Sinusitis: causes and how to treat it at home & bull; hello healthy

Have you ever had a cold or nasal congestion that won't go away? Beware that maybe it's one of the symptoms of sinusitis. Sinusitis can affect anyone, including young children. People who have allergies or weak immune systems are more likely to develop sinusitis.

What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis is inflammation or swelling of the sinus tissue. The sinuses are the nasal cavities that contain air behind the facial bones. The sinuses have a mucous membrane lining that produces mucus. This mucus serves to keep the nasal passages moist. In addition, mucus also serves to trap dirt and germ particles from entering the airways.

Normal sinuses are lined with a thin layer of mucus that can trap dust, germs, or other particles from the air. When the sinuses become blocked, germs can grow and cause infection. Inflammation of the sinuses can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. People with weakened immune systems, allergies, asthma, or structural blockages in the nose or sinuses are more likely to develop sinusitis.

Conditions that can cause sinus congestion include:

• The common cold
• Allergic rhinitis, which is inflammation or irritation of the lining of the nose
• Growing polyps on the nose
• Bone deformity between the two nasal cavities or displacement of the nasal cavity

What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

Sinusitis can be divided into two types depending on the duration of illness, namely:

Symptoms of acute sinusitis

It usually lasts 4-12 weeks. This disease is usually caused by the common cold which results in a viral infection. Most of the time, acute sinusitis can be treated at home, but if it doesn't go away, it can develop into infections and serious complications.

When you have acute sinusitis, you can show symptoms, such as:

• The nasal mucus (snot) is green or yellow in color
• The face feels sore or pressure
• Blocked nose
• Bad sense of smell (difficulty catching smells)
• Cough

If you experience two or more of the above symptoms, you may be suffering from acute sinusitis.

Apart from that, you can also experience:

• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Tooth ache

Symptoms of chronic sinusitis

This sinusitis usually lasts for more than 12 weeks. This disease is usually caused by infection, nasal polyps, or bone abnormalities in the nasal cavity. As with acute sinusitis, you may have difficulty breathing through your nose as well as face and head pain.

Some of the symptoms of chronic sinusitis are:

• The face feels swollen
• Blocked nose
• The nasal cavity oozes pus
• Fever
• Mucous discharge from the nose (snot)

You can feel these symptoms for at least 8 weeks. You can also experience:

• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Tooth ache
• Headache

Can we prevent sinusitis?

There is no sure way you can prevent sinusitis. However, there are a few things that might help, such as:

• Do not smoke or inhale secondhand smoke
• Wash your hands often, especially if you have the flu. Reduce the habit of touching your face with your hands.
• If you have an allergy to something, such as dust, try to avoid it. Or, you can wear a mask to reduce the dust that gets into your nose.

What can be done to treat sinusitis at home?

You may be able to treat sinusitis yourself at home in a number of ways, including using medication. Some of the home remedies for sinusitis are:

• Steam inhalation. You can prepare hot water in a large bowl and inhale the steam that comes out of the hot water. This will provide some relief for your airway. This method has not been scientifically proven to cure sinusitis, but it may help you a little.
• Clean the nasal passages. This method is done by cleaning or rinsing the nose with salt water.
• Warm compresses of water. You can compress the nose and around your nose with warm water. This can relieve some of the symptoms of sinusitis.
• Sleep with your head up. You can use several pillows to support your head higher than normal while sleeping. This can reduce the amount of pressure around the sinuses and reduce the discomfort of pain.
• Take decongestant tablets. This medication can reduce swelling and help reduce congestion in the sinuses.
• Use a decongestant spray. Has the same benefits as decongestant tablets. However, prolonged use (more than 1 week) can actually cause congestion in the sinuses to get worse.

If you have done home remedies like the ones above but they don't get better after one week or they get worse, you should check with your doctor immediately.