Sinusitis, also called rhinosinusitis or sinus infection, refers to the inflammation of the sinuses, which may interfere with a person’s breathing. This may affect gas exchange, since it may alter the person’s airway and breathing pattern. The following are the causes, symptoms, and home remedies for sinusitis.
Sinusitis has variable causes. According to Mayo Clinic, common causes of sinusitis include presence of nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, medical conditions like cystic fibrosis and gastroesophageal reflux disease, respiratory tract infections like common colds, and allergies like hay fever. As per the publication, risk factors for the condition include regular exposure to pollutants, hay fever or allergy, an immune system disorder like cystic fibrosis or HIV, aspirin sensitivity, asthma, and nasal passag abnormality.
Sinusitis presents a number of symptoms. According to American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the symptoms include a bad cold, headache, facial pain, nasal congestion , and runny nose. According to Mayo Clinic, other signs and symptoms may include ear pain, upper jaw and teeth ache, cough that may worsen at night, sore throat, halitosis or bad breath, nausea, fatigue, and irritability. Also, chronic sinusitis may be confirmed if the person has two of the four signs and symptoms: thick, discolored discharge from the nose, nasal obstruction, drainage down the back of the throat, and pain and swelling around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and forehead.
While medications for pain are available to control sinusitis, home remedies are also accessible to manage the condition.
One key to resolve sinusitis is drinking water. According to Everyday Health, staying hydrated keeps the sinuses moist. As cited by the publication, Lenox Hill Hospital new York internist Robert Graham recommends drinking water throughout the day and avoiding caffeine and alcoholic beverages, since they can lead to dehydration. It is added that the standard is to drink at least eight-ounce glasses of water per day, with a clear urine color as an indicator of proper hydration.
Turmeric and Ginger Root
Another remedy for sinusitis is the combined power of turmeric and ginger root. According to Natural Living Ideas, turmeric root contains curcumin, an ingredient with natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. As per the publication, curcumin plus ginger root creates a mixture that helps loosen mucus from the clogged nasal passages. It also helps relieve sinus pressure, making the person feel better. To add, ginger root also helps calm a side effect of nighttime sinus drainage, which is an upset stomach.
Health care professionals advise nasal irrigation or the use of sinus rinse solution as remedy for sinusitis. According to Medicine Net, this helps relieve the sinus infection symptoms. It uses a sinus rinse kit or nasal bidet, such as Neti-Pot. However, in 2012, the Food and Drug Authority or FDA issued a warning about the use of the latter, adding caution to people not to use untreated tap water for rinsing, since contaminated water may lead to infection and eventually, death.
Air moisture is another remedy for sinusitis. Twinsburg allergist Richard Lavi advised, as cited by Web MD, to keep one’s home from becoming too dry or too humid, since dust mites loved more than 50 percent humidity. Meanwhile, University of Colorado School of Medicine professor Todd Kingdom said that excessive humidity indoors could encourage the growth of mold, which might set off sinus problems for some people.
Sinusitis does not have the same severity as asthma and tuberculosis, but it still gives discomfort to a person. Thus, it is important to manage it immediately and medical consult is advised for assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation.