Home Remedies and Treatments for Sinusitis

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If you suffer from pain and pressure in your sinuses, it may be due to redness and swelling of the tissues that line these cavities in your skull that are normally filled with air.  This common condition, called sinusitis can trap the air and mucus made by the sinuses inside the cavities and tissues, causing your symptoms and sometimes leading to serious infections.

There are two main types of sinusitis, acute and chronic. An acute case may last for about a month, but chronic sinusitis could plague you for a few weeks or be an issue for years.  The condition can start from a cold, allergies, or exposure to something in the environment such as a fungus. Chronic sinusitis may have an underlying cause, such as a polyp or growth blocking the sinuses so the mucus cannot drain normally.

The symptoms for both types of sinusitis are the same:

  • Pressure and pain in the face
  • Abnormally thick, dark mucus
  • Stuffy nose and congestion

The good news is that there are many home remedies that may alleviate the symptoms and help to avoid medical bills.  Try a few of the following tips for feeling better fast.

 

    • Increase your water intake, this will help flush out your system and break down the thick mucus so that it drains faster.

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  • Get plenty of rest, extra sleep will help your body recover and heal.

 

  • Try a Neti Pot or a bulb syringe to rinse out your sinuses. It is recommended that you boil water first and then let it cool before using, or purchase distilled or sterile water to flush out your nasal passages and sinuses to remove excess mucus.

 

  • Use a humidifier at night to add moisture to the air as you sleep.

 

  • Mix up salt and boiled water in a small bottle with a nozzle and squirt it up each nostril to help loosen the mucus.

 

  • Apply a warm, wet towel to your face to reduce swelling.

 

  • Try steam, run a hot shower and sit in the bathroom and inhale the steam to help relieve congestion. You can also heat water in a pan and then inhale the steam.

 

Steam-Inhalation for Sinusitis
 

If you have tried home remedies for several days and are not feeling better, call your clinic to discuss the next step.  Your doctor will be able to help determine what is causing the sinusitis so that it can best be treated.  Your doctor may order x-rays, CT scans or an MRI to determine the cause.

If the tests determine that you have a bacterial infection, you may need antibiotics. However, that may not be the best treatment since studies show that bacteria is not often the cause of sinusitis.

Therefore, you can try over the counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce inflammation and discomfort. If you don’t feel better in 10 days, check with your doctor because it may not be advised to continue taking them.

You can try decongestants, or over the counter nasal sprays. Exercise caution and read all the package information about dosage and usage.

If your sinusitis is related to allergies, medications for allergies may be the best remedy. If you have not been tested for allergies, you may consider allergy shots and testing.

If your sinusitis is severe and not responding to the previously mentioned treatments, your doctor may give you steroids to inhale to reduce swelling in your nasal passages and sinuses. You may need to take steroids pills and capsules.

As a last resort, your doctor may recommend surgery if you have chronic sinusitis and have not gotten better with other options.

Often, you can your doctor can formulate a care regimen that combines medications and home remedies to best treat your sinusitis and prevent it from returning