It’s another rainy season! How to treat sinus infection

The sinuses are air-filled cavities that surround the nose. They are present in the forehead, the cheeks, and near the eyes. When the sinuses are clear, mucus drains easily from the nose, clearing out dirt and bacteria.

A sinus infection occurs when mucus is trapped in the sinuses, allowing viruses, bacteria, or fungi to grow more easily in the moist and stagnant environment.

Sinus infections can cause painful and irritating symptoms.

In this article, learn how to get rid of a sinus infection at home or using medical remedies.

Home remedies

People may be able to treat a sinus infection at home by relieving painful symptoms and taking steps to allow the immune system to fight off the infection.

Home remedies for a sinus infection include:

Over-the-counter medications

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People can take over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, such as:

acetaminophen

ibuprofen

naproxen

aspirin

These may help relieve symptoms including localized pain, fever, and headaches.

Nasal sprays

People can use OTC nasal sprays to reduce swelling and congestion in the nasal passages.

However, people should take care when using nasal sprays, particularly certain types of decongestant nasal spray. Misusing nasal sprays may cause side effects.

Using a decongestant nasal spray such as oxymetazoline (Afrin) for too long could make congestion levels worse, so people should not use them for longer than the recommended duration outlined on the packaging.

There are also corticosteroid nasal sprays, such as triamcinolone (Nasacort), available over the counter. These sprays help reduce sinus inflammation and swelling and are safe when a person uses them as a doctor directs.

It is important to follow product advice carefully to avoid nosebleeds or other adverse side effects. If a person has an existing medical condition or they are pregnant, it is best to speak to a doctor before using nasal sprays.

Humidifiers

People can use a humidifier to add moisture to the air. Extra moisture can help soften dried mucus, allowing it to flow more easily and reduce congestion.

Nasal irrigation

Nasal irrigation may help get rid of a sinus infection. A 2016 study found that people who used nasal irrigation had fewer headaches and were less likely to need OTC medicines than those who did not.

People can use a neti pot, which is a small container with a spout, for nasal irrigation.

It is important not to use water straight from the tap in a neti pot. Tap water is safe to drink because the stomach acid kills off the bacteria or parasites present. The nose environment cannot kill these types of germs, so using a neti pot with tap water may cause or aggravate an infection.

People should make sure to boil the water for a few minutes and let it cool, or they can buy distilled water for use in a neti pot.

It is simple to make an irrigation solution for use with a neti pot or syringe. To irrigate the nose:

mix half a teaspoon of noniodized salt with half a teaspoon of baking soda

stir the mixture into 2 cups of sterile water

use a small syringe or neti pot to apply the solution

repeat for both nostrils

clean the neti pot or syringe after use with sterile water and dry thoroughly

People can also buy a nasal irrigation solution from a pharmacy or online.

Steam inhalation

Although there is not enough evidence to show that steam inhalation is an effective treatment for a sinus infection, many people may find that it helps relieve their symptoms.

To use steam inhalation to relieve sinus infection symptoms, people can lean over a bowl of hot water, place a towel over their head to keep the steam in, and breathe deeply.

People may want to add one or two drops of essential oil, such as eucalyptus oil, to the water. Eucalyptus oil has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that may help fight the infection.

People can purchase eucalyptus essential oil in health food stores and online.

Source: medicalhealthnewstoday.com