Sinusitis, what it is and why it’s so hard to cure

While flu and colds get the most attention during fall and winter, other viral infections also spike, such as bronchitis or norovirus.

One of them is sinusitis, which has become very common in recent seasons due to poor treatment. Here, we review everything there is to know about this condition and tell you how to prevent or alleviate it.

Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses (the air-filled cavities behind the eyebrows and cheekbones and between the eyes) become inflamed or swollen due to an infection caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. There are two types:

In both adults and children, certain risk factors may cause this condition to develop:

• smokes.

• go to kindergarten

• have hay fever or cystic fibrosis.

• Affected by changes in altitude (while flying or diving).

• With abnormal sinus structure.

• The immune system is weakened by treatments such as HIV or chemotherapy.

Adults may experience symptoms of acute sinusitis after a cold, and symptoms may not improve or worsen after five to seven days. The most common are:

• stuffy and runny nose.

• Headache.

• Sore throat and postnasal drip.

• Pain or pressure behind the eyes or teeth.

• A feeling of fatigue and general malaise.

• fever.

• Bad breath or loss of smell.

• Sensitive face.

• Coughs are usually worse at night.

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are the same as acute sinusitis, but symptoms tend to be milder and last longer than 12 weeks.

For children, you can see:

• High fever with dark nasal discharge for at least three days.

• A cold or respiratory illness gets worse after getting better.

• Runny nose, with or without cough, for more than ten days.

how to protect yourself

Once this happens, you can choose different methods to relieve symptoms.

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To reduce sinus hypoventilation, experts recommend:

• Apply to the face several times a day with a warm, damp washcloth.

• Drink plenty of fluids (to thin mucus).

• Inhale vapor two to four times daily.

• Rinse nose with saline solution.

Some remedies are also recommended based on prevailing knowledge:

• Almond Oil (massage on cheekbones).

• Mix dried verbena with olive oil to make a poultice.

• Drink an infusion of lavender, sea salt, and olive oil (for the nostrils).

• Consume antioxidant-rich foods such as carrots, garlic, or berries.

• Use thyme, rosemary, pine, eucalyptus or lemon for decongestant inhalation.

Also avoid plane travel (due to changes in altitude), exercise regularly, and get seven to eight hours of sleep a day.

When to consult a doctor

You should see a health professional if:

• Symptoms persist for more than ten days without improvement (most cases resolve on their own by then).

• You feel severe pain around your nose and eyes.

• You have a fever (above 104°F or 40°C), or a fast-spreading rash.

When taking medications, experts advise caution over the use of over-the-counter nasal decongestants, such as oxymetazoline (Afrin) or neosynephrine, because while they may be helpful initially, using them for more than three to five days can backfire.

Other treatments may include: allergy shots (immunotherapy) to help prevent recurrence of the disease, avoiding exposure to allergens, or nasal sprays containing corticosteroids and antihistamines to reduce swelling, especially if you have nasal polyps or allergies case.

In the most extreme cases, surgery may be required to widen the opening and drain the paranasal sinuses, but only if symptoms persist for more than three months after treatment or if acute sinusitis flares up more than two or three times. by year.

must remember:

People interested in using herbal remedies and supplements should be very careful while awaiting significant scientific evidence from human trials.

Do not give up or modify your medicines or treatments without discussing the potential effects of alternative or complementary treatments with your doctor.

Remember that the medicinal properties of herbs and supplements can also interact with prescription medications and other herbs and supplements, and even change your diet.

reference source: Comprehensive Natural Medicines Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mayo Clinic.