Sinus Problems

Sinus problems are quite normal.  It can be due to allergies, infection, or auto-immune problems.

Symptoms include:

• A feeling of pressure inside the head
• Nasal congestion and discharge (usually green, yellow, or bloody-colored)
• Pain in the upper jaw or cheek
• Pain between the nose and lower eyelid
• Severe headache which doesn’t get better when you take an over-the-counter pain reliever. The headache is worse in the morning or when bending forward.
• Fever
• Swelling around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and forehead

A cool mist humidifier can help relieve sinus misery. Moist air helps to thin out the thick sinus secretions and loosen the mucus that has accumulated while your sinuses were out of order. Warm or cold compresses placed over the sinus area relieve discomfort still further.

Other measures that can help include:

• Drinking plenty of fluids to keep secretions thin and flowing
• Taking an over-the-counter medicine for pain
• Using over-the-counter oral decongestants. Use nose drops only for the number of days prescribed. Repeated use of nasal decongestants creates a dependency. Your nasal passages “forget” how to work on their own and you have to continue using drops to keep nasal passages clear. 

If your symptoms persist despite home remedies, see a doctor. Sinus complications can be serious. You may need a prescribed antibiotic and a decongestant to clear a bacterial infection.

Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com