Sinusitis


                                                                                                                                       

Have you ever experienced a cold that wouldn’t go away? If symptoms of nasal drainage and blockage persist for more than 10 days or worsen after they start getting better, there’s a high possibility you have sinusitis, an infection or inflammation of the sinuses.

Sinuses are hollow spaces around the nose that connects to nose through narrow channels. Sinusitis is a common condition where the sinuses (cavities) around nasal passages become inflamed and swollen associated with severe headache. 

Sinusitis, also called rhinosinusitis on the grounds that the symptoms involve both the nose and the sinuses. The inflammation develops when viruses or bacteria infect the sinuses (often during a cold) and begin to multiply. This causes the sinus lining to swell, blocking the channels that drain the sinuses. The mucus and pus get accumulated in the nose and sinus cavities. For others, the inflammation may be due to the body’s reaction to other happenings in the environment but, not be an infection.

Types of Sinusitis

Acute Sinusitis: When the symptoms occur for less than four weeks, then the condition is acute.

Chronic Sinusitis: Chronic sinusitis requires the symptoms to last longer than 12 weeks.

The Doctor helps to sort out what type of sinusitis you are affected with. Recurrent acute sinusitis is when a person has four or more sinus infections (acute sinusitis) in one year but does not exhibit symptoms in between those infections.

Causes of Sinusitis

  • Viruses: 90 percent of cases of sinusitis result from a virus
  • Bacteria: 1 case in 10 in adults is caused by bacteria
  • Pollutants: Chemicals or irritants in the air can trigger a build-up of mucus

Symptoms

  • Thick, discoloured discharge from the nose or drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage)
  • Nasal obstruction resulting difficulty in breathing through your nose
  • Tenderness around the eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead along with swelling those parts.
  • Diminished sense of smell and taste 
  • Cough is a common associated symptom for children.

Other signs and symptoms can include:

  • Ear pain
  • Aching in your upper jaw and teeth
  • Cough that might worsen at night
  • Sore throat
  • Bad breath (halitosis)
  • Fatigue or irritability
  • Nausea

Home Remedies

1. STEAM INHALATION WITH ESSENTIAL OILS

Boil the water and add essential oils like Eucalyptus oil, Tea tree oil, Peppermint Oil etc. This helps to liquefy obstructed phlegm and clears the passage.

2.  GINGER COMPRESS

Boil ginger in water and let it simmer 15 minutes. Putting this can lessen the pain and reduce the pressure from sinuses.

3.  SLEEP WITH HEAD ELEVATED

Sleeping in an elevated position helps to reduce congestion and clears the nasal pathway.