Tag: Drainage

Sinus Infection Prevention

You dont always have to wait for sinus infection to strike before you take action. In fact, there are steps you can take to prevent this from happening and here are a few.

1. Moisten the air in your home. You can do this by buying a humidifier or an air conditioning unit as this regulates the temperature during hot and cold weather.

2. Aside from humidifiers or air conditioning equipment, you can also install electrostatic filters which are designed to remove allergens in the air.

3. If you live in an area that is polluted, move somewhere else. You have to remember that sinus infections area also caused by strong fumes and chemicals that may irritate your sinus linings.

4. Drinking too much alcohol may also trigger a sinus infection because it swells the nasal and sinus membranes which leave them exposed to irritation. This simply means that you should drink moderately.

5. Smoking also causes sinus infections because it irritates the sinus lining which causes bad drainage of the mucus and the sinus to congest. So, you should quit smoking and stay away from people who smoke.

6. If you travel often, you should cut down the number of times you have to fly from one destination to the next. This is because a bubble of air within the body expands as the air pressure in the plane reduces. When this happens, this could result in the blockage of the Eustachian tubes causing your nose to clog during the planes ascent or descent. If you have to fly, be sure to bring with you a decongestant nose drop or inhaler and use this before the flight.

7. When you have a sinus infection, the best way to fight it is to stay hydrated. The same thing goes to prevent it by drinking lots of water, juice or any other liquid to replenish what was lost from the body.

8. You should also practice good hygiene since most sinus infections are caused by bacterial and viral infections. This means taking a shower twice a day and washing your hands with soap and water each time you go to the bathroom. You should also do this every time you sneeze because when you cover your mouth, the germs go to your hands.

9. For years, we have said that consuming dairy products will keep our bones strong. But studies have shown that too much can thicken your mucus and cause nasal passages to narrow down which results to headache and pain.

10. You should also get a flu shot every year.

11. Drinking liquids should also be followed with eating good food especially fruits and vegetables. After all, these are rich in antioxidants that will boost your immune system and help your body resist infection.

12. Lastly, stress makes us prone to sinusitis and many other infections. So we should get sufficient rest like 8 hours at least every night.

13. You should also take some multivitamins and supplements to add to your daily supplement.

You can prevent sinus infections from happening so that you dont have to call in sick and miss a day at work or school. It takes a little effort to take these safety measures which happen to be much cheaper than going to your doctor and buying over the counter medication.

Home Remedies For Sinus Infection

You dont always have to take over the counter medication for a sinus infection. If you look in the kitchen, there are some home remedies inside that you can use to take care of the problem.

When you have a sinus infection, it will be a good idea to boil a pot of water and have some hot tea. Many of these are derived from herbs so you can try Echinacea if you are allergic to ragweed. There is also astralagus which is even safe for children to drink. Another option is Oregon graperoot which is known to kill many types of bacteria and lastly there is lemon balm.

You can take these herbs separately or mix them together so experiment which one goes well with another. You can also drink orange juice and water. The important thing is for you to keep your body hydrated.

You can also inhale steam by leaning over a bowl of hot water that you just heated using your stove. Those who have a steam vaporizer can also use it and inhale the steam for about 10 minutes. For maximum effect, you can add mix Vicks Vapo-Rub into the water as this has proven to open the passageways.

Since some people experience pain in the ears when they have a sinus infection, they can get rid of it by using some essential oils.

You could pour mix together 2 tablespoons of Pure Almond Carrier Oil, five drops of Lavender Essential Oil, five drops of Pine Essential Oil, five drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil and five drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil in warm water and then put this inside the ear at lest three times a day.

If the pain is on your face, mix a drop of Eucalyptus Essential Oil, a drop of Tea Tree Essential Oil and a drop of Pine Essential Oil together again with warm water. Dip in a clean cloth and then put the warm compress over your face.

Some people have difficulty sleeping when they have a sinus infection. Fortunately, you can sleep soundly and encourage drainage even during the evening by simply keeping your head elevated. You should also blow your nose when it is ready to come out as this will help prevent it from blocking the nasal cavity.

You can also take garlic juice or garlic capsules for your sinus infection as studies have shown that garlic has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. You can also chop from fresh garlic and put this in a bowl of hot water. Inhale it two to three times a day.

If you run out of garlic, see if you have a bottle there of apple cider vinegar. This helps decrease mucus production because it contains potassium. Just mix two teaspoonfuls of organic apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water and drink it up three times a day.

Majority of the home remedies mentioned and a lot more need to be fixed with warm water. Since sinus infections can happen at anytime, you should have a few of these stored in your cabinet.

But keep in mind that there are limits to what home remedies can do against sinus infections. If things get worse, you are advised to see a doctor so they can prescribe something stronger.

Causes Of Sinus Infections

Sinus infections are more commonly known as sinusitis. It can definitely create a lot of pain and discomfort to the affected individual. To better understand your health condition, there is a need to determine its causes and one way to do that is by consulting a medical professional.

How can you tell if you have a sinus infection? Well, its really easy and you just need to look out for some symptoms such as a feeling of tenderness around your eyes, nose, forehead, and cheeks. Some patients even suffer from headaches, nose discharge, congestion, or fever, and cough. Most sinus infections are chronic and so you will need an experienced doctor to avoid frequent occurrences in a year. With the proper treatment, you can get rid of your sinus infection in no time.

Sinuses protect your skull. Sinuses come in four pairs which connect it to the nasal passages and the nostrils. When youre able to inhale germs, the infection will start. When the lining of your sinuses become inflamed, you will be suffering from a sinus infection.

Common colds are the main reasons for sinusitis. When you have a cold, there tends to be congestion inside your nasal passages. The sinuses drainage is inhibited, thereby causing the inflammation.

Scuba diving and flying can also cause sinusitis. You see, when you dive under water or you fly up into the air, the pressure changes. This change in pressure can cause inflammation in the nasal passages, causing sinusitis. Pregnant women are more prone to sinus infections because of the changes in the hormone level inside the body. Because of the hormonal changes, the nasal passages tend to swell causing discomfort and pain. Women who are taking contraceptives like pills are also prone to sinusitis because the pills trick the body into thinking that the person is pregnant and in turn, it creates hormonal changes as well. Asthmatics are also at high risk of developing the infection.

On most sinus infection cases, doctors prescribe antibiotics like amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and moxifloxacin. Depending on the severity of the infection and the age of the individual, the doctor can prescribe broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum medications. Some medicines may cost big money especially if the infection occurs frequently but if it means reducing or eliminating the pain, anyone will be willing to spend that kind of money.

To sum it all up, the causes of sinus infections are the following: when you inhale germs, common colds, change in pressure when scuba diving or flying, pregnancy, and the intake of birth control pills. If any of the situations applies to you, you will be at high risk of developing the infection as well. When you feel any pain around your eyes, nose, forehead, or cheek, take that as a warning and schedule an appointment with your doctor right away. Sinusitis can really cause a lot of pain and discomfort. There are several effective medicines like antibiotics that the doctor can prescribe. Consult your doctor now and have your condition examined.

Once youre given a prescription, you need to follow all the instructions carefully. That way, your condition will get better and the pain will go away. Know the causes of sinusitis so that you can easily tell if youre exhibiting some of the symptoms. Sinus infections can be cured, so dont hesitate to visit your doctor.

Treatments Of Sinus Infections

Every year, more and more individuals are afflicted with sinus infections. Since this condition can create a lot of discomfort, those who are afflicted with it want to find the best cure. But what are the best treatments for sinus infections?

There are passages found behind the eyes, nose, and cheeks, and they are called sinuses. These passages are susceptible to infections which can be caused by allergies, viruses, and even colds. If you had an injury or a sinus disease in the past, you may also be prone to sinus infections. Swimming and infected tooth can also lead to this condition.

Sinus infections are easy to tell. Some of its symptoms are weakness or tiredness, fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and coughing. A very evident symptom is when your coughing gets severe in the night. Other than that, you may also notice a greenish nasal discharge, bad breathe, and headache.

There are now different approaches on how to treat sinus infections. Aside from the medical prescriptions, afflicted individuals can also turn to alternative treatments. There have been claims that home remedies for sinus infections are quite effective.

For instance, if you have a sinus infection, try inhaling steam so that your sinuses will be unclogged. For more effective results, put a drop of eucalyptus oil or lavender on the water.

The trapped mucus will surely be released faster. While youre inhaling the steam, you can also massage the spots around your eyes, cheeks, and forehead. Do you like spicy foods? Well, if you do, the spicy foods are also a great help for unclogging trapped mucus.

Sometimes, home remedies dont work exactly the same way for you and the sinus infection becomes worse than ever. If you cant address the infection through natural home remedies or treatments, its time to consult a doctor and ask for a medicine. Most sinus infection medicines are aimed at reducing the swelling of the sinusitis and nasal passages. The medicine can eliminate the infection and promotes sinus drainage; that way, the passage is always open.

The root cause of the sinus infection should be identified and treated accordingly. If the infection is due to bacteria, antibiotics are often prescribed to get rid of the bacteria found in your sinus cavities.

If there is no improvement after the natural and medical treatments, youre left with only one option and that is surgery. A certain surgical procedure will be conducted to correct the health condition or problem.

Even if there are lots of medications for sinus infections, prevention is still the best answer. One way to effectively prevent sinus infections is to have a healthy immune system. If you have a healthy body, then it will be easier to fight infections and diseases. Always see to it that the surroundings are clean. Allergens can cause the infection so you need to get rid of allergens like dust and dirt.

Live a healthy lifestyle now. With a healthy body and immune system, sinus infections cant afflict you. Take nutritional supplements and eat the right kinds of foods at the right amount. Sinus infections can be prevented and if you already have the condition, there are different ways to treat it. Know more about the treatments for sinus infections. Visit your doctor or you can also ask a local naturopath for more helpful information.