And, if you need surgery to treat chronic congestion , he says, a smoking habit can make it harder for you to recover from the procedure — and increase your risk of needing a second surgery. Available over the counter, these sprays can help reduce the inflammation that adds to congestion. The sinus inflammation and congestion treatment guidelines from the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery Foundation advises using local steroid treatments and, if necessary, antibiotics to break the cycle.
And while nasal steroid sprays and saline sprays are both helpful, Kern stresses that other nasal sprays, such as decongestant sprays, can make the problem worse if you rely on them consistently. Katie Stavert, 30, of Los Alamos, New Mexico, has already had two procedures to open up her sinuses, but she still needs to take allergy medications and saline solutions if she wants to keep her sinuses clear. Allergies can definitely contribute to sinus congestion.
His problems with congestion began to fade after undergoing bariatric surgery in he eventually lost pounds and continued to subside once he starting using a neti pot and other healthy lifestyle habits. Chronic sinus infections have plagued Amy Kuretsky , 33, an acupuncturist in Minneapolis, Minnesota, all her life, and she chalked it up to the smoke, dry air, and her too-few hours of shut eye.
Using a nasal saline spray can increase the moisture in your nostrils. Some saline sprays also include decongestant medication. Talk with your doctor before you begin using saline sprays with decongestants.
You can purchase the Simply Saline adult nasal mist here. A neti pot is a container designed to flush mucus and fluids out of your nasal passages.
Shop for the Himalayan Chandra porcelain neti pot here. A warm compress may help alleviate some symptoms of nasal congestion by opening the nasal passages from the outside. To make a warm compress, first, soak a towel in warm water. Next, squeeze the water out of the towel, then fold it and place it over your nose and forehead.
The warmth can provide comfort from any pain and help relieve the inflammation in the nostrils. Repeat this as often as necessary.
A congested nose can be uncomfortable, but some other over-the-counter OTC medications may clear out your nasal passages and bring relief. Make sure to speak with a pharmacist when choosing a decongestant, antihistamine, or allergy medication.
The pharmacist can also answer any questions you may have about a particular medication. A decongestant medication can help reduce swelling and ease pain associated with irritated nasal passages. They come in two forms: nasal spray and pill. Common decongestant nasal sprays include oxymetazoline Afrin and phenylephrine Sinex. Common decongestant pills include pseudoephedrine Sudafed, Sudogest.
Read more: What you need to know about Sudafed. Be cautious when using decongestants. After 3 days, a nasal decongestant may actually make your congestion and stuffiness worse. You can purchase GoodSense nasal decongestants online here. The sphenoid sinuses are located deep in the skull, behind the eyes. Sinusitis develops when one or more sinuses become blocked.
There are millions of bacteria in our noses, and most of the time, they're harmless. Even when a few creep into the sinuses, they don't cause trouble, as long as they keep draining into the nose along with mucus. But if sinus drainage is blocked, glands in the sinuses continue to produce mucus, and the resulting pool of backed-up mucus provides what Dr.
Metson calls "the perfect culture medium. The result: swelling, which causes headache and facial pain; mucus buildup, which produces congestion; and an influx of white blood cells to fight the bacteria, which thickens the mucus and may tint it yellow or green. Other symptoms include loss of smell or taste, cough, bad breath, fever, toothache, and fullness in the ears.
Sinus blockage can have a variety of environmental, anatomical, and genetic causes, but the main culprit is swelling of the nasal passages produced by the common cold or allergies. More serious sinusitis can result from structural problems, such as a deviated septum a crook in the partition that separates the right from left nasal cavities or nasal polyps small, grapelike growths in the lining of the sinus cavity.
One of the simplest, cheapest, and most effective ways to prevent and treat sinus problems is nasal irrigation. Using a homemade solution, you can often relieve sinusitis symptoms, reduce reliance on nasal sprays and antibiotics, and improve your quality of life. At least once a day, follow these steps:. Sinusitis is classified by how long it lasts. If several acute attacks occur within a year, it's called "recurrent. Most people with acute sinusitis get better without treatment , although you can ease the symptoms and reduce the likelihood of needing stronger medicine if you keep your nasal passages clear with a few low-tech preventive techniques see "Preventing sinusitis".
It's hard to predict who will develop chronic sinusitis but knowing more about the two main types can help you decide how to treat your symptoms and when to see a clinician. Here are the basics:. Acute sinusitis. Acute sinusitis usually starts with a cold. Viruses, not bacteria, cause colds, so it's useless to treat them with antibiotics. But when a cold turns into sinusitis, it means that blocked nasal passages have set off a secondary infection caused by bacteria and you may eventually need an antibiotic.
Rarely, especially in people with weakened immune systems, a fungal infection is the cause. Here's what the research says about using essential oils to treat sinus congestion. You can help normalize your overactive bladder naturally by avoiding artificial sweeteners, caffeine, and alcohol, losing weight, and performing….
Taking sick time isn't easy, but you don't want to spread your illness or infect your co-workers if you're contagious. But how do you determine when…. Learn about the symptoms that Mucinex and NyQuil treat and more to see if one of these drugs is right for your cold or flu.
Learn more about the ways you can treat a stuffy nose, or nasal congestion, at home, including tips on decongestants, humidifiers, and steam remedies. Steam inhalers are used as personal saunas for skin care or supporting respiratory health. We created a list of steam inhalers to suit your needs. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Home Remedies for Sinus Drainage.
Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Sinus drainage You know the feeling. Water, water everywhere. Nasal irrigation. Chicken soup. Warm and cold compresses. Causes of sinus trouble.
When to see your doctor.
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