The sinuses are air-filled spaces within the bones of the face and skull. They are lined by mucous membrane and connect with the nasal cavity through small channels. The sinuses may become infected whenever an infection is present in the nose and throat, such as occurs in the common cold, influenza, ect. The normal drainage channels from the sinuses become blocked by the infection, and this may also cause the sinuses to become infected.
People who do a lot of swimming, diving, snorkeling, or scuba diving are also prone to develop sinus trouble. Any poor health habits such as eating an unhealthy diet, lack of proper exercise, uncleanliness, lack of fresh air, or an inadequate fluid intake may prolong sinus trouble.
Symptoms
Pain over the sinuses, sometimes becoming very severe, aching eyes, discharge from the nose or down the throat, low-grade fever, headache, running eyes and nose. The symptoms may be very similar to those seen in hay fever, which, however, is usually due to an allergic condition. In fact, the two diseases frequently occur at the time.
It hard to believe that 37 million Americans suffer with sinus infections each year and it is more prevalent today than it was in the pre-antibiotic age! But that is not to say that antibiotics are not effective in treating it. In fact when sinusitis occurs the use of antibiotics to kill the infectious bacteria is the best way. In this way we look at infection sinus treatment to help alleviate the symptoms related to sinus infections.
One of the best infection sinus treatment tips is to take a decongestant. Also the use of oral or topical steroids for combating sinus inflammation as well as antihistamines for those where underlying allergies are involved are other forms of treatment for sinus infection.
However more and more doctors are coming to realise that the best to successfully fight off a sinus infection is to prevent it from recurring and unfortunately medication alone can not help to do this. A person will need to ensure that their mucous membrane lining of their nasal and sinus passages are healthy and functioning correctly. Below are some natural treatments which will help to keep your cilia healthy and functioning which will prevent mucus from building up in your sinuses. If a sinus infection does occur then these same treatments will increase the effectiveness of any antibiotics or medications that are prescribed to speed up the healing process and thus making a recurrence of the infection less likely in the future.
Natural sinus remedies that you can try :
First, drink plenty of water and other liquids. Mucous can thicken but keeping hydrated can help to thin the mucous. Drink water, tea or other clear beverages.
Stay away from dairy products. Some doctors believe that dairy products, including milk, cheese and even ice cream, may actually cause more mucous to form. Try avoiding these products when you have a sinus infection.
Try to treat a cold as soon as you get it. Lingering colds may make conditions right for a sinus infection. Use zinc supplements to help shorten the life of a cold and get plenty of rest.
Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants. These foods include berries, broccoli, tomatoes, garlic, red grapes and spinach that help to boost the immune system and may prevent sinus infections.
Try a steam treatment for your sinuses. Sinus infections can occur when mucous becomes thick and won’t drain properly. Steam can help keep mucous loose and moving through the sinuses.
Apply moist heat to the face to keep sinuses open. There are some heat packs available that can be warmed up easily in the microwave and held on the face as needed.
Apply a cold compress to the forehead and sinus areas relieve a sinus headache. The coolness will help shrink the membranes and provide relief from sinus headache pain. For best results apply as soon as the headache starts.
Take vitamin supplements to ensure your body is getting the proper nutrients daily. Potassium supplements will help dry up mucous.
Add apple cider vinegar to your facial steam. You can also drink it diluted in water to help a sinus infection that is just starting. Some people report great results using this holistic cure for sinus infection.
Use herbal remedies for a sinus infection. Herbal cures have been used for centuries and are safer and more effective than traditional medicines. Use eucalyptus or peppermint extract as an inhalant to clear sinus cavities. Either one can be added to a steam.
To sleep better during bouts of sinus attack, drink a cup of tea before bed. Chamomile tea is particularly useful for calming the body and mind before bedtime.
Try sinus irrigation. This is done using nasal irrigator that puts warm water into the sinuses. It can be found at most health food stores. Follow the directions on the box.
Learn the signs of an impending sinus infection and take precautions to prevent it from becoming worse. A stuffy nose that won’t seem to clear is a signal that mucous is thickening and is not moving. If left alone it may turn into a sinus infection.
Talk to a holistic doctor or herbalist to get advice on treating specific sinus problem. There are many natural remedies to help fight a sinus infection without the use of prescription medication.
Keep the use of drug medications to a minimum. They may have long-term negative effects on the body and tend to lose their effectiveness if taken too frequently. You may have to try several of the above-mentioned remedies to find the natural cure for your sinus infection.
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