Do you have a stuffy nose that just isn’t getting better? It may have developed into a sinus infection, or sinusitis. Sinus infections cause facial pressure, pain and overall discomfort, often occurring during or after a cold, flu or allergy flare-up.
What Is Sinusitis?
There are four air-filled chambers inside your face: two behind your eyebrows and two behind your nose. These chambers and the passages that connect them are your sinuses. The function of your sinuses is to generate mucus (you probably know it as “snot”), which lines the nose to keep it hydrated and traps debris and foreign invaders. Mucus eventually exits by draining out the nose.
When the sinuses become inflamed, usually due to illness or infection, mucus gets trapped inside the chambers and doesn’t drain out of the nose as usual. The buildup of fluid creates ideal conditions for bacteria to grow, which exacerbates the problem and develops into a full-scale infection in the sinuses.
What Are the Symptoms of Sinusitis?
- Facial pressure. Our heads are very sensitive to air pressure, and this is especially true for the air-filled sinuses. If pressure builds up in the sinuses, you’ll feel it behind your face. It may get worse when you bend over.
- Congestion. The inflammation in your sinuses can swell into the nasal passages, making it hard to breathe through your nose.
- Headache. Sinus pressure can press on the cranium and cause a headache. You usually feel a sinus headache in the front of your head, behind your temples.
- Thick discolored mucus. Healthy mucus is clear and watery, but in the event of an infection, it gets thick and cloudy or turns yellow or green.
- Postnasal drip. Mucus that can’t drain out of the nose may try to drain down into your throat instead. This can cause a sore throat and coughing, or even spread the infection and cause an upper respiratory infection.
- Fever.
Do I Have to Stay Home if I Have Sinusitis?
Sinusitis isn’t contagious, so you don’t have to stay home from work or school. However, the symptoms of a sinus infection may impact your productivity and ability to concentrate. Only go out if you feel well enough to do so.
How Do I Treat Sinusitis?
Sinusitis usually doesn’t require medical intervention and will go away on its own. You can find relief and perhaps speed up the recovery process by doing the following:
- Stay hydrated. Your body needs water to fight the infection. Additionally, drinking warm drinks like tea or soup can help relieve pain and open up the nasal passageways, helping you breathe easier.
- Rest. Sleep gives our body the energy it needs to continue fighting the infection.
- Take a hot shower. Steam from the shower breaks up the congestion in the nasal passageways and moisturizes the skin inside the nose. The warmth of the water can also reduce swelling and provide relief from facial pressure.
- Over-the-counter medications. You can use mild pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Acetaminophen is especially useful if you’re also experiencing a fever. Decongestant nasal sprays and neti pots can open your stuffy nose and flush trapped mucus.
If none of the above seem to be helping, or your sinus infection has lasted longer than a week, it might be a good idea to consult medical help. Call ENT & Allergy Specialists – Ear Nose and Throat Physicians and Surgeons to find out more or make an appointment.