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How To Cure A Chronic Sinus Infection – Sinuses are the air pockets behind the nose, cheeks, between the eyes and forehead. The lining of these sinuses is responsible for producing mucus, a thin liquid that protects foreign particles and bacteria from entering the body through the nasal cavity by trapping them. Inflammation of this lining can cause a lot of inflammation in the nasal passages which can lead to blockage, causing infection with bacteria and viruses, this condition is called sinusitis. Sinusitis affects 134 million Indians, severe and chronic sinusitis can be debilitating and disrupt the quality of life of patients.
Sinusitis symptoms are often indistinguishable from the common cold. If the symptoms do not improve within 1-2 weeks, it is necessary to consult a doctor to make sure that the infection has not worsened.
How To Cure A Chronic Sinus Infection
When a viral infection from the common cold causes inflammation of the nasal passages it is called acute sinusitis. Symptoms last about two weeks and up to four weeks. This type of Sinusitis can also be caused by environmental allergies such as pollen or dust.
Sinus Pressure Or Pain? It May Not Be A Sinus Infection
When sinus infection lasts more than 4 weeks and up to 3 months is called subacute sinusitis. It is recommended to see a specialist if the sinus infection lasts more than a week.
When the sinus infection lasts more than 3 months it is called chronic sinusitis, this is the most common case when patients have problems with the nasal system or allergies.
Common cold: If the flu is not treated in time, it can worsen the sinus infection.
Allergic Rhinitis: Also known as hay fever, this is an inflammation of the nose that occurs due to increased sensitivity to allergens. Symptoms include frequent runny nose, itchy eyes and watery eyes.
Best Home Remedies To Relieve Sinus Pressure
Nasal polyps: These are painless soft growths in the lining of the nose, they are benign and non-cancerous, however they can cause blockage of the nasal passages and lead to the development of sinus infections.
Deviated septum: This happens when the nasal septum, the thin wall between the sides of your nose, rises (bends) to one side. It can be birth shape or because of any injury to the nose.
Sinus headaches are caused when the sinuses are blocked and not draining properly. A buildup of mucus in the sinuses can cause increased pain and swelling.
Deadly Sinusitis only causes headaches and facial pain. Chronic sinusitis is generally not associated with headache and other causes of headache such as migraine and facial pain should be investigated. More than 80 percent of people with sinus headaches actually have migraines.
Dr.reckeweg R49 Drops, Acute Sinusitis, Catarrh, Polyps
The first step for your doctor is to ask about your symptoms and medical history. They can look inside your nose to check for blockages and look for other causes and risk factors for sinusitis.
In cases of chronic sinusitis, your doctor may recommend additional tests such as a CT scan. This is done to reveal if there are any abnormalities such as a deviated septum or growth of nasal polyps that may require surgical treatment.
They may also choose to perform a nasal endoscopy, where a camera attached to a fiber optic scope is passed through the nose. The doctor may also obtain a mucus sample for a culture test to check for the presence of bacterial infection.
Sinus is treated based on the underlying cause of the infection and depending on the severity of the infection your doctor may prescribe the following courses of action.
Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps
Use a humidifier – This can help to ensure that the air around you remains moist and relieve nasal congestion that develops during the night.
Steam Inhalation – You can also inhale steam or use hot water to get relief. To steam fill a bowl with hot water and lean over it while covering yourself in a blanket to prevent the steam from escaping. First, breathe through both nostrils and then alternate between the nostrils to ensure the cleanliness of the airways. Cough to loosen phlegm and blow your nose to clear the mucus that is causing the blockage.
Essential Oils – Oils like eucalyptus/menthol oil etc can help too. However, they must be used with caution for short periods only because there is evidence that they can cause epilepsy.
Jala Neti (Nasal Douching)/Saline Nasal Douching – Douching the nose using salt water is an effective home remedy for Sinusitis. Be sure to use clean water in the case of nasal irrigation to prevent the risk of contamination.
What Happens If A Sinus Infection Is Left Untreated?
Use a warm compress – Another way to clear the nasal passages is to use a warm compress. Placing a towel over the affected area while resting or sleeping can help ease the pain and provide relief.
Get good rest – Sinusitis can be very taxing on the body especially if it lasts for a long time. Make sure you get plenty of rest to give yourself a good chance to recover.
These drugs are used to clear the nasal passages and relieve the mucus from the sinuses. But use caution and only use them for a short time (usually 5-7 days)
If the sinus infection is caused by a bacterial infection, then only the antibiotic method can improve the condition. However, if antibiotics are used indiscriminately they can cause immune resistance. Therefore, antibiotics should be used extensively and only after consulting a doctor.
Chronic Sinusitis Treatment
If a sinus infection is causing seasonal allergies then using an antihistamine can help solve the problem. Antihistamines reduce inflammation caused by allergens and prevent the onset of an infection. Otherwise antihistamines can dry up the secretions and persist with adequate drainage of blocked sinuses.
Pain Relief: Medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can help reduce symptoms such as fever, headache and face/body pain.
In cases of structural deformities such as deviated septum or nasal polyps, surgical treatment may be required.
In this type of surgery, an endoscope is inserted into the nasal passage. Doctors then use special surgical instruments to remove any blockages such as nasal polyps. The path does not leave behind any traces of scars. If sinusitis reoccurs, surgery can be repeated several times.
Causes Of Chronic Sinusitis & How To Treat It
This is a more or less deprecated process and can only be done in certain cases. In this procedure, the surgeon creates a passage between the nose and the maxillary sinus to facilitate the drainage of any tumor that develops in the area. The surgery is done by making an incision in the area of the upper premolar to access the sinus cavity. The procedure is only recommended if there is a growth in the sinus cavity that needs to be removed.
Recovery after sinus surgery is usually as quick as an endoscopic procedure. The doctor may insert a sterile gauze/pack inside the nasal cavity to prevent any bleeding after surgery. In most cases, the gauze/pack used is dissolved and absorbed by the body. If non-dissolvable gauze is used, the doctor usually removes it in a different way within a day or two after surgery.
Patients may experience nasal congestion, minor bleeding and fatigue following surgery for a few days to a few weeks after surgery. The doctor may recommend a course of antibiotics and may recommend pain relievers and saline rinses to ensure the blockage is completely cleared and destroyed.
It is important to consider the risks involved when performing any surgery. Be sure to consult a doctor to understand all possible risks before proceeding with a decision. Here are the possible risks and complications of sinus surgery.
Chronic Sinusitis And Allergies: What To Know
Sinus surgery can in rare cases cause visual impairment or blindness during the procedure. This happens when the layer of bone between the eye and the nose is damaged and the eye is injured. In rare cases, the tear ducts of the eyes can be affected causing involuntary tearing. There may also be cases where the eye muscle system is affected resulting in double vision and visual impairment.
In rare cases, the bone between the nose and the brain can be damaged during surgery and cerebrospinal fluid can leak into the nasal passages. This can lead to a bacterial infection called meningitis, which can be fatal.
After surgery, there may be complications where the infection affects the sense of smell or taste for a short time. These usually resolve a few days after the procedure.
Sinus surgery is usually successful in improving the flow of air through the nasal passages, however, in many cases, there may be a build-up of scar tissue in the nose that causes blockage. This will require surgical correction at a later stage.
Sinusitis Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis And Treatment
As with any surgery, there is a risk of bleeding after the procedure. This is usually prevented by using nasal packing, but if there is a clot or heavy bleeding, it may be needed.
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