Sinusitis

What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis is a condition in which the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed. Four hollow air spaces make up your sinuses. They’re located in the bones behind your cheeks, jaw, and eyebrows. Your sinuses make mucus, a fluid that cleans bacteria and other particles out of the air you breathe. Mucus is removed from your sinuses by draining out your nose. But when your sinuses are swollen, the mucus has nowhere to go. It stays in your sinuses and become painful and uncomfortable.

There are four main types of sinusitis.

• Acute sinusitis lasts up to 4 weeks.
• Subacute sinusitis lasts 4 to 12 weeks.
• Chronic sinusitis lasts more than 12 weeks.
• Recurrent sinusitis happens several times a year.

Symptoms of sinusitis

The symptoms of sinusitis include:

• Pain or pressure in your cheeks, forehead, nose and ears, or between your eyes
• Headache
• Nasal congestion
• Fever
• Coughing, which may be worse at night
• Drainage down the back of your throat
• Reduced sense of smell and taste
• Weakness or fatigue
• Toothache
• Bad breath (called halitosis)

How is sinusitis diagnosed?

Your doctor can diagnose sinusitis. He or she will do an exam and review your symptoms. Your doctor also may check your mucus or order an imaging test to confirm it.

Can sinusitis be prevented or avoided?

Sinusitis can’t be prevented, and certain factors increase your risk of getting it. These include:

• Having a cold or allergies
• Using decongestant nasal sprays too much
• Smoking
• Swimming or diving

However, there are some things you can do to try to keep yourself healthy:

• If you smoke, stop. Avoid second-hand smoke, if possible.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Don’t touch your face, especially your mouth, nose, and eyes.
• If possible, stay away from things you know will trigger your allergies.

Sinusitis treatment

There are several treatment options for sinusitis. They vary depending on the cause of your condition.

• You can use a saline nasal spray. This will clean out your nasal passages and help clear congestion. Your doctor may suggest a decongestant nasal spray to treat swelling. Don’t use this for more than 3 days. It can worsen the swelling in your sinuses once you stop using the medicine.
• A process called nasal irrigation can provide relief. A saline solution through a device called a neti pot (which looks like a small teapot with a long spout) can flush out your sinuses and help loosen thick mucus. It’s important to use distilled or sterile water, or tap water that has been boiled for 3 to 5 minutes and cooled. Regular tap water isn’t safe to use because it hasn’t been properly filtered or treated to be safe in the sinuses. Some tap water contains organisms that can cause serious infections in your nasal passages.
• Decongestant medicines relieve sinus pain and pressure. In general, you should only use them short-term. Over-the-counter pain relievers can relieve aches and fever as well. Talk with your doctor before using any over-the-counter cold medicine. Some can make your symptoms worse or have other side effects.
• Your doctor can prescribe allergy medicine to treat conditions caused by allergies. Severe cases caused by bacteria may require an antibiotic. Your doctor will instruct you to take this for 5 to 10 days. However, you often will start to feel better after taking it a few days. Make sure you finish all the medicine your doctor prescribes.

FDA Warning

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against the use of ear candles to treat sinusitis. Ear candling involves inserting a special candle in the ear. It’s supposed to pull wax and debris out of your ear as it burns. Ear candles can cause serious injuries. There’s no evidence to support their effectiveness.

Living with sinusitis

Sinusitis often goes away even without treatment. There are things you can do at home to help yourself feel better.

• Get plenty of rest. Lying on your back can make your sinuses feel more blocked. Try lying on your side instead. This helps you breathe better. Or you can try propping yourself up with a pillow.
• Drink plenty of fluids.Sipping hot liquids can help soothe your throat.
• Apply heat.Try holding a warm, wet towel against your face. Or you can breathe in steam through a hot cloth or towel. This can relieve sinus pressure and help open your sinus passages.
• Avoid alcohol.It can worsen the swelling in your sinuses.

Contact your doctor if you:

• Your fever lasts more than a week
• Still have symptoms after 12 weeks
• Get the condition several times in one year

Questions to ask your doctor

• What medicine should I take to treat sinusitis?
• Can I take cold medicine?
• Will a humidifier help my sinusitis?
• If I have sinusitis, can I still exercise or swim?