How to Deal with Sinus Infection

Have you ever suffered from severe nasal blockage? What was your experience? How did you feel like? Did you feel like all your nasal canals have been clogged by God knows what? Were you feeling severe headache that was accompanied by difficulty in breathing? If your response to these questions is a resounding yes, it is not the chronic catarrh you had; it migrated into sinusitis. An infection that happens when your sinuses, that is, the small air holes located behind your nose, forehead, cheekbones, and your eyes are blocked by bacterial or virus-infected mucus.

Your sinuses are the ones that produce mucus that help protect these small air pockets from germs and bacteria. However, when bacteria are introduced into these sinuses, excess mucus is created, and this would, in turn, clog the openings of these small air holes behind your face(sinuses.) The severity of common cold or allergies is what results in sinusitis. The mucus production becomes too much, and the mucus itself becomes too thick, establishing the introduction of bacteria or viruses into your sinuses, leading to a bacterial or viral infection.

In this article, we would be discussing the types and severity of sinus infections, the causes, treatment, and prevention measures of this infection. Just to better understand the idea of sinusitis, you have to first understand the types and severity of this infection; with this, you would be able to discern when you need to visit the hospital to avoid complications.

Types

Acute Sinus Infection

This type occurs when there is a viral infection in the excess mucus your sinus has produced. Usually, it has the shortest duration, this means that its symptoms can last between 1 and 2 weeks. In the case of bacterial infection, symptoms last for up to 4 weeks.

Subacute Sinus Infection

This is more severe than acute sinusitis. Subacute sinusitis can last for up to 3 months. It is mostly caused by bacterial infections.

Chronic Sinus Infection

The symptoms of this kind of sinusitis last for over 3 months. It is mostly caused by viruses as well, coupled with nasal structural problems. Here, the symptoms are always on the verge of getting into complications.

Causes

Causes of sinusitis include

• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Pollutants
• Fungi

Risk Factors

The following can increase a person’s risk of contracting sinusitis.

• If the person once had respiratory tract infections in the past, then the person’s chances of developing sinusitis are very high.
• Swellings or keloids on the nasal passage can cause irritation and inflammation, which leads to the introduction of viruses and bacteria into the respiratory tracts.
• Someone who has allergies or shows extreme health reactions to substances like dust, animal fur, or pollen can be a victim.
• Someone who has nasal structure deformities can easily contract the infection as well. For example, when the cartilage that divides the nose into two nostrils is bent due to growth or accident, there would always be inflammation, which would lead to the introduction of infections.
• Excessive smokers of tobacco.
• Dental issues.
• People with a weak immune system.

Symptoms

• Difficulty in breathing
• Reduced sense of smell
• Fever
• Runny and stuffed nose
• Headache
• Weakness and fatigue
• Cough that does not improve within 10 days
• A cold that does not improve within 14 days
• Thick, black or greenish mucus coming from the nose
• Throat irritation
• Severe sinus pains
• Discharge from your nose
• Sore throat
• Teeth pain
• Face tenderness
• Bad breath

Treatment and Home Remedy

The difference between sinus infection and the common cold is, the symptoms of sinus infection linger on for a more extended period than the typical cold. The following list has been compiled to guide you through the treatment process of sinusitis and help you improve symptoms over time to treat sinusitis.

• Drink plenty of water: Water is really an important substance to the body. It aids in flushing out poisons from the body. In the case of sinusitis, drinking plenty of water can help flush out viruses and bacteria that cause sinusitis from your body system. Medical practitioners have advised that you drink at least 8 glasses of water per day; this would help improve symptoms.
• Add antibacterial foods to your diet. These foods include; garlic, ginger, and onions. They contain properties capable of combating bacteria in your body, thereby strengthening your immune system. Also, adding ginger tea mixed with raw honey to your diet would not only help you treat sinusitis, but it would also help nourish your body and leave you healthy.
• Add moisture to your surroundings; for example, you can sleep with a humidifier in your room at night to help relieve your clogged nostrils.
• During the day, use nasal saline drops to help relieve your stuffy nose.
• Use a warm compress on your nose, take hot baths, and breathe in moist air. You could also try placing your head 10 inches above a bowl containing hot water and covering your head with a thick towel; this way, you would be inhaling moist and hot air, which would help relieve you of your nasal congestion.
• Apply essential oils like eucalyptus oil externally on your nose, temple, and chest as they can open up your nasal pipes. These oils can also be inhaled for better results. How? Add eucalyptus oil to hot water in a bowl, place your head 10 inches above the bowl to prevent burns, and cover your head and the bowl with a thick towel.
• Get to sleep and also get enough rest so that your body can fight the infections.
• Use pain killers to relieve headaches, teeth ache, and earache.

Prevention

If you have never experienced sinus blockage or infection and you need tips on how to prevent it in order to boycott and prevent its severe and painful symptoms, then you have come to the right place because reading this part of the article is crucial for you, as it suggests tips which you can follow if you want to prevent sinusitis. The tip includes;

• Make sure you observe social distance from sick and infected people. Avoid making contact with them until they get better. During this period of social distancing, wash your hands with soap and water, and carry along with you alcohol-based sanitizer as sinusitis can be contagious.
• Always keep your nostrils moist with sprays, such as saline sprays or drops.
• Use humidifiers in your room and make sure you always clean it to prevent dust, molds, and other things that can cause allergies or nasal irritation.
• Always ensure that your house is well ventilated.
• Do not expose yourself to freezing air.
• Drink plenty of water, ensure you take up to the required amount of water daily, which is 8 glasses of water.
• Give your body enough rest. Do not overstress yourself.
• Add natural antibiotic products to your diet, for example, garlic, ginger, and onions. They can help you fight bacteria and strengthen your immune system.
• Best foods that can help you prevent and treat sinus infection include;
• Fish and other kinds of seafood
• Green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and so on.
• Hot pepper
• Honey
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Onions
• Turmeric
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Vegetable or chicken soups with fresh herbs like mint or scent leaves
• Coconut oil
• Tea
• Essential oils
• If you have allergies, make sure you stay away from those things that cause you nasal irritation; those things might include; dust, pollen, or animal fur. Make sure you limit your contact with them as much as you can.
• Avoid fumes from vehicles and other machines or chemicals.
• Exercise your body mildly, for general wellbeing.
• Whenever you feel funny in any of your sinus holes, you can either follow the treatment procedures in this article or consult your doctor for medications.

Before you read this article, did you aware of what sinusitis was? Now that you know what it is, its causes, prevention, and treatment, you would no longer be left clueless whenever you find yourself in such a situation. It occurs when the holes behind your face get clogged from excess bacterial or viral infections, leading to severe symptoms like headache, teeth ache, coughing, sore throat, pains, cold, and so on. These symptoms worsen over time when proper treatment measures are not taken. Also, the treatment process and the symptom duration depend on the kind of the sinusitis you are infected with; it could be the acute, subacute, or chronic type. Preventive measures have been put in place to help your body combat this infection, as well as strengthen your immune system.