to help your body rest and recover. You want to get enough sleep and follow a normal sleep cycle so that all the hormones in your body are maxing out your immune system function, Abi Hachem says.

Because getting a good nights sleep can be difficult due to the pain and congestion, you can do the following to help you get more rest:

  • Use a neti pot before going to bed to help clear your nasal passages.
  • Sleep with your head raised by an extra pillow to help prevent mucus from pooling in your sinuses.

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Naturally Treating A Sinus Infection At Home

The key to sinusitis relief is to promote natural mucus drainage from the sinus cavities. This drainage can be achieved by reducing the swelling and eliminating the blockage. The most common natural remedies for sinus congestion include the use of sterile water to break up the obstruction so that mucus can drain as intended. Two options for introducing water into nasal cavity involve the use of steamed water or a sinus rinse.

When Natural Remedies Fall Short

Natural home remedies are a safe and effective treatment for sinus infections however, you may find that the results are not meeting your expectations. Have you successfully used natural methods and find that you still struggle with chronic or intense sinusitis? If so, there is a safe and minimally invasive solution known as balloon sinuplasty. This simple procedure is done from the comfort of the doctorâs office and gently dilates the sinus cavity to return the body to its natural condition. Once the sinuses are free of blockage, normal flow resumes and the body continues the natural healing process. Imagine a life free of sinus infections and symptoms. Schedule an appointment today with one of our sinus care professionals.

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