Sinusitis

Rightnow, 16 percent of the population is suffering from sinusitis and the number is growing. The good news is that easy-to-follow treatments done at home can produce welcome relief. And there are plenty of symptom-specific medications that really help.

What is happening

If your cold, flu or allergy simply won't quit, it may have transformed itself into sinusitis, an infection of the sinus cavities. The sinuses are four pairs of air-containing spaces in the front of your skull (see illustration below). They are connected to your nasal passages through narrow passages, which have tiny openings called ostia that normally let mucus drain and air flow in and out. When you have an allergy or a respiratory infection like a cold, the lining of your sinuses can become swollen, blocking these passages. The blockage then traps mucus in your sinuses, where it builds up and thickens, inviting normally harmless bacteria to multiply.
  When this happens you'll feel it. Sinusitis's calling card is thick, yellowish--green mucus, a sense of pressure in your face, a headache and difficulty breathing through your nose. You may also have pain in your upper teeth, a persistent cough, a low fever and/or fatigue.
  If this is your first sinus infection or you get one only rarely, you probably have acute sinusitis. This is usually caused by the bacteria Strptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae; with treatment, it lasts about three 

 The most common site for sinusitis to develop is the maxillary sinuses, located behind your cheekbones. But infection can also occur in the frontal sinuses (above your eyes), the ethmoid sinuses (between your eyes) or the sphenoid sinuses (behind your nose).

LIKELY FIRST STEPS

• Steam inhalation, sinus irrigation and drinking plenty of fluids to thin mucus and to reduce nasal swelling.
• Analgesics, decongestants, cough suppressants or expectorants to relieve specific symptoms.
• If required, antibiotics to fight an acute bacterial infection.
• If nothing is effective or you have a sinus blockage, surgery may be necessary to clear sinus passages.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

• Is there a chance that my 'sinus headahces' could really be migranies?
• Could my recurrent sinus infections be caused by an obstruction in my nasal passages?
• I use a steroid nasal spray but it constantly irritates my nose. Are there any alternatives that would work for me?
• Would simply treating my have fever cure my sinusitis? Should I be seeing an allergy specialist?

                                                                     Treatment Options 

LIFESTYLE CHANGES
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 Stay inhalation &                                  Keep mucous membranes moist and mucus thin;
 sinus irrigation                                      electric steam inhaler good for chronic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                          Lots of clear liquids                              Choose water, tea or broth to thin discharge.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                       Exercise                                                   Can boost immune system.

MEDICATIONS
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Antibiotics                                               For acute: amoxycillin usually first choice.
                                                                   For chronic: only if bacteria is cause.
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Analgesics                                               Soothe sinus pain and reduce fever.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    Decongestants                                        Nasal spray: only under doctor's orders.
                                                                   Oral: limit use to 3 or 4 days.
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Cough medcines                                    Suppressants or expectorants as required.

PROCEDURES
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Nasal endoscopy & CT Scan               To detect underlying problems in chronic.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     Sinus surgery                                          Last resort for chronic.

NATURAL METHODS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                Spicy foods                                              Good for making mucus flow.
 weeks. If your sinus infection continues for two months or longer despite treatment, the diagnosis is probably chronic sinusitis.
  While chronic sinusitis may result from a hard-to-treat bacterial infection, damaged mucous membranes from unsuccessfully treated acute sinusitis may also play a role. Or it may be the result of polyps or cysts--small benign growths--in your nasal passages. A blockage could also result from a deviated septum, a common structural abnormality in which the spectum  (the bone and cartilage in the center of the nose) is crooked. If you have hay fever and asthma (both associated with allergies), they contribute to chronic sinusitis as well (infact, about 70 percent of people with chronic sinusitis also have allergies). And for some people sinusitis is worsened by a sensitivity to certain foods, such as dairy products or wheat. Recently, evidence has also shown that some types of chronic sinusitis are triggered by an immune response to fungi that occur naturally in the nose. (see below)
TAKING CONTROL

• Reduce your stress level. Studies have shown that stress and anger can weaken the immune system, and a weakened immune system certainly contributes to the frequency and severity of sinus infections. Learn how to defuse your stress with some meditation and other relaxation techniques.
• Take precaution when you fly. Changing air pressure during takeoffs and landings forces mucus into your sinuses. Chew gum or swallow often, or use a pseudoephedrine nasal spray during these times to reduce sinus pressure.
• Learn to blow the right way. Even if you're totally congested, never forcefully blow your nose. Instead, inhale through your mouth then blow gently through one nostril at a time, pressing the nostril closed as you do so.
• If your nose gets raw, use a little petroleum jelly inside and below the nostrils. (for more on nose blowing, see colds.)
• Sniff some eucalyptus oil. Putting a few drops of eucalyptus oil in a tissue and sniffing it periodically can bring welcome relief to swollen nasal tissues. when inhaled, eucalyptol, the oil's key medicinal ingredient, tightens and soothes inflamed mucocus membranes.
• Create an irriant-free zone. If dust or pollen aggravates your sinusitis, turn your bedroom into a sanctuary. Remove the carpeting and curtains, keep the room well dusted, wash linen weekly in hot water and bar the door to pets.