Drink Plenty Of Water
âIt may seem too simplistic, but a lack of hydration is one of the most common reasons for health problems. Proper hydration allows the body to fully function in its most natural state and that includes the bodyâs natural ability to fight off infection and inflammation. Youâve probably heard the advice that you need to drink 8 glasses of 8oz water per day , but keep in mind that depending on your environment, exercise, temperature, underlying health conditions, and other factors you may need more or less water in your daily diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also a good source of hydration and can help provide the body with the vitamins and nutrients that it needs to fight disease and maintain good health.
Balloon Sinuplasty: A Non
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 another non-invasive sinusitis cure that works simply by expanding some or all three of the major nasal sinuses and allowing them to work naturally. This safe and simple sinus infection treatment can be done in the comfort of the office with our Board Certified Otolaryngologist, Dr. Sam Mathur. Schedule your appointment today and start your journey toward real and lasting sinus infection relief.
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Irrigate The Nasal Passage With A Baking Soda/salt Water Solution
Washing out your nasal passages helps remove mucus and hydrates the membranes. To do this, first make a solution with half a teaspoon each of non-iodized salt and baking soda in 2 cups of sterile warm water. Then fill a neti pot or a bulb syringe with this solution. Now lean over a sink and bend your head slightly so your ear faces the sink. Insert the spout of the neti pot gently into your nostril and allow the solution to run into one nostril and out the other. Now repeat on the other side. Dont worry if the water runs out the same nostril thatll work too.2
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Boiling Hot Water In A Steam Tent: Avoid Steam That Is Too Hot
Warm mist is a very effective home remedy to soothe and moisturize sinus passageways, helping you feel better. One way people treat themselves with steam is to boil a pot of water then tent a towel over their head while leaning over the liquid.
If you use this method, is critical to let the water cool a bit, and not to place your face too close to the water, or you may burn your face.
This is especially a problem with children. An article in the British Medical Journal from 2004 documented seven cases in a six-month period in which kids suffered burns, usually to the face, from being too close to scalding water.
This danger is why a wellness guide from the University of Minnesotas Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing advises that children under age 7 never steam in this manner. Children 7 and older should be encouraged to stay back from the steam and wear swimming goggles to protect their eyes.
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Treating Sinus Infections Using Natural Remedies
Natural home remedies are a safe and effective solution in the prevention and treatment of sinusitis. These simple and inexpensive solutions offer an alternative to the expense and side effects that often accompany over-the-counter medications. For some sinus sufferers, home remedies may fall short in providing long-term results. For those who suffer frequent or extended sinus infections, it is important to see a medical professional. If left untreated, these sinus infections may impact overall health and could lead to further medical complications in addition to the daily symptoms of sinusitis.
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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 Prevent Sinusitis
- Drink a lot, whether it is water or juice. More than two liters a day, especially if the symptoms continue.
- Avoid dust or smoke pollutionbecause this further irritates the nasal cavity.
- I prefer humid places, and To wet the room, you can place water or use special equipment.
- Wet your nose with compresses of hot water. Showers are also recommended because the steam helps release the nasal sinuses.
- Do not use too many inhalers because, in the long run, they will be counterproductive.
- Clean your nose well. You can find some products containing water and salt in the pharmacy.
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Can You Have A Cough After A Sinus Infection
You may notice that even after the core symptoms are gone, you still have a cough after a sinus infection clears up. Thats most likely because there is still lingering inflammation in your sinuses causing post-nasal drip the backed-up drainage that runs down the back of your throat, often prompting a natural coughing reflex to clear your airway.
When sinuses are just doing their everyday job, they produce mucus to help protect your system from dust, allergens, and pollutants but that mucus has to drain to keep irritants out. Sinus infections occur when that drainage gets blocked, causing mucus to back up and become more susceptible to bacteria or viruses.
Discover why you may have a cough after a sinus infection and learn what remedies are available.
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Causes Of Sinus Trouble
Your sinus trouble can be caused by a number of things, including sinusitis and rhinitis.
Sinusitis is an infection that causes inflammation and swelling of your sinuses. The Infectious Diseases Society of America states that 90-98 percent of sinusitis cases are caused by viruses, which cant be treated with antibiotics. Sinus infections are one of the leading reasons antibiotics are prescribed, but theyre only effective in treating 2 to 10 percent of these infections.
Chronic sinusitis is an inflammatory condition that normally lasts more than three months. Nasal polyps, which are noncancerous growths, often accompany chronic sinusitis.
If you have allergic rhinitis, your immune system triggers the release of histamines that irritate your nasal membranes. This leads to congestion and sneezing. Allergic rhinitis can lead to sinusitis.
Its time to see your doctor if you experience:
- symptoms that last longer than 10 days
- a fever of 102°F or higher
- symptoms that get worse, including a spike in your fever or increased greenish nasal discharge
- changes in vision
You should also see a doctor if you have asthma or emphysema or you take medications that suppress your immune system.
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Home Remedies For Sinus Infection Treatment
1. Garlic
Chop up a few garlic cloves and drop them into boiling water. Inhale the steam from this garlic water repeat a few times daily for a few minutes each. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and antibacterial agent, the pungent smell of which will help open up your congested nose, and kill the bacteria in your nasal cavity. You can also eat two or three crushed garlic cloves daily.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
This common kitchen ingredient has several beneficial properties it also helps in making easy home remedies for sinus pressure. Make a mixture of hot water, honey, lemon juice and water, and add two or three tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar to it. You can also mix apple cider vinegar to tea and drink the liquid three times a day. It will help flush out mucus from your sinus cavities. If you feel you are coming down with a flu or cold, you can immediately consume apple cider vinegar to avoid sinus infection.
3. Nasal Irrigation
Take boiled water and add a pinch of baking soda and a teaspoon of salt to it. Or, mix a teaspoon of sea salt and half a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide in boiled water. Use either of these liquids as solutions for nasal irrigation. Use a bulb syringe and use it once a day it keeps the nasal cavity moist and clears out mucus.
4. Cayenne Pepper
5. Ginger
6. Boost Your Immune System
7. Make a Super Smoothie
8. Oregano Oil
9. Onion
When To See A Doctor For Sinus Issues
If your symptoms persist more than one to two weeks, you should consult with your physician.
Youll want to check with your doctor even sooner if you have a severe case of a sinus infection including a high fever, swelling around the eyes, and red and inflamed skin, among other symptoms, Del Signore says.
In this case, or if your symptoms do not clear up within two weeks, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic.
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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.
Will Natural Remedies Work For Me
Natural home remedies for sinus infections are effective at soothing sinus pain and can help the body begin the healing process. They are inexpensive and do not have side effects like medication might. They are especially effective for people who are suffering from mild sinus infections. For those who suffer from chronic sinus infections, natural remedies might not get to the root of the problem. At MidState ENT we can help you get to the root of the problem with balloon sinuplasty.
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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!
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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Ginger Tea With Garlic
Ginger tea with garlic contains antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, due to the presence of substances like alicin and phenolic compounds, shogaol and zingerone . These substances help to treat symptoms of sinusitis like plugged nose, runny nose, sore throat and general malaise.
This tea also helps to strengthen the immune system and decreases the duration of the sinus infection.
Ingredients
- 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced in half
- 1 cm of ginger root, or about 1/2 a teaspoon of powdered ginger
- 3 cups of water
- Honey to sweeten
How to prepare
Boil the water with the garlic. Removed from the heat, and add the ginger and honey. Strain the infusion and drink.
Ginger should not be consumed by people who take anticoagulants, and therefore should be avoided in the tea in these cases. During pregnancy, you should not exceed 1 g of ginger per day, for up to 4 days.
What Are The Common Medications To Treat Sinus Infection
The primary six types of medications and surgery used for treating sinus infections include:
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What To Do For Sinus Pressure And Pain At Home
Here are the top 10 at-hometreatments to help ease your sinus pain and inflammation to get rid of your sinus infection faster.
Natural Home Remedies For Sinus Infections
Each year, more than 30 million Americans find themselves suffering from the effects of sinus infections, making it among the most prevalent health conditions in our country. The symptoms, ranging from the inconvenient to the debilitating, account for millions of lost workdays as well as a significant decrease in the quality of life.
From the sinus headache that takes away the joy of a concert to the congestion that prevents the full enjoyment of a meal, sinus infections are a serious problem that must be addressed. Often times in a search for a quick fix, people find themselves searching the confusing and overwhelming sinus/allergy aisle at a local pharmacy only to find a mix of temporary solutions and chronic frustration. Thankfully there are solutions that are safe and natural and can put you back on the road to wellness from the comfort of your own home.
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Steam Inhale With Eucalyptus Oil
The warmth and moistness of steam can help loosen mucus. And eucalyptol, a volatile oil present in eucalyptus, has expectorant as well as antiseptic and properties. So this combination can work wonders for clearing out mucus and germs from your nasal passage.3
Boil a bowl of water and once it stops bubbling, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to it. Lean over the bowl and cover your head with a towel to stop the steam from escaping. Inhale the steam for around 10 minutes, 2 to 4 times a day, for relief.
Do keep in mind that eucalyptus is not suitable for children or pregnant or nursing mothers. However, a plain steam inhalation can still be helpful.45