How to prevent sinus infection? Part IV

Prevention is better than cure and this is right in case of sinus infection also. As you see there are connections between the things you never think of.

The preventive measures include:

• Proper hygiene
• Treating allergies and colds always
• Increase your water intake
• Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, but avoid citrus fruits
• Minimize the consumption of milk products
• Reduce all sorts of stress
• Moisture in the rooms of the home
• Clean air filters
• Avoid pollution of your home and environment
• Avoid smoking and passive smoking
• Avoid excess alcohol
• Be careful with air travel
• Avoid swimming
• Diving is a risk
• Visit steam bath or take hot shower and breath the steam
• Avoid sudden change in temperature
• Influenza vaccine is good
• Have a good and healthy lifestyle

As you see there are so many things in your hands to prevent sinus infections or to keep the symptoms mild.

How to treat sinus infection? Part III

The main aims of the sinus infection treatment include:

• Elimination of the infection
• Reduction the inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages and sinuses
• Promotion of the drainage from the sinuses
• Maintenance of open sinuses

If you could wipe out bacteria from the sinus cavities with antibiotics it helps to relieve symptoms, prevent complications and the risk of chronic sinusitis is also much reduced. Amoxicillin is the choice. If you are allergic to penicillin you may be treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. If the person is allergic to sulphur this drug must be avoided.

If the bacteria are resistant to amoxicillin cephalosporins are used to clear the resistant micro organisms. Antibiotics should not be overused. So, it is better to use amoxicillin for a period of 14 to 21 days. You can take the drug until the symptoms disappear and then take the antibiotic for one more week.

All these drugs have many side effects and it is always necessary to consult your doctor.

Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen can reduce pain and inflammation. These help to open the airways. Paracetamol can be used to relieve pain and fever but does not reduce inflammation.

The drugs which help to expel mucus from the lungs and respiratory passage are called expectorants. There are over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Here it is better to consult with your doctor to select a good cough suppressant and decongestant. Decongestants help to reduce airway obstruction. There are nasal sprays and oral decongestants.

Strong oral sprays like phenylephrine must be used very economically; otherwise you can become dependant of this spray.

Oral decongestants are tablets or liquids and the active ingredients are pseudoehedrine or phenylephrine. The effect is noticed normally within 30 to 60 minutes. With prolonged use these are also less effective as oral sprays.
All the drugs have side effects and so both nasal and oral decongestants have also side effects. Always consult with your doctor.

In some people the other therapies are not helping and here the surgery may bring relief.

Self-care at home is very important to open the sinuses and prevent their dryness. Drink plenty of water, 3 to 4 litres everyday. If you sweat more, then drink more. You could inhale steam about 10 minutes 4 to 5 times a day. Add Vicks Vaporub and it helps to open the passages.

I have heard from many persons that sinusitis is disappeared after few months of doing oil pulling with sesame oil. It is because the sesame oil can eliminate the micro organisms. Sesame oil has no side effects and surely cheaper than the drugs.

Sinus Infection : Part I

Sinus infections are also called sinusitis. It is an infection and inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. The sinuses are covered with a mucus layer and cells which contain little hairs on their surfaces. These hairs help to prevent the entry of bacteria, viruses, allergens and pollutants from the environment.

If the normal defence system fails the hairs may allow bacteria or viruses present in the nasal passage to enter inside the sinuses. Once entered the micro organism stick to the lining cells and cause an infection. This is the sinus infection.

The symptoms of sinus infection are headache or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek or on one side of the head. The other common symptoms include: cough, fever, bad breath and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions. There is acute and chronic sinus infection and the common one is the long term, chronic infection.

Acute sinus infection normally lasts less than eight weeks and does not occur more than three times in a year. Each episode can last less than ten days.

Chronic sinus infection lasts longer than eight weeks and occurs more than four times in a year. Here each episode lasts more than 20 days

What is the purpose of having sinuses in out body apart from preventing the entry of bacteria, viruses and other pollutants? There are four hollow air-filled-cavities in the human skull and these cavities are called sinuses. They are frontal (in the forehead), maxillary (behind the cheek bones), ethmoid (between the eyes) and sphenoid (behind the eyes) sinuses. They help to insulate the skull, reduce its weight and allow the voice to resonate within it.

To be continued...