Have you ever been hit by a headache, runny nose and nasal congestion and felt you were coming down with a bad cold, only to be diagnosed with a sinus infection? These two ailments have very similar symptoms, however, unlike a cold; symptoms of a sinus infection could be triggered by bacterial infections.
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, about 28.9 million adults in the United States suffer from sinus infections annually.About 4.1 million visits to the doctor’s office and 389, 000 visits to the emergency department are necessitated by a sinus infection. The proper way to be diagnosed with a sinus infection is to visit a doctor or an allergist.
People who have weak immune systems or people with allergies, structural obstructions in the nose or asthma stand a greater risk of getting a sinus infection. Fortunately, in most cases, sinus infections are easy to treat. Early treatment of a sinus infection can result in less severe symptoms and complications. The following, are a few ways to treat your sinus infection.
Buy a humidifier
Not every humidifier would work for sinus infections. When buying a humidifier, make sure you search for the best humidifier for sinus problems. What a good humidifier can do is keep the humidity in your home at an optimal level, which would help the mucus flow well from your nostrils, to ease the symptoms of a sinus infection. Naturally flowing mucus helps to remove germs and bacteria in your sinuses.
A good humidifier increases the moisture in the air which acts as a protective factor against sinus inflammation and infection. So the next time you suffer a sinus infection, carefully sieve through the countless models of humidifiers and ensure you purchase the best humidifier for sinus problems to get rid of congestion and infections.
Drink a lot of Water
Try to drink at least eight ounces of water every 2 hours to help flush the virus out of your system. Having a runny nose can also get you dehydrated; this is a reason to make sure you are adequately hydrated.
Eat Foods that Boost your Immune System
Foods like honey, onions, ginger and garlic can help you to fight the virus. Put some garlic, ginger, and onions to your meals. You can also make some ginger tea mixed with raw honey. Honey has antibacterial and antifungal properties and is packed with antioxidants.
Use Some Over-The-Counter Or Prescription Medications
Some major symptoms of sinus infections include headache, swelling and inflammation of the sinuses, facial pain, and nasal congestion. There are OTC drugs that could treat all of these symptoms. For instance, pseudoephedrine can help relieve congestion and reduce inflammation and swelling. Facial pain and headache can be relieved by aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
If home remedies and OTC medications do not work, then get your doctor to write you a prescription. Sinus infections are treated with antibiotics medications which you may need to take from 3 to 28 days depending on the type of antibiotic prescribed. You must complete the dosage of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, even if your symptoms improve.
