Home Remedies for Chronic Sinusitis
It’s that time of the year again, when spring rolls around and all of the flowers start to bloom. For many Charleston and Lowcountry residents it’s the start of month-long allergy attacks, with all the pollen flying around. For some, it’s just another day where their chronic sinus problems act up again. If that sounds familiar to you, don’t worry! There are plenty of home remedies to try.
But first, we need to talk about what happens behind the scenes (or behind the nose)!
What Makes My Sinuses Act Up?
Like many medical issues, there might not be one obvious culprit. To get an accurate diagnosis, it would be best to undergo an examination of the sinuses, which you can do with a member of The Charleston Sinus Center. But if you’re just looking for quick facts, here are the most common causes of sinus flare ups:
- Pollen (and other environmental pollutants)
- Hay Fever and Allergies
- Seasonal Changes
- Sinus Infections
- Nasal Deformation (e.g., deviated septum)
How Sinusitis Becomes Chronic
When someone is experiencing chronic sinusitis, it means they’ve been displaying symptoms for more than 12 weeks. By this point, the cause is likely to be either of two things: a bacterial infection or some form of nasal deformation. In some cases, it could even be both.
One example of deformation is a deviated septum, which affects nearly 80% of Americans. Only 5% of affected people seek medical consultation about it. “If so many people have it, it can’t be that bad,” is a reasonable line of thinking. But it can cause trouble breathing and prevent mucus drainage from your sinuses. That means bacteria can build up and lead to serious problems via infection.
A bacterial infection is an indicator that your sinuses are not properly draining mucus. Symptoms include a stuffy nose, thick runny mucus (that is green or yellow), pressure around the face, and headaches. In more worrisome cases, the patient may even have a high fever. If that’s the case, you should consult with a Charleston Sinus Center professional and take guided steps toward sinus relief.
Remedies for Treating Sinusitis Naturally
While there is no guarantee that home remedies will cure your ailments, certain treatments can bring relief, both mentally and physically.
Nasal Rinse
Saline solution has been a long-time friend to those battling it out with sinusitis. All it is, is water and salt, and we’ve been using it since the 15th century! Essentially, a saline rinse loosens up the clogged mucus and forces it out. One method is with a neti pot, a specially made container that resembles a genie’s lamp or teapot. Other methods include squeeze bottles, motorized rinse bottles, and entire rinse/suction machines (such as Navage).
Hydration
When doctors say to drink 8 glasses of water a day, they mean it. Juice and water are known to thin mucus. But be careful of what you put in your body! A cup of joe might be tempting in the morning, but caffeine can dehydrate you and make mucus thicker. That also goes for alcohol.
Warm Compress
Placing a warm towel wherever you feel pressure can help a lot. Some patients report feeling better after placing one over their eyes for a few minutes.
Steam Inhalation
Steam inhalation has been used through the ages for treating sinusitis, however, there is no strong evidence for it being helpful for relief of sinusitis. It also introduces the risk of burns, so we do not recommend it. Should you decide to try it, a strong word of caution is in order: You should NEVER hold your head over boiling water, as the steam can burn the lining of the nose, and the splashes of boiling water or the hot steam can burn your face or eyes.
If you would like to try steam inhalation, consider taking a warm shower, or using a cool-mist humidifier instead.
Lots of Sleep
You probably could have guessed it, but proper sleep is indispensable. This is especially true when trying to get over any kind of sickness. Take naps and get a full 8 hours during the night.